Key Messages
How To Embrace Boredom And Unlock Your Creative Potential
It’s no secret that unplugging from all digital distractions and embracing the rare emotion of boredom can have a huge benefit on our brain.
In Bored and Brilliant, the author explains how boredom can actually be used to fuel creativity and don’t worry, he also provides pointers on improving digital habits.
If you’re looking to reap the many benefits of boredom, there are several ways you can do it.
You can take a long walk without worrying where you’re going or spend time doing non-tech activities such as reading books or playing board games.
You should also challenge yourself to unplug for at least a little while and take part in something called a “fakeation” – essentially taking a vacation from your daily life tasks.
Mobile games aren’t only a way to waste time either as they provide various mental-stimulation benefits that helps improve memory.
So go ahead and unplug from all the digital distractions, put away the phone and embrace the world of boredom!
We Crave Boredom — It Helps Us Become More Creative And Reflective
We tend to do whatever we can to avoid boredom, even going so far as to accept the pain of mild electric shocks rather than sit through it!
But in doing this, we might unwittingly be preventing ourselves from achieving great things.
A study conducted at the University of Virginia showed that participants were willing to pay a fee to make the shocks stop when presented with boring stimuli.
What’s more, 33% of these participants chose to press the button and shock themselves again – just for something different!
It’s clear that our brains don’t really shut off when we’re bored; they use nearly as much energy as when engaged.
The difference is that when bored, our attention tends to drift away from what we’re currently doing and towards more creative pursuits.
When freed from immediate demands on our attention, our imaginative side takes control and starts creating unexpected connections which often lead us to creative solutions.
Sadly, because we are so keen on shying away from boredom that some of our greatest breakthroughs may be left behind.
That’s why it’s important to embrace moments of boredom and let your creativity soar!
How Our Digital Addictions Are Killing Our Memory And Reading Abilities
Technology offers amazing convenience, but it’s important to be aware that this convenience doesn’t come without a cost.
Take smartphones and tablets for instance – they let us access data quickly and easily but when used excessively can alter the way we think and act.
For example, our reading habits have shifted dramatically since the advent of the Internet.
We no longer take the time to read or process information thoroughly; we’re content to scroll through articles and skim through text, rarely taking in all details.
This actually affects our ability to engage with long texts, as Mike Rosenwald found out when researching why people seemed unable to get immersed in books.
Many even stopped reading his own article before reaching the end!
Studies have also shown that technological conveniences such as e-readers may reduce comprehension; Anne Mangen at the University of Stavanger conducted a study which demonstrated that those who read a mystery story on an e-reader had more difficulty answering questions about chronology than those who read in print form.
Companies Manipulate Our Instincts And Create Habits To Keep Us Coming Back
When it comes to businesses, there’s one key asset that they will always strive to acquire: our attention.
Companies know how to manipulate us and get us on board with what they’re offering.
Whether it’s LinkedIn displaying a profile completion bar or mobile gaming companies limiting playtime or the number of lives you have, companies work hard to capture our attention.
To that end, they even use something known as the endowed progress effect, which makes people feel like they are closer to completion of the task at hand – this again adds incentive for sticking around and completing tasks.
On top of that, digital companies even go as far as trying to create completely new habits – like Uber providing a visible indication of where your driver is in order for you to emotionally connect with their service and use it again in the future.
In short – capturing our attention seems vital for most businesses, since it is worth more than any other resource out there.
Thus, it stands to reason that business owners will dedicate all kinds of effort and resources into grabbing it from us and keeping us addicted.
Take A Break From Technology And Work To Connect With Others And Improve Productivity
We’re no strangers to the idea of taking a break from technology– we’ve all seen the “no laptops” signs in cafes.
Even live music showcases sometimes require audience phones off at certain moments, proving that disconnecting from tech is both trendy and impactful.
And, it turns out that there are a range of benefits to unplugging over simply saving battery life or putting oneself into an anachronistic epoch for an evening.
Research from Virginia Tech indicated that setting aside cell phones actually aided in deepening empathy between people discussing, even if they knew each other well.
NYU professor Laura Norén observed increased engagement by banning laptops within her classroom and created notable results when it came to her students’ knowledge retention rates.
Finally, BCG consulting found success with Leslie Perlow’s proposed solution of giving consultants a midweek day off from work-related activities to promote personal recovery and business effectiveness.
It appears that when it comes down to it, taking breaks helps us reconnect with ourselves and our awareness beyond the virtual world.
It allows us not only to observe our reality but also appreciate those in it– making the life we share with others closer than ever before!
We Can Use Mobile Games For Good – Here’S How
Mobile games can be beneficial if you play them correctly.
Jane McGonigal, an author and game developer, recommends playing them in brief spurts and connecting the game to real life.
Doing this can improve your mental state.
On the other hand, if you get so immersed in a game that reality falls away, it could become a hindrance to your real life.
You might be using the game as an escape from your problems without ever solving them.
That’s why it’s important to choose your games wisely.
Choosing the right game occasionally for about ten minutes can have very beneficial effects by reducing stress and anxiety.
It’s also important that we teach our children healthy gaming habits instead of banning games entirely.
Consider computer teacher Joel Levin who allowed his four year old daughter to play Minecraft which helped her learn how to spell her first word!
He even took it a step further and adjusted Minecraft’s features for an educational version which is now being used in classrooms across 40 countries today!
Ultimately, mobile games can be both helpful or hurtful depending on how they’re played!
The Key To Navigating Our Children’S Technology Use: Guidance And Self-Limits
Young people are particularly vulnerable to the effects of technology, and it’s up to us to teach them how to use it in a responsible way.
A recent study by Dr.
Mary Helen Immordino-Yang demonstrated that children who frequently use social media tend to be less empathic and less able to solve complex problems.
Lauren Sherman’s research on the popularity of Instagram photos among youths shows that whatever number of likes each photo had, those with more likes were consistently more popular.
This means that young people—especially teenagers—are at risk of forming their opinions based on what is most ‘liked’ instead of what is right or wrong.
Waldorf schools take an extreme approach by banning technology entirely before seventh grade but there are other ways to help young people use technology responsibly.
For example, Longacre Leadership Camp allowed campers access to technology after the first week of camp and found that campers began self-monitoring their own use of devices and called out anyone using their headphones too often or texting outside designated quiet times .
Set A Good Example By Taking On The Bored And Brilliant Challenge
The Bored and Brilliant challenge is the perfect way for anyone to become a healthier and more mindful technology user.
It’s a week-long program designed to help you break free from your bad technology habits, reset the way you use your device, and leave you with improved digital health overall.
The challenge consists of seven days filled with mini-challenges that gradually help shift your habits.
For instance, on day one you should actively observe your device usage by keeping track of how many times you unlock it and how much time you spend on it.
On day two, try not to use your device when you’re on the move and focus on the world around you instead.
On day three abstain from taking any photos at all, while on day four delete an app that you overuse – really delete it!
After that, continue filling up those moments where you used to waste time before with activities that benefit both your physical and mental health, such as reading or exercising.
So why not give the Bored and Brilliant challenge a try? It just may be what it takes for us all to take control of our tech addiction!
The Bored And Brilliant Challenge: A 7-Day Program For Improving Your Digital Habits And Unlocking Creativity
The last three days of the Bored and Brilliant challenge is all about improving your digital habits.
On day five, you will be taking a fakeation – a period of time during which you’ll unplug from all your digital devices and distractions.
Before unplugging, set up an auto-response message on all channels so people know that you’re otherwise occupied.
Day six is about going out to public places and simply watching and listening to what’s around you, paying attention to buildings, people, sounds and smells.
This will help stimulate your creativity.
Lastly on day seven spend 30 minutes alone with no intrusions or distractions, then fill a page with ones and zeros as small as possible until boredom sets in stirring up creativity within you where you may find solutions for your problem.
Its important to understand that this challenge won’t solve your problems overnight but it does provide necessary tools to improve your digital habits and relationships with those devices.
Wrap Up
The final summary of the Bored and Brilliant book is clear: Technology can be incredibly helpful, but it can also be a huge challenge.
It’s important to assess our own interactions with technology and create space for ourselves to disconnect from our devices.
We also need to take steps to teach children how to use technology responsibly.
Taking on the Bored and Brilliant Challenge is one way we can set an example of how to break our reliance on tech and give ourselves space for creativity, productivity, and mindful connection.
Finally, Chade-Meng Tan’s four-step meditation exercise serves as a quick way of focusing the mind and building greater peace and well-being.
