Boredom Isn’t a Crime

“Boredom is a crime”  — Bo Burnham, “Inside”

The world is an exciting place with endless experiences to explore. Recently, we traveled to the self proclaimed “Happiest Place on Earth”. No matter where we looked, we were surrounded by people on their phones. Even Disney amusement parks, with each detail carefully curated, aren’t engaging enough to overpower the crime of boredom.

It’s true – humans require downtime. Boredom provides us breaks during the day which are shown to have health benefits. People who experience moderate levels of boredom are more likely to engage in creative thinking and problem-solving¹. When traveling with a group, small breaks can be key to retaining one’s sanity. On the other hand, prolonged time together allows you to further build out relationships. Quality relationships have a powerful influence on our happiness, health, and longevity². Social interaction aside, prevalent phone usage is having a larger impact on our thinking. People would rather be electrically shocked than left alone with their thoughts³.

Spending mass amounts of time on your phone in social situations tells those around you they are unimportant to you.  Also, distractions impair the ability to build memories. There is a financial aspect as well. In this case, paying for an adventure, then distracting yourself from that experience with an activity you could engage in anytime from on your couch. Next time, leave your phone in your pocket and interact with those you are with. Encourage others to do the same and ensure your group has your focus.

Action: Plan an experience this week with friends and immerse in it. Don’t use your phone for the duration of the activity. Politely ask them to do the same.

Further Reading:

1. Boredom–understanding the emotion and its impact on our lives: an African perspective
2. Good genes are nice, but joy is better
3. People would rather be electrically shocked than left alone with their thoughts