The Art of Boredom

Does it happen to you, or has it ever happened to you, that when you are with more people and there is a long silence, you feel uncomfortable? Do you feel the need to talk about something to break that silence?

We live in a world full of constant stimuli. We all always have an endless list of tasks to do, day after day.

Our children go from one extracurricular activity to another, from homework to video games, from the phone to the tablet. And when there is a moment of silence, an empty space, we feel the urgent need to fill it with something.

But what happens if we get bored for a while... and let them get bored?

I have often been surprised thinking that I can’t stop, that I am wasting time if I do nothing. Also saying “come on, let’s do this” when I saw my daughter sitting apparently doing nothing productive.

As if boredom were an enemy to fight, something to avoid at all costs.

But it turns out that boredom is the best soil for creativity. When nothing is scheduled, when there is no screen entertaining us, we are forced to look within ourselves.

And that is when the craziest ideas, the most imaginative games, the most incredible stories, the deepest questions appear.

Boredom is not wasted time. It is time to gain. It is the space where curiosity is born, where autonomy develops, where we learn to be comfortable with ourselves.

So this month I propose a simple (and difficult at the same time) challenge: leave empty spaces in your schedule and in your children’s.

Don’t schedule every minute of the weekend. Resist the temptation to look for an activity to do when you think — or are told — “I’m bored.”

And see what happens. You might be surprised to discover that the best adventures are born from boredom.

Until next month, and may you “Think deeply” a lot.