Be Bored, It's Easy

Harvard professor Dan Gilbert ran a study where he placed students in a room with nothing to do except sit with their thoughts, with the option to push a button that would administer a painful electric shock. To his amazement, many of his students pushed the button! They would rather feel pain than feel bored.

That pause at a stoplight (you know you do it). That line at the coffee shop. That boring part of a movie. We feel bored, and we push a button.

Arthur Brooks, a leading voice in the psychology of happiness and professor at Harvard, shares this experiment a lot to make the point that removing boredom is something we default to. But instead of reaching for a phone to get that quick fix, it's in boredom that we actually start to think creatively.

Naturally, we humans hate boredom and do whatever we can to get out of it. But here's the kicker! We figured out boredom, and it's that piece of plastic, metal, and glass in your pocket. We did it!! Except constantly escaping boredom may not be doing us any favors.

Here's a challenge. Try going to the gym with no phone. Can you make it through with just the thoughts in your head and no podcast or pump-up music?? Try getting through that red light without picking up your phone. Can you do it?

Listen to Arthur talk more about this in detail HERE.

So what's the CliffNotes version of how to move beyond boredom and unlock an incredible new way of living? Here are a few quick tips from Arthur:

No devices after a certain point of the day. Try putting the phone away an hour before bed.

No devices during meals. Make some of that good ol' fashioned eye-to-eye contact.

Regular device cleanses or fasts. Analog Sunday anyone???

Honestly, enacting the above is incredibly easy. I'm sure you'll be able to do it day one. Week one. Because being bored is easy. Right?

Sarcasm aside, in today's world, this just might be one of the most difficult challenges.

But as we know from doing our Analog Sundays, some of the greatest rewards, and the opportunity to enjoy a truer, happier life, start when you put down the distraction machine, feel bored, and build from there.

We know this to be true, and it's why we do it. Week in, week out!

Food For Thought

Which of the above challenges are you going to tackle first?

You do not need a digital detox.

You just need a day (a week).

Get a life,

Analog Sunday

The Rhythm

Every Analog Sunday is built around five simple practices:

Eat something made with care.
Play without keeping score.
Make something with your hands.
Read something that expands your mind.
Rest without feeling guilty.