Benefits of Boredom: Why Boredom is Good for Your Brain
Is there a benefit to boredom? Boredom is usually seen as a negative term. Yet research increasingly suggests that boredom may actually have important benefits for the brain. It is associated with a lack of interest in one’s surroundings and the absence of stimulation. It seems to me that we have created a world that is set on eliminating boredom altogether. As soon as we are idle, the hands have stopped working, and the noises are gone, we begin to fidget and wonder what to do next.
A moment of waiting at a stoplight, standing in line, or sitting quietly now invites an immediate solution: reach for the phone. Notifications, messages, news alerts, and endless scrolling fill every pause. What was once empty space in the day is now filled with constant stimulation. As explored in our article on The Hidden Cost of Constant Stimulation, modern technology leaves very little room for quiet mental space.
Our desire to avoid boredom may also prevent the brain from doing important internal work. Neuroscience and psychology increasingly suggest that boredom may not be a problem to eliminate at all. In fact, boredom may play an important role in creativity, reflection, and mental restoration.
To understand why boredom can be beneficial, we first need to understand what the brain does when it appears to be idle.
The Brain Needs Idle Time
The human brain is not meant to operate at full attention every waking moment. When external demands slow down, the brain shifts into what researchers call the default mode network—a system associated with daydreaming, memory processing, and internal reflection.
Neuroscientist Marcus Raichle, who helped identify this network, explained that when the brain appears to be “at rest,” it is actually highly active internally. In a landmark study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Raichle wrote that the brain’s resting state may represent “the brain’s default mode of operation.”¹
This internal activity allows the mind to process experiences, consolidate memories, and make connections between ideas. So, you see, even when we are bored, the mind is actively doing things that help itself.
When every quiet moment is interrupted by digital stimulation, the brain has fewer opportunities to enter this reflective mode. Research increasingly shows that the benefits of boredom include creativity, reflection, and mental restoration.
Boredom and Creativity
Periods of boredom may also encourage creative thinking. When the mind is not focused on a specific task, it begins to wander. This wandering often leads to new ideas.
Psychologist Sandi Mann from the University of Central Lancashire conducted experiments on boredom and creativity. Participants who first completed a dull, repetitive task later performed better on creative problem-solving exercises.
Mann concluded:
“Being bored has been shown to encourage creative thinking because it allows the mind to wander and seek stimulation elsewhere.”²
In other words, boredom may push the brain to search for new ideas simply because it wants something interesting to think about.
Many creative breakthroughs—from scientific insights to artistic ideas—occur during quiet, idle moments rather than during periods of intense focus.
Attention Restoration
Another reason boredom can benefit the brain involves attention and mental fatigue.
Psychologists Rachel and Stephen Kaplan developed what is known as Attention Restoration Theory. Their research suggests that the brain’s directed attention—the type used for work, studying, or problem solving—becomes fatigued when used continuously.
Periods of rest or low stimulation allow attention to recover.
Natural environments are particularly effective at restoring attention because they gently engage the senses without overwhelming the brain.
As the Kaplans wrote:
“Natural environments provide opportunities for mental restoration because they allow directed attention to rest.”³
Moments of boredom often occur when people are walking, sitting outdoors, or simply letting their minds wander. These quiet pauses may provide the same restorative benefit.
The Problem With Constant Stimulation
If boredom is beneficial, the modern digital environment may be interfering with a natural cognitive process.
Smartphones and digital platforms are designed to capture attention continuously. Notifications, messages, and social media feeds create a steady stream of stimulation that prevents mental downtime.
Psychologist Adam Alter, author of Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology, argues that modern technology exploits the brain’s reward system by delivering unpredictable rewards—likes, messages, or updates—that keep people returning to their screens.
Alter explains:
“Smartphones combine several features that make them difficult to resist: endless content, social rewards, and the possibility of something new appearing at any moment.”⁴
The result is that boredom is increasingly rare, replaced by constant digital engagement.
The Benefits of Letting Your Mind Wander
Allowing the mind to wander occasionally may provide several cognitive benefits:
• Creative thinking
• Problem solving
• Emotional processing
• Memory consolidation
• Mental restoration
Many people report that their best ideas appear while walking, showering, or sitting quietly—moments when the brain is not focused on a task.
These experiences are consistent with what researchers observe in studies of mind wandering and the default mode network.
Relearning How to Be Bored
Because modern life fills every quiet moment with stimulation, experiencing boredom may require conscious effort.
Simple practices can help create space for the mind to slow down:
• taking a walk without your phone
• sitting quietly for a few minutes without distraction
• waiting in line without checking a screen
• spending time in nature
• allowing moments of silence during the day
These small pauses allow the brain to shift away from constant external demands and into a more reflective state.
Over time, the ability to tolerate boredom may strengthen attention, creativity, and mental clarity.
A Different Way to Think About Boredom
For most of history, boredom was simply part of daily life. Waiting, walking, and quiet moments gave the mind time to wander. Today those spaces are increasingly filled with digital noise.
Yet the brain still needs those quiet intervals to function well. Instead of seeing boredom as something to escape, it may be better understood as a signal that the mind is ready to rest, reflect, and perhaps discover something new.
My wife and I encourage boredom time for our son. It is a time when we will not, or cannot, entertain or engage with him. We do not give him a specific task, chore, or project. He is free to do whatever he wants to do by himself. He doesn’t have technology, so that is not an option.
This is when many parents give in to the whining “I’m bored” moments with a screen. It is not necessary. Kids can, and should, learn what to do with themselves when they are feeling bored.
We notice that he complains for a few minutes to see what we will do, and then he begins building with his Lincoln Logs, talking to himself, role-playing, and engaging his daydreaming imagination.
So too, adults can learn to put down their phone and enjoy all the benefits boredom has to offer. In a world designed to eliminate boredom, learning to tolerate quiet moments may actually strengthen the brain.
References
- Marcus E. Raichle, MacLeod, A. M., Snyder, A. Z., Powers, W. J., Gusnard, D. A., & Shulman, G. L. (2001).
A default mode of brain function. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 98(2), 676–682.
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.98.2.676 - Sandi Mann & Cadman, R. (2014).
Does being bored make us more creative? Creativity Research Journal, 26(2), 165–173.
https://doi.org/10.1080/10400419.2014.901073 - Rachel Kaplan & Stephen Kaplan (1989).
The Experience of Nature: A Psychological Perspective. Cambridge University Press. - Adam Alter (2017).
Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked. Penguin Press. - John D. Eastwood et al. (2012).
The unengaged mind: Defining boredom in terms of attention. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 7(5), 482–495.
Frequently Asked Questions About Boredom
Is boredom good for the brain?
Research suggests that boredom can benefit the brain by allowing the mind to wander and reflect. During quiet moments, the brain activates what scientists call the default mode network, which helps process memories and generate new ideas.
Does boredom improve creativity?
Studies have shown that boredom can encourage creative thinking. When the mind is not focused on a specific task, it begins to wander, which can lead to new ideas and problem-solving insights.
Why do humans feel bored?
Boredom often occurs when the brain lacks stimulation or meaningful engagement. However, this state may serve an important purpose by encouraging people to seek new ideas, activities, or solutions.
Is boredom healthy for children?
Boredom can be beneficial for children because it encourages imagination, creativity, and independent thinking. When children are not constantly entertained by screens, they often invent games, explore ideas, and engage their natural curiosity.
Articles in This Series
Article #1: The Hidden Cost of Constant Stimulation on the Mind
Article #2: Why Boredom Is Good for Your Brain
Article #3: The Science of Attention: Why Our Brains Need Quiet
Article #4: How Smartphones Rewire the Brain
Article #5: How to Break the Phone Addiction
Article #6: The Power of Walking Without Your Phone
Article #7: Why Silence Is Good for the Brain
Article #8: Digital Detox: What Happens When You Leave Your Phone at Home
Article #9: Children, Screens, and the Developing Brain
Article #10: The Lost Skill of Deep Thinking
Bonus Article: How to Build a Better Life
