Benefits of Boredom

"Hail wasted moments of doing nothing — imagination's playground," asserts Peter Bregman in Psychology Today (May 2013). He talks about when you are bored: "The mind in this state has no particular aim. It's not efficient or directed. It revisits experiences, scans for opportunities, plays with problems — and that's when creativity comes alive. These days, we rarely reach the point of boredom, thanks to gadgets and anytime, anywhere entertainment. Occupying our brains is too easy — and that's killing our creativity. "When was the last time you rode an elevator and didn't pull out your phone? Every free moment has become an opportunity to get something done, or at least to be entertained. But doing nothing, being bored, is a precious thing. My best ideas come when I'm running without my iPod, simply sitting, or waiting for someone, or lying in bed before I go to sleep. These 'wasted' moments are the ones in which we most often unconsciously connect the dots."

For more information about Exchange's magazine, books, and other products pertaining to ECE, go to www.ccie.com.

© 2005 Child Care Information Exchange - All Rights Reserved | Contact Us | Return to Site