I’ve been thinking about this too, and I agree with your conclusion.
The way I think about boredom is that since we (or the environment) block off external stimulation, our mind is forced to internally stimulate us (assuming that we have a constant need for stimulation).
Initially, as you mentioned, this leads to remembering small tasks and worries that have been on our mind. But after exhausting that reserve, it has no option except to stimulate us with things we haven’t been thinking about consciously, i.e—creative thoughts.
I’ve been failing to implement boredom as a habit, the closest achievement being meditation. The failures have been mostly due to finding new excuses and persuading myself not to do it “right now”.
But am curious to know how you’ve changed your actions after this.
I’ll admit it’s a constant struggle. This smartphone is both a blessing and a curse.
Did you ever follow those guided meditation apps? It’s all about recognizing you are distracted and moving back to your breath or some other concentration excercise.
Well, I try to catch myself in the act of avoiding boredom. Reaching to my phone. Or opening some social media app. Or even going to read LessWrong. Those are cues. Instead I now stare out the window a bit, accepting the boredom, doing a micro-meditation. Or I start writing a small note about some topic. I tried a Babble just now. But afterwards I looked up that babble link, got distracted by the LessWrong notifications and here we are, replying to your comment.
Ok, I am going to go back now. But I’ll think about this a bit as well.
I’ve been thinking about this too, and I agree with your conclusion. The way I think about boredom is that since we (or the environment) block off external stimulation, our mind is forced to internally stimulate us (assuming that we have a constant need for stimulation).
Initially, as you mentioned, this leads to remembering small tasks and worries that have been on our mind. But after exhausting that reserve, it has no option except to stimulate us with things we haven’t been thinking about consciously, i.e—creative thoughts.
I’ve been failing to implement boredom as a habit, the closest achievement being meditation. The failures have been mostly due to finding new excuses and persuading myself not to do it “right now”. But am curious to know how you’ve changed your actions after this.
Woah, thanks for your confirmation.
I’ll admit it’s a constant struggle. This smartphone is both a blessing and a curse.
Did you ever follow those guided meditation apps? It’s all about recognizing you are distracted and moving back to your breath or some other concentration excercise.
Well, I try to catch myself in the act of avoiding boredom. Reaching to my phone. Or opening some social media app. Or even going to read LessWrong. Those are cues. Instead I now stare out the window a bit, accepting the boredom, doing a micro-meditation. Or I start writing a small note about some topic. I tried a Babble just now. But afterwards I looked up that babble link, got distracted by the LessWrong notifications and here we are, replying to your comment.
Ok, I am going to go back now. But I’ll think about this a bit as well.