Now, we all know that there’s nothing morally or instinctively wrong with checking your social media timeline before getting out of bed. And neither is there anything wrong with keeping your computer’s email app open all day and switching over to it every few minutes.
But what these moments of “just checking” do is teach our brains that boredom is bad. They put a ceiling on our creative energy. […] Choosing to allow yourself to be bored when standing in line at the grocery store is also a choice to set yourself up to do your absolute best creative work.
Shawn Blanc on the “Margin for Creativity“. So true in my own experience. Yay for boredom!
So true! Yay!
Hello Fabian! I hope you are doing well!
It is extremely ironic that you distributed a post today about this topic because as of yesterday, I have been making a conscious effort to avoid checking social media so often. I definitely find myself unconsciously digging into my pocket to extract my smartphone whenever I have a free moment that can be “wasted”. Do we really have time that can be “wasted”? That’s for another time. (Just as ironic, if you recall, I was one of the people who held out for a very long time before getting a smartphone for fearing this would happen to me.)
I honestly find that having a smartphone and access to things such as social media have lead to more anxiety for me. It almost feels like added responsibility somehow. I feel this underlying need to look at what’s happening.
Not to abuse the word “ironic”, but I find it ironic that I become preoccupied with what is happening on social media rather than being aware of what is happening directly in front of me. I sense that I am losing the ability to exercise mindfullness whenever I engage in social media and obsessive smartphone checking whether it be for missed calls or text messages. It’s actually exhausting the more I think about it. The very device that was supposed to make life more enjoyable and easier has lead to somewhat of a disappointment for me. The truth is I think I miss being bored.
Now I realize what I am writing may sound extreme to some extent. However, there is a lot to be said for freeing your mind to be in the present moment and allowing yourself to be “bored”. I think I’d rather be bored than be annoyed, which is what I find myself feeling after reading much of the social media that is out there. Thanks for your post.
Hello Ed, good to hear from you! I’ve got another post lined up about “wasting” time… hope to finish it soon. I hope you’ll be able to let the social media anxieties go and once again enjoy a bit of boredom now and then!