They are saying we are seeing the death of boredom, the biggest reason being our shift from idle moments to scrolling moments.
We literally jump out of our sleep to the messages on our mobile phone. I remember the mornings at the boarding school, waking up to the sound of the bell, and our teacher's voice calling us out to do our morning exercises on the dew-topped sand. She was sweet enough to give us a second round of bell to wake up from our thoughts.
Those moments of thought were important. The first thought used to be on how I could manage a few more minutes of sleep. I even contemplated sleeping in the cupboard. As sense would take over desperation, thoughts would go to my family and to the present moment and then, of course, to the day at school. Then it was time for yoga on the sand. The gentle sea breeze would welcome in the day as the sun would slowly light up the sky.
Jump forward to 2025. The alarm on my mobile phone wakes me up, and it gives me morning greetings from far and near, and not to forget, news. Before I see the sunlight, I see the screen light of the mobile phone.
Gone are the "lost in thought" moments.
If we have to wait in line for our turn, we soon turn to our phone to scroll. We don't think of striking up a conversation with others in the queue. Content creators are enjoying this obsession of the millennium.
We don't like to stroll anymore, but maybe with AirPods or earphones. Even here, we want someone else's song, words, or voice to fill our thoughts.
Maybe, boredom, you were good for us.
Boredom used to spark daydreams, creativity, and reflection. It is even linked to problem-solving and even empathy. Apparently, the brain's default mode network, activated during boredom, is crucial for memory consolidation and meaning-making.
Now, though, boredom is a trigger we want to avoid by indulging in videos. Indulgence is not just about watching videos but also about creating them. Inability to do so and not getting enough likes could create its own frustration.
How long can you sit still without your mobile phone?
This is an era where even mindfulness is appified and gamified. We need constant stimulation. Our minds know no rest.
This is what Blaise Pascal said: "All of humanity's problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone."
But on the other hand, boredom, according to research, can be more than just unpleasant, and in some cases, it may contribute to serious psychological distress.
Besides, a systematic review of 28 studies found that trait boredom is a strong factor in problematic behaviour such as smartphone overuse, social media, Internet use, gaming addiction, etc.
Digital switching was yet another problem that has been observed. Sticking to one video could be more enjoyable than jumping from one to another. Would we have to relearn to focus on content? This could be the result of having too many options. And with AI, even our thought process can be outsourced.
We are yet to see the results of today's toddlers playing with mobile phones as a toy. They already know how to operate and even pick up other languages. They do pick up some knowledge. What makes one wonder is their level of boredom and the required stimulation.
Shall we invite boredom for an hour a day to preserve it?
Could preserving boredom become an art?
A dopamine detox could reduce stress levels, provide better sleep, address negative behaviour, and, of course, increase awareness.
So, a detox might be just what we need. To start with, how about for one hour?
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