Normally we strive to avoid boredom. Some of us will do anything to prevent that cerebral lassitude up to and including visiting that uncle that likes to drag out the slide projector (even in this digital age) and relive his past vacations in all their yellow-tinted glory.
I believe boredom is a precious thing, a state of mind we should pursue. Once boredom sets in, our minds begin to wander, looking for something exciting, something interesting to land on. And where that boredom takes us is where creativity lives.
My best ideas come to me when I’m unproductive (Take note, boss!). When I’m alone up north in a tent at night. When I am mindlessly sitting in a Starbucks, doing nothing, but nursing my venti Mocha Frappuchino Lite and people watching. When I am lying in bed unable to sleep from back pain my mind wanders These "wasted" moments, moments not filled with anything in particular, are vital.
They are the moments in which we often unconsciously organize our minds, make sense of our lives, and connect the dots. They’re the moments in which we talk to ourselves. And listen – or should!
To lose those moments, to replace them with tasks and efficiency or distraction, is a mistake. What’s worse is that we don’t just lose them, we actively seek to avoid them!
Every year I pack far too much camping and photo equipment and head up 35E to my favorite place in Minnesota – the North Woods. It starts when I’m driving the first few hours to Duluth, after I quickly tire of talk radio or Top 40 tunes. I turn off the noise and just cruise along letting all the BS and “stuff” melt away and by the time I hit Duluth and the last Starbucks (they really need one on the Gunflint) I’m starting to have a clearer vision of what’s around me. And a clearer vision of myself. I won’t be able to empty the recycle bin on my brain’s desktop until I get finished setting up camp but it doesn’t take long.
I try now to be far more conscious of using those extra moments, the in-between time, the walking, resting or just “wasting” time, to let my mind wander. I’d strongly suggest you give it a try. You’d be surprised at what that other part of your brain can can come up with!
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I totally agree: Boredom is VERY precious! And thank you for the reminder that we shouldn’t be so eager to fill up our time with tasks. (I have to constantly be reminded of that.) I’ve long believed that I could be in solitary confinement and still be quite happy living somewhere in my head. It’s not boring in here at all. What WOULD be a punishment would be to confine me without a pencil and piece of paper….
Nice blogpost, BTW.
Thanks for the kind words. I once believed any time that wasn’t filled with activity was wasted time but technically that time *is* filled with something – thought process. I’ve often thought that if I was stuck in a cabin up north I could be perfectly content as long as I had something to draw with. Not that I ever want to find out but solitary confinement in prison doesn’t sound all that bad, especially when compared to all the noise in general population. Oh, and the stabbings too, I guess!