The Art of Being Bored

Technology ruined boredom. Yet, in its own special way, created a new kind of boredom. Whenever I go out, I can’t help but notice how much everyone fixates on their devices. This is an amazing thing for me to notice because I’m also one of those people with my head down and phone out. I also see lots of kids playing, or rather, watching devices.

Growing up I wonder how we ever made it through tedious, drawn out things without handheld entertainment. This included many long car rides, endless trips to the grocery stores with our parents, and lengthy family events. Somehow we managed. A small part of me thinks it’s because of the boredom. Consequently, we figured out all kinds of ways to keep ourselves entertained.

Now I find it’s too easy to be “entertained,” but in an almost mindless, hypnotic way. I’ve even noticed my own habits and patience levels changing because of these devices. For example, while I’m waiting for something, anything to happen, I whip out my phone. I also sometimes do things on my phone, or try to, while I’m doing other things. A popular favorite of mine is to watch TV and also scroll on my phone, or play games, at the same time. Essentially this means I’m not really focusing properly on either thing. Although I have two forms of entertainment in front of me, it sometimes creates this paradox of feeling bored. I suppose it’s because neither activity feels particularly fulfilling. If I was really enjoying the TV, I wouldn’t feel tempted by my phone. And vice versa.

For these reasons and others, technology ruined boredom. I can feel bored with, and without, my devices. And it feels very difficult to attain a suitable level of boredom. The kind of boredom we experienced could feel motivating. We would do something, anything, to alleviate the boredom. Even lazing around talking about being bored forced us to come up with ideas. Occasionally, some of them turned out to be something really good. Or at least a few good laughs trying something. Other times it required us to invite new people over to break up the monotony of our own company, giving us new opportunities to socialize.

I’m sometimes struck by the irony of creating technology that keeps us entertained in oh-so-boring ways.