“I’m bored” was a typical after-school proclamation during my youth. After finishing my homework and chores, I would declare this sentiment with utmost seriousness to my dad in his office.
Luckily, life blessed me with the world’s most patient father. Instead of lamenting how he wished he had surplus mental capacity, he’d wrap up work, then save me from my self-diagnosed syndrome. These excursions included trendy destinations such as the supermarket, the dump (a childhood favorite), and school pick-up for my brother.
As adults we’re told to be bored is bad. Only boring people are bored, or so the saying goes. But according to psychologist Dr. Heather Lench, who specializes in boredom, being in a relaxed state of ennui—something I had by the bucketload in as a child—can actually motive us to try new things or foster creativity.
As a kid, I had the mental space for those ‘perks’, now prime commodities for me and most adults. Some people will (and do) pay large sums of money for wellness retreats, digital detoxes, and trips where they physically have to be in a new environment so that they can relax into boredom. But these states—boredom and relaxation—are, according to Lench, two things we often conflate.