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Published VersionCC BY V4.0, Open Access
Magazine article
Boredom gets a bad rap. But science says it can actually be good for us
The Conversation, Vol.20 May 2025
2025
Appears in Thompson Institute Research Collection
Abstract
We have all experienced boredom – that feeling of waning interest or decreased mental stimulation. Eventually we lose focus, we disengage. Time seems to pass slowly, and we may even start to feel restless. Whether it be watching a movie that disappoints, a child complaining that “there’s nothing to do”, or an adult zoning out during a meeting – boredom is a universal experience.
Generally defined as difficulty maintaining attention or interest in a current activity, boredom is commonly viewed as a negative state that we should try to avoid or prevent ourselves from experiencing.
But what if there’s another way to view boredom, as a positive state? Could learning to embrace boredom be of benefit?
Details
- Title
- Boredom gets a bad rap. But science says it can actually be good for us
- Authors
- Michelle Kennedy - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Thompson InstituteDaniel Hermens - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Thompson Institute
- Publication details
- The Conversation, Vol.20 May 2025
- Publisher
- Conversation Media Group
- Date published
- 2025
- DOI
- 10.64628/AA.eye4c6ky3
- ISSN
- 2201-5639
- Copyright note
- © The Conversation Media Group. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
- Organisation Unit
- Thompson Institute
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991131905202621
- Output Type
- Magazine article
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