Why does boredom matter?

In the book Why Boredom Matters (Cambridge UP, 2022), author Kevin Hood Gary argues that we are becoming, as a society, more easily bored and unable to experience true leisure. Instant access to information, media and games leads us to take distraction for granted and “rather than being capable of wonder or being astonished, our vision can become jaded.” (p. 80)

Boredom is a necessary part of the human condition, but addictive technology that requires little or no effort is a seductive way of avoiding it. Ironically, instead of decreasing it, this kind of avoidance actually increases boredom because we become less able to enjoy the beauty of the present moment. The answer, Gary writes, is to cultivate a spiritual power of “leisure.”

Gary defines leisure as “a state of inner tranquility that enables the soul to greet the world receptively, in awareness of its mystery, rather than as something to be mastered.” (p. 79) I think he means that leisure occurs when we train ourselves to be mindful of the present moment, without distraction, as we pursue an activity we appreciate just for itself. Leisure rejoices in the process, not the product. It is a way to celebrate the present moment. Find something you can do mindfully just for the sake of doing it. It can be anything, even something that others might consider a chore but when you focus on the process can bring joy. This might be meditating, cooking, making art, golfing, washing dishes, reading poetry, folding clothes, raking leaves, listening to music, taking pictures, hiking, running, swimming…. Any activity done mindfully and joyfully is leisure.

Author and psychologist Holly Rogers describes mindfulness as “an interesting state that is hard to describe but tends to be very satisfying, even blissful. It feels spacious, with room for whatever arises to move about…. Everything seems quite vivid, often there is a profound sense of well-being. A strong sense of connection to others emerges, and feelings of compassion naturally arise.” (The Mindful Twenty-Something, p. 25)

Join me in imagining how the world might be different if more of us put aside our mindless distractions and practiced mindful leisure?