Bring Back Boredom

A few years ago, I realized that I hadn’t been truly bored in decades.

I worked with great people. My tasks were usually interesting. (And I had an endless stream of great music to play during the frustrating, repetitive parts of the job.)

But I noticed that I was treating my downtime differently.

Content—genuinely good content—had become a trap.

I’m not saying I’ve solved this problem. I haven’t.

My book collection still grows faster than my understanding. I can’t keep up with the news. There’s a long list of great movies and shows I haven’t seen. My podcast queue doesn’t seem to get any shorter. (And there’s a long list of less useful things that I’m grateful to enjoy!)

But my life improves when I am deliberate with my content consumption.

FOMO—the fear of missing out—is real. But so is JOMO—the joy of missing out.

My work is better when my mind has time to wander. My relationships are better when my headphones are off and I’m present with the people I care about. I live my values more fully when I make space for self-reflection.

On the days when I consume less content, I’m not bored for long. My mind turns to curiosity, creation, and connection. And for me, that is a pathway to a much more fulfilling life.