Scott Adams on the Benefits of Boredom

Sunday, August 7th, 2011

Back in 2003, we had something called boredom, Scott Adams (Dilbert) quips:

We’ve won the war on boredom! If you have a smartphone in your pocket, a game console in the living room, a Kindle in your backpack and an iPad in the kitchen, you never need to suffer a minute without stimulation. Yay!

But wait — we might be in dangerous territory. Experts say our brains need boredom so we can process thoughts and be creative. I think they’re right. I’ve noticed that my best ideas always bubble up when the outside world fails in its primary job of frightening, wounding or entertaining me.

I make my living being creative and have always assumed that my potential was inherited from my parents. But for allowing my creativity to flourish, I have to credit the soul-crushing boredom of my childhood.

Comments

  1. Kalim Kassam says:

    The inevitable march of progress, from boredom to distraction. Vive la révolution!

  2. Cruft says:

    Well if your soul is crushed you must have one. Ergo… God. And He speaks in the “still small voice”. He wants us in a relationship, but we must be open to Him just like any relationship, and they require time and concentration.. That involves a choice. So see if He will speak to you. Put down the stuff and go into the quiet.

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