Even when I’m not doing anything, I’m doing something.
You know what I mean.
With the world at my fingertips through my phone, it almost feels unacceptable for me to simply do nothing, even if it is just for a few minutes.
For example, I can’t just sit in my car at school drop-off and pick-up. I feel like I have to use that time to work on my next grocery pick-up order.
When I’m waiting to pick up my groceries, I need to finish the next chapter in my book.
When my leftovers have three minutes left in the microwave, I’ll unload the dishwasher or wipe down the countertop.
I listen to podcasts as I fold and put away laundry.
Even when I’m waiting in a checkout line, I’ll respond to texts or scroll through Instagram stories. It’s as if I’ve convinced myself that being alone with my own thoughts for two minutes would be a terrible waste of time.
I recently realized that I can’t remember the last time I just did… nothing. There’s always so much to do that I feel compelled to fill every spare moment with something productive.
As a society, we pride ourselves on being busy and filling every second with activities. We compare schedules, talk about how much we have going on, and measure our days by how much we accomplish. If we aren’t crossing things off a to-do list, it can feel like we’re falling behind. The idea of sitting quietly for a few minutes almost feels lazy, even when we desperately need the break.
My kids say it to me all the time: “Mom, I’m bored.”
My response is always the same one my dad gave me as a kid: “Being bored is good for you.”
And it turns out he was right. According to a 2022 article from the Mayo Clinic Health System, boredom can spark creativity and help people find solutions to problems that have been weighing on them. So many people say they get their best ideas in the shower because their minds are free to wander while their bodies are occupied with a simple, routine task.
Some of our best thinking happens when we stop trying so hard to think.
I’m realizing that I want to give myself permission to simply sit and be sometimes. To stop treating every spare few minutes as an opportunity to accomplish one more thing.
It’s okay if I don’t answer emails while waiting to pick up my kids. It’s ok to just watch my food revolve in the microwave instead of completing a quick chore.
Maybe doing nothing isn’t a waste of time after all. Maybe the next time I have a few minutes to spare, I’ll resist the urge to fill them. Maybe I’ll just sit quietly and let my mind wander.
After all, if being bored is good for kids, it might be good for adults, too.
Source
Mayo Clinic Health System. (2022, September 14). Boost your brain with boredom. https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/boost-your-brain-with-boredom
