The Good and Bad of Boredom

Every day, the mind is up and running, keeping up with constant business. The brain is remarkable in its ability to quickly adjust to changing circumstances or to keep track of concrete schedules based on repeated tasks. But what happens to the brain when we encounter boredom?

Boredom occurs when the state of mind has sensed a lack of interest or doesn’t seem to feel challenges compared to before. When the brain experiences boredom, the mind starts to showcase symptoms such as restlessness, apathy, and disinterest in experience1. The causes of boredom may be rooted in a repetitive routine or lack of challenge. Boredom is often accompanied by a sense of time dragging on1.

Though boredom is generally viewed negatively, there are benefits to experiencing boredom. For instance, studies have found that people experiencing a moderate level of boredom will be more likely to engage in problem-solving and creative thinking1. Additionally, boredom can encourage individuals to start new hobbies and interests, or pursue challenges for themselves. Furthermore, boredom can stimulate self-reflection on values, goals, aspirations, and motives1.

However, boredom does have negative effects on our well-being such as poor mental health, physical health problems, and productivity levels. In one study, 67% of men and 25% of women preferred to receive electric shocks willingly instead of dealing with boredom1. Boredom can also impact areas of our mental health, cognition, and behavior. Many studies have found boredom to be correlated with depression. For instance, a sample of 722 students scored high on both the boredom and depression scale1. However, it is important to note that boredom doesn’t necessarily lead to depression. Rather, boredom and general lack of interest may be a symptom of depression. 

Another study was conducted to examine whether mind wandering was correlated with boredom. The sample consisted of 32 participants who were given memory tasks. Each participant performed memory encoding tasks by indicating if the current on-screen object was the same as the previous one. Participants had thought probes to assess and indicate whether mind wandering or boredom was present during the task. Afterward, the results indicated the correlation between mind wandering and boredom influenced working memory performance2. Both mind wandering and boredom decreased whenever there was a high working memory load situation. Mind wandering was a predictor of memory performance2. In addition, boredom can influence impulsive behavior, leading to engaging in sensation-seeking activities. For example, a study was conducted on drinking behavior in adolescents and found boredom as the predictor of binge drinking1.

At some point, everyone will experience a moment of boredom. It doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Rather, it can be a moment to become more self-aware and try to understand why you are experiencing boredom, and it can be a prompt to seek out new challenges. There are many ways to address boredom such as resting, finding a new hobby, going outdoors, and embracing the reminiscing moment3. If the period of boredom continues to progress to a more persistent lack of interest, then it’s important to seek professional help. 

Boredom can feel uncomfortable and overwhelming for people. However, it’s a normal experience and part of life. The moment of boredom is a good opportunity to understand and address the brain’s needs and concerns.