Natalie Whatley

Given the season and that kids are out of school until August 24 (those of you with school-aged children have 71 days to ponder today’s riveting topic) there’s a “malady” that needs discussing. I’m not convinced it’s a disordered “condition”, but there’s research and supposed evidence “out there”. No matter, I still found a way to deal with the incessant whining that is the most common symptom.

There’s a phrase akin to profanity banned at The Whatley Estate. I considered making it a get-your-mouth-washed-out-with-soap offense, but decided I could get more creative than that.  What gets me so riled up? “I’m bored.”  Boredom: the state of being wearied or annoyed by tedious repetition; lack of interest or satiety, which means the state of being satisfied. Satisfied? Is that possible? 

I welcome the opportunity to be bored in the sense modern children use it, i.e. “I don’t have anything to do at the moment.” Spending some time sitting idle with the sole purpose of daydreaming is the stuff childhood summers should be made of. That doesn’t fit well with today’s got-to-have-non-stop-activities-scheduled ways. And for the record, as a mom of three, I do understand keeping young hands and minds busy to avoid mischief; I disagree with how society tends to go about that task. 

Have we really reached a point where we have to be occupied or entertained every second of every day? Don’t answer that. I’m not sure I can handle a reality that scares me far more than spending a summer with some white space on the calendar.

I once heard someone say that people who get bored are boring. Sounds a little harsh, but I’m a firm believer there is truth in that statement. Scientists fascinated by tedium say boredom is an “affliction” and that our brains are wired up in ways that make some of us more susceptible than others.

Extroverts are more easily bored than introverts and need far more external stimuli to make them feel engaged. People who have a hard time focusing on any given thing endure frequent feelings of boredom as well; they can’t pay attention long enough to know whether or not what’s going on in front of them is interesting, or not. Emotionally detached people also fall prey because they can’t quite put their finger on what would make them happy in the moment or for the long term.

The good news:  Scientists also claim being bored is a choice, much like deciding to be unhappy. That brings me to how I’ve cured those in my charge of voicing the boredom complaint. If someone dares utter “I’m bored” I will find a most unpleasant task to occupy them or assign something from my long to-do list. It’s amazing how whatever they were not doing suddenly becomes fascinating when held up next to scrubbing the grout in the showers with a toothbrush or folding their sibling’s underwear.

All said though, boredom gets a bad rap. It can be a positive motivator when one doesn’t concede to the negatives.  Boredom drives creativity, inspires innovation, provides opportunity for thought and reflection, and can also be a signal that a task is not worth continuing.

If it weren’t for some shades of gray, how would we know purple, or red? If we never experience dullness, how could we appreciate pure joy, passion, and excitement?

Most of the time, I choose not to be bored.  Sometimes I revel in it. But I don’t tell anyone; scrubbing grout is not fun, and my brother and sister-in-law probably have the folding of his underwear covered.

© 2009 Natalie Whatley

Tags: boredom