I always get to class about 15 minutes early. Once I arrive, I find myself scrambling to figure out how I can make the most of these extra minutes. I get my laptop out and try to get work done, scroll through social media, check my email, play games; I’ll do anything to avoid boredom. Boredom scares me, because I feel like any time spent being bored is a waste of time. As Cornell students, we all feel this pressure to be constantly busy and have a belief that busyness equals success.
A study done in 2014 asked if being bored made people more creative. Turns out, it does. When participants completed a boring task before being asked to complete a creative task, they came up with significantly more ideas during the creative task. Other studies have found similar results. Think about when you’re most creative. It’s probably not when you’re trying to beat your high score on your favorite app. For me, it’s usually right before I go to sleep or while walking to class.
Research by Gloria Mark, from University of California Irvine, found the more people switch their attention, the higher their stress levels. Think of how many times you switch your attention during the day, from social media to readings for your classes to texting friends – it’s a lot, and it could be causing you stress if you don’t give yourself a break. Even just the awareness that you might be getting texts or emails on your phone is a self-interruption and multitasking! And multitasking doesn’t work. Trying to do so only impairs your performance in all areas.
So what’s the solution to feeling less stressed but still being productive? The answer is boredom, as strange as it may sound. While multitasking rather than just sitting and doing nothing may seem to be a more worthwhile endeavor, it’s just causing your brain to go into overdrive, and it doesn’t give you any time to relax. A 2006 study by accounting firm Ernst & Young found employees that took more vacations were actually more productive than those that took less vacations. A 2008 study of collegiate basketball players found getting at least 10 hours of sleep each night led to increased athletic performance.
Boredom doesn’t have to be just in the form of vacation or sleep, however. You can incorporate boredom into your daily routine. For example, instead of using or holding or looking at your phone while walking to class, put it in your backpack and enjoy the scenery and the exercise. While waiting for class to start, use the time to people watch or sit peacefully and think rather than trying to get some last minute work done. Go to sleep 10 minutes earlier than you need to and spend that extra time relaxing and letting your brain wander.
It’s not an easy challenge. We’ve all been taught to work hard and to try to do everything all at once. More important though, is remembering to give your brain a break every day. While watching YouTube videos is fun, this break should be from all distractions, technological and otherwise. Engage with your own mind, and you’ll be surprised how your daily moments of boredom aren’t really that boring at all.