You Need to Be Bored. Here's Why.

Dr. Arthur Brooks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orQKfIXMiA8

The Science of Boredom: The Default Mode Network

• What it is: Boredom occurs when we aren’t cognitively occupied, which activates the “Default Mode Network” (DMN) in the brain.
• The Conflict: Humans generally dislike this state. A study by Dan Gilbert showed that people would actually prefer to give themselves painful electric shocks rather than sit in a room with nothing to do for 15 minutes.
• Why we avoid it: The DMN makes us think about uncomfortable existential questions, like “What is the meaning of my life?”.

The “Doom Loop” of Digital Distraction

• The Problem: We have effectively eliminated boredom using smartphones. Even a 15-second wait at a traffic light prompts us to check our screens.
• The Consequence: By shutting off the DMN, we avoid the very questions that lead to life’s meaning. This contributes to the modern “explosion of depression and anxiety” and a sense of hollowness.
• Creativity: Constant stimulation kills creativity. You are likely to have your most interesting ideas when you are “in your head” without devices, such as during a workout or a commute.

Practical Protocols for Reclaiming Meaning

Professor Brooks suggests several “prescriptions” to practice the skill of being bored:

• The 15-Minute Rule: Start getting better at periods of boredom that are 15 minutes or longer.
• No-Device Zones:
  • After 7:00 PM: Implement a no-device policy in the evening.
  • Bedroom: Do not sleep with your phone in the room.
  • Meals: No phones during family meals to ensure you are “there for each other”.
• Screen Cleanses: Regularly engage in longer periods of social media fasts to break the dopamine addiction.
• Emergency Management: Use your phone’s settings to allow only one or two vital numbers to reach you, so you don’t use “emergencies” as an excuse to keep scrolling.

The Benefits

By mastering the “skill of boredom”, you will find that:

1. You become less bored with ordinary things, including your job and relationships.
2. You begin to answer the big questions regarding purpose, significance, and coherence.
3. You may ultimately become happier.

Conclusion: “Put down your phones. You need more meaning in your life.”