The Power of Boredom: Why Doing Less Can Lead to More

Thought For The Week

In today’s fast-paced world, we’ve become so used to filling every idle moment—with a scroll, a swipe, a podcast, a quick call—that we’ve almost forgotten how to simply sit with ourselves and just be. But hidden in the quiet spaces between the distractions is something surprisingly powerful: boredom. Far from being a waste of time, boredom is an internal signal—nudging us toward reflection, imagination, or change. When we resist the urge to fill every silence, we give our minds space to wander, process, and connect dots we might not have otherwise noticed. In fact, research shows that boredom can spark greater creativity, problem-solving, and emotional insight. Boredom isn’t about having nothing to do: It’s about taking the opportunity to listen inward—something that’s becoming increasingly rare, and all the more valuable, in a world that constantly demands our attention.

Exercise Tip

It seems there’s a growing trend to make every workout feel like a high—gamified, competitive, novel, entertaining. Don’t get me wrong, variety and enjoyment have their place, but there’s a downside to believing that every session should be fun. Training isn't meant to compete with a night out, a shopping trip with your girlfriends, or the dopamine hit from your phone. When we constantly chase stimulation in our workouts, we risk losing touch with their deeper purpose: moving mindfully, building self-awareness, and showing up with consistency. In fact, some of the most transformative moments happen during the dull, repetitive sessions—those where nothing exciting happens, but you do the work anyway. It’s not glamorous or flashy, but learning to embrace a little boredom in your workouts can be the key to long-term progress.

Try this: Repeat a workout on purpose. Instead of chasing variety, revisit a session you've already done this week. Boring! Now pay attention—how does it feel different this time, physically and mentally?

Nutrition Tip

With easy access to takeaway meals, ultra-processed snacks, and highly palatable foods, it’s never been easier to choose what’s quick and gratifying over what’s genuinely nourishing. Compared to a fresh salad, a handful of fruit and nuts, or a simple home-cooked meal, these options can make real food seem… a bit boring. But not everything we eat needs to entertain us. In fact, the meals that feel the least exciting are often the ones doing the most good—fuelling our bodies without overwhelming them with sugar, salt, trans fats, and artificial flavours. These kinds of meals might not deliver a dopamine hit, but they offer something more valuable: steady energy, balanced blood sugar, improved digestion, and a clearer mind. Eating this way isn’t about restriction—it’s about intention. You’re not punishing yourself with “boring” food; you’re fuelling yourself in a way that supports how you want to feel.

Try this: Choose one meal today to be deliberately simple. Nothing fancy, nothing new—just real, whole food. Pay attention to how you feel afterwards: satisfied, nourished, energised, maybe even a little bit proud?

Links & Resources

Essay: Christine Rosen argues that smartphones have effectively erased the small, boredom‑induced “interstitial” moments of our daily lives, ultimately diminishing our creativity, patience, and emotional resilience.

Article: BBC Culture highlights voices like Anne Enright and Agatha Christie, showing how creative minds often find clarity in boredom.

Recipe: This salad is simple, tasty, nourishing, and perfect for a no-fuss meal that supports your body.

Inspirational Quote

“Boredom always precedes a period of great creativity.”

Robert M. Pirsig