Boredom and Creativity

Boredom and creativity are part of human nature. Even with all the advances in technology and entertainment, it’s hard to believe how easily we can still get bored. Many of us are like the kid with a room full of toys and video games who’s whining about being “sooo bored, because there’s nothing to do.”

Boredom might compel us to do something to change it. Like looking to some form of media as entertainment or by using own creativity to engage our mind solving a problem or creating something. What if the choice we make either strengthened or hindered our creativity?

Boredom as creative opportunity

Creativity birthed as a solution to boredom may have a greater influence on our lives than most people realize. Many great inventions, works of art, and classic stories were probably conceived during times of incredible boredom. You might have experienced this when a great idea or solution suddenly appears while you’re bored.

Creative ideas sometimes need something like boredom to put our minds in the right state to receive them. When we’re bored, we’re more open to anything that might stimulate our minds. Using your creativity to stimulate your mind allows you to take control of time you’re trying to fill up and your boredom may quickly disappear.

Boredom as creativity killer

Boredom can also be a creativity killer. When bored, many people choose passively watching TV shows or movies, or mindlessly surf the Internet. Instead of engaging their minds enough to cure their boredom, they can easily spend hours consuming all this media and still be as weary and restless as they were before. With little creative energy to start any new projects.

Missed creative opportunities can leave us feeling empty. Because it is more fulfilling to create than consume. I don’t think is a new truth, but something that’s been true even before technology gave us more free time and countless ways to fill it. Here is a verse from the Bible I came across recently that expresses a similar thought:

“The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing. But the soul of the diligent is made fat.” Proverbs 13: 4 (NASB)

Next time you’re looking to cure boredom, try using it as an opportunity to create something. Even if you don’t finish it, it can be a better and more fulfilling use of your time. Creativity is also something that needs to be worked like a muscle. So taking advantage of creative opportunities make it easier to engage your creativity when you really need to.