Why Feeling 'Bored' Can Be a Superpower According to Experts

Boredom often feels like a drag, but it’s actually a powerful signal that your brain needs space to create, reflect, and grow. Learning to embrace it can unlock surprising benefits in your life.

The Core Idea

We tend to treat boredom like an emergency — something to fix immediately. But boredom isn’t just empty time or a lack of stimulation. It’s a message from your brain saying, “Hey, this isn’t engaging or meaningful enough. Let’s find something better.” When you give your mind a break from constant noise and distraction, it naturally starts to wander. This mental wandering is where creativity and fresh ideas often take root.

Experts like Dr. Sandi Mann call boredom “an essential part of the creative process.” Harvard professor Arthur C. Brooks explains that when you’re bored, your brain’s default mode network kicks in. This network allows your mind to drift, reflect, and stumble upon new and interesting thoughts. In other words, boredom activates your brain’s creative engine.

Think about J.K. Rowling, who came up with the idea for Harry Potter during a long, uneventful train ride. That stretch of boredom gave her the mental room to dream up an entire magical world. This is proof that boredom isn’t a problem to solve but a superpower to harness.

Practical Steps

So how do you make boredom work for you? Here are some real-world ways to turn downtime into a creative and reflective advantage:

Embrace Unstructured Downtime
Instead of rushing to fill every moment, let yourself engage in low-stimulation activities like walking or doing simple chores. These moments let your mind wander naturally.
Schedule Device-Free Time
Phones and screens constantly flood you with information. Setting aside regular periods without digital distractions helps your brain disconnect and daydream.
Keep a Notebook Handy
Ideas often strike during quiet moments. Jotting them down can help you capture creative sparks before they slip away.
Reflect and Reassess Goals
Use boredom as a prompt to check in with yourself. Ask: Am I satisfied? What do I really want? This kind of quiet contemplation helps clarify your priorities.
Engage in Open-Ended Activities
Choose hobbies that encourage creativity, like drawing, building, or brainstorming. These let you experiment without pressure.
Introduce Small Challenges
Gamify dull tasks or add mini-goals. This transforms monotony into motivation and keeps your brain engaged.
Encourage Boredom in Education and Work
Schools and workplaces can benefit by allowing unstructured time. This can foster independent thinking, innovation, and problem-solving.

I remember when I quit doom-scrolling on my phone. At first, I felt restless, but soon I noticed my mind drifting to new ideas and projects. That boredom gave me space to reflect and plan in ways I hadn’t before.

Why It Works

Boredom isn’t just a mental pause; it’s an active process with several benefits:

Boosts Creativity
When your brain isn’t busy with constant input, it wanders and makes new connections. Studies show people who complete boring tasks often come up with more creative ideas afterward. This craving for novelty pushes you to think outside the box.
Enhances Self-Reflection
The default mode network activated during boredom lets you look inward and assess your values and goals. This quiet reflection can lead to personal growth and clarity.
Triggers Goal-Setting and Motivation
Boredom signals when something isn’t fulfilling, nudging you to pursue more meaningful or challenging activities.
Sparks Innovation and Problem-Solving
Freed from immediate tasks, your mind can explore new solutions. Google’s famous “20% time,” where employees work on side projects, has produced breakthroughs like Gmail and Google News.
Builds Emotional Resilience
Occasional boredom trains your brain to tolerate stillness and distraction, increasing your ability to focus and tackle harder challenges.

Steve Jobs credited boredom for sparking curiosity and innovation throughout his career. Even during the COVID-19 lockdowns, many people experienced a burst of creativity as they reconnected with slow, quiet moments.

For example, one study found that participants who engaged in boring tasks performed better on subsequent creative assignments, showing boredom primes your brain for fresh ideas. You can read more about this at Harvard Business Review’s article on boredom and creativity.

Final words

Boredom isn’t the enemy. It’s a powerful signal that your brain needs space to create, reflect, and grow. When you stop fighting it and start embracing it, boredom becomes a superpower for creativity, self-awareness, and motivation.

By carving out moments of unstructured downtime, disconnecting from devices, and welcoming quiet contemplation, you give your mind the room it needs to innovate and set meaningful goals. Instead of seeing boredom as a void, I encourage you to view it as fertile ground for fresh ideas and personal breakthroughs.

This shift in perspective can unlock new levels of growth in both your personal life and work, turning boredom from a frustrating experience into a springboard for meaningful progress.