"Il dolce far niente"—the sweetness of doing nothing.
A concept the United States just doesn’t understand.
A concept we NEED to embrace - hopefully in this new year!
Busy. Busy. Busy. Distracted. Distracted. Distracted.
Not just adults—kids too.
Heaven forbid kids get bored and figure out how to play by themselves.
Please, let them be bored.
When we are bored, the default mode network (DMN) of the brain activates. This network encourages inward thought rather than external distractions, and it’s INVALUABLE for creators, writers, thinkers—and anyone trying to be a decent human being.
Turn off your devices. Turn off the news. Stop responding to emails. Stop online shopping. JUST STOP.
When boredom hits, notice your urges. Do you feel like:
Grabbing a snack?
Mindlessly scrolling your phone?
Filling the void with empty conversation?
Shopping online?
Watching YouTube?
Scrolling Instagram or other social media?
Turning on the TV?
Ask yourself: why is it so hard to let boredom just be?
It’s through boredom that creativity, inspiration, and authenticity arise. These can't thrive in a state of constant stimulation and information overload. It’s common sense.
Let your kids get bored too. They won’t always have someone engaging them or making them feel special every moment. That’s not real life. A little boredom can spark a child’s creativity and self-directed learning in surprising ways.
But before you focus on your kids—get bored yourself. Be curious about your go-to distractions. Treat it as an experiment. If you feel the need to fill the void, use your hands and feet: journal, doodle, draw, walk (without a podcast or music).
This past weekend, I took a media-free day. It was raining, and I was nursing a stiff neck. With no distractions, I felt like I was going to lose it. And lose it I did. It wasn’t magical. I didn’t have a Eureka moment. But I did come face-to-face with deep emotional desires I’d been burying for a while. I also faced the harsh truth: I need to relearn how to enjoy doing nothing.
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