People dread being bored. There are benefits to be OK with being bored. It can be restorative, help exercise imagination, improve emotional self-control.
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Boredom is a state of dissatisfaction and disengagement with whatever you are doing, and an urge to do - anything else.
This hatred of boredom, makes you constantly seek distraction.
Boredom happens when your arousal - how energetic you feel mentally, is high, but there is nothing you can expend that energy on.
Therefore, you can deal with boredom in two ways:
❶ By expending your energy - by focusing attention on something, or
❷ By lowering your arousal through practices that relax you
When there is nothing that we can pay attention to, we seek distractions - things that occupy our attention with no useful purpose
Hatred of boredom has driven many of humanity's advances - whether it is games or other ways to entertain ourselves.
On the other hand, the benefits of learning to be OK with being bored can be significant
✅ Boredom is restorative. Our ability to focus is directly linked to our ability to deal with boredom effectively.
✅ Boredom helps to exercise imagination. This can often bring unexpected insights and innovation.
✅ Learning to deal with boredom can improve emotional self-control
If you wish to improve your ability to focus, the best thing you can do is to learn to be OK with being bored.
