People nowadays would have something within reach to cure their boredom. If someone is bored, that person will just have to pull out their smart phone and browse their go-to social media network or play an online game.
That pushes boredom a little bit to the side at least for a little while. But according to one recent study, boredom is actually a meaningful experience.
Does boredom push a person to a deeper state of creativity? There are two university studies that are currently focusing on boredom, as reported by Wired. According to one Texas A&M University psychologist and researcher Heather Lench, boredom becomes a seeking state. In their study, boredom sparks creativity because the mind is hungry for stimulation. Lench explains that the mind is seeking. Another theory on boredom comes from Sandi Mann, a psychologist from the University of Central Lancashire. For Mann, boredom is a day dreaming state. The mind will enter a state of invention where the person dreams of creation. Mann adds that philosophers have done this for centuries.
So if a person is bored out of their mind, will reaching for that smart phone solve the problem? Mann says that is only a temporary solution. There is a deeper sense into the subject. For Mann, tinkering with one's phone is likened to eating junk food.
Boredom is seen as a negative type of behavior even today. According to Mann, boredom is a motivating force, as reported by Open Culture.
Now, if a person is bored out of their mind, Mann says that leaning into boredom will enforce creativity and a deeper sense of thinking. But philosopher Bartrand Russell says to avoid the bad type of boredom. This is the lethargic kind that makes a person feel like they can not be bothered to do anything.
Check out the TED Talk video below on boredom:
