Why Boredom is a Good Thing

When life is overwhelming you with a high intensity of activities and schedules, I have good news for you: boredom is a good thing.

When kids say they are bored, many believe it is their parental duty to have a litany of suggested activities at the ready. They feel responsible for filling their days with endless entertainment. But many are realizing the benefits of unscheduled, empty time.

Not just for kids, but for adults as well, being bored can play an essential role in the health and development of the mind, body, and soul.

Mind

As the practice of meditation gains popularity, we learn the value of mindfulness. Being quiet allows us to be present in our surroundings. Take time for self-reflection and problem-solving. Nurture inner peace and faith.

With practice, we get more comfortable with silence. Allowing quiet moments in conversation reflects trust and comfort with the other person.

Children forced to deal with boredom learn strategies to plan and problem solve. They are more flexible and creative. They are better equipped to deal with not-so-fun stuff like long car rides and develop conversation skills, sharing more about themselves.

Author and developmental psychologist, Suzanne Bouffard says, “Some experts worry that stuffing our children’s schedules full of activities or leaving them to their (electronic) devices is spurring a crisis of dependence, a trend of young people not being able to manage their time or take responsibility for themselves.”

It’s amazing how creative we get when bored!

Body

Boredom can inspire you to exercise. Physical activity helps us rest better, look better, feel better. It just makes us better. Thankfully, we don’t have to run marathons to reap the benefits.

Go walking in a beautiful park, enjoying nature, singing birds, blooming flowers. Forget the electronic device and listening to the sounds of nature—I’m in! The point is, find an activity that you enjoy and will do regularly. Your body will thank you by being more restful at night, giving you more peaceful and restorative sleep. Your stress levels will go down and your immune system will get stronger.

What better way to nourish your body than with a relaxing cup of tea!

Soul

Look at boredom more like stillness, and stillness is trust, faith, and acknowledging that we don’t really control things through our activities. Psalm 46:10 is one of my favorite verses. After living in the same house for 20 years, we took advantage of a job opportunity out of state. Honestly, I had become involved in so many commitments I was looking forward to an excuse to break away from everything.

When we moved, we found a house we were excited to update, and that became my job. After a time, guilt set in. I was having too much fun and felt like I was supposed to be doing more. Should I start volunteer activities again or find a group to join? Yet, every time I opened my Bible, my reading led me to Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know I am God.”

I finally listened, and after finishing the house, we sold it for a good profit. A local Real Estate agent even offered me a job to stage her properties! After I embraced the stillness, I realized the blessing. I’m so glad I listened to God with my heart and didn’t get distracted by being involved in too many activities.

Psalm 37:7 instructs us to be patient, “Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.” Trust in God and His timing in influencing your decisions, listening to Him through prayer.

The next time someone tells you they are bored, say, “Hey, that’s great!”