BAW-ring!

We all know what it’s like to feel bored, but exactly what prompts, constitutes, or follows the condition of boredom is far less obvious and quite complex.

Or is it?

When I write my newsletter essays each month, one of the first things I do is look for quotes. When I googled this month’s topic of boredom, my head almost exploded from all the quotes and memes! Boredom from COVID notwithstanding, this month’s topic clearly strikes a chord with the human condition!

I resonated with some of the quotes; not so much with others, but all of them made me think.

Some of the quotes talked about how boredom precedes a period of great insight, creativity—even genius—and cautioned parents to allow their children to experience boredom (in order to avoid it!):

Others spoke about boredom as a behavioral pattern or personal deficiency:

Many blamed boredom on too much social media or too many choices:

Others related boredom to morality or perfection:

Some were philosophical:

Some relational:

In my opinion, this quote by Leo Tolstoy hit the nail on the head and I was going to wrap up my essay with his broader definition:

But then this morning while I was blow-drying my hair—which takes so long and is soooo boring—another thought occurred to me: Boredom is when you’d rather be doing something other than what you’re doing. In other words, when you’re not fully present. You’re not fully present when you’d rather be someplace else or with someone else. You’re not fully present when you refuse to be yourself. You’re not fully present when you’re judging people as being boring. You’re not fully present when you desire desires. (Of course, emotions and conditions other than boredom can be present under these circumstances. For instance, you’d obviously rather be someplace else if there’s a fire or with someone else if the person you’re with is attacking you, but when you’re bored, you’re not fully present.)

Boredom: not being fully present—Susan Johnson

It’s as simple as that.

Or is it?