What boredom reveals about my current state
Boredom is mostly seen as something negative. We want to kill boredom, because it feels bad. It is the signal that we are starved of engaging activities. My view on boredom is different now from when I was younger. Although the feeling itself is still uncomfortable, it is a privileged position to be in, because it reveals something positive about my current state. When I am not doing anything right now, it implies the following:
- I am not stressed, because stress would be "engaging" instead of something that bores me
- I have an abundance of time (which is a privilege), because otherwise boredom could not emerge
- I am taking a break from screen time (mostly an engaging activity)
- My mind can wander, solve problems, or be creative
It can also arise while doing something we are disengaged with. Then it is a clear signal from our brain to do something different, especially when it comes up during work or with our hobbies. Both of these things should not elicit boredom, so our brain is correct here: we should change the current state and do something more fulfilling. Here, the mentioned advantages do not apply, because we are still occupied with something else instead of ourselves.
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My reasons for staying fit