Do I Feel Bored Enough?

 

We tend to avoid boredom as if it were dangerous—almost as if it could kill us. Whenever it creeps in, we rush to fill the silence with anything, even if it’s meaningless or unhelpful.

But what exactly is boredom? And why are we so desperate to avoid it?

What Is Boredom, Really?

According to Eastwood et al. (2012), boredom is “the aversive experience of wanting, but being unable, to engage in satisfying activity,” often accompanied by feelings of emptiness, meaninglessness, and decreased motivation. In other words, boredom is not about having nothing to do—it’s about struggling to find meaning or appeal in the options available. It’s that uncomfortable state when your mind drifts without finding anything satisfying to focus on.

Why Do We Avoid It?

One reason may be our weak ability to manage our thoughts. Left alone with our minds, we often face a flood of unpleasant concerns and unresolved issues. Confronting these thoughts can feel painful, almost like tearing away the illusions we normally hide behind.

To illustrate this, consider a fascinating experiment:

Participants were asked to sit in a room for just 15 minutes with nothing but their own thoughts. The only object in the room was a button they knew would deliver a small electric shock. Despite previously saying they would pay money to avoid such a shock, 25% of women and 67% of men ended up pressing the button. In other words, many people preferred physical pain over boredom.

The Surprising Benefits of Boredom

Here’s the truth: boredom is actually good for your psychological health. If you build the skill to manage your thoughts—and the courage to face them—you can turn boredom into an opportunity for growth. Over time, you’ll develop emotional resilience and learn to stay calm even in challenging situations. This ability carries over into your work, your relationships, and your life as a whole.

A Thought Experiment

Now, imagine yourself in a war zone (may God forbid). Resources are scarce, electricity is limited, and technology—the biggest modern-day distractor—is almost absent. Suddenly, you’re left with nothing but your thoughts.

In that silence, all your inner concerns, doubts, dreams, and plans rise to the surface. With time, you begin to sort through them. You discover self-doubts you’ve been ignoring, face your inner struggles, and maybe even find a sense of peace. From that clarity, you gain the strength to act.

Perhaps you decide to help others—by volunteering, providing food, donating blood, or offering charity. In this imagined scenario, boredom wasn’t your enemy. It was the spark that helped you think clearly, foster creativity, and shift toward generosity.

Final Thoughts

Boredom isn’t something to run from—it’s something to appreciate. When you learn to sit with it, you move away from constant distraction and toward clarity, creativity, and compassion.

So the next time you feel bored, don’t panic. Embrace it. It might just be the doorway to becoming a calmer, stronger, and more thoughtful version of yourself.