Why Boredom Leads to Innovative Ideas

There are many ways to keep boredom away in today’s world. However, its extinction is undoubtedly costing us a great deal that we are probably unaware of. It is critical to consider what happens to us when we are bored, and even more importantly, what happens when we are never bored. The answers to these perplexing questions are even more interesting. Manoush Zomorodi explains in this TED Business podcast episode how it is important to be productive even when you are bored, and how boredom leads to some of the most innovative ideas flashing in your brain.

According to Manoush Zomorodi’s research, when we engage in monotonous tasks believing we are devoid of thoughts, our brain actually becomes busy and comes up with some of the most innovative ideas. When we start daydreaming to relieve boredom, our brain becomes preoccupied with forming new neural connections that connect ideas and solve problems. According to Manoush Zomorodi, this is when we engage in autobiographical planning, which entails setting goals for ourselves and taking the necessary steps to achieve them. She does, however, explain how even leisure time is consumed by the small chores that must be completed, leaving no time for actual boredom these days. Creativity is a subjective concept that varies from person to person. However, she discovered in her research that boredom causes people to stop and notice the little creative things that they would not have noticed had they been occupied. The idea is to leave everything behind that basically consumes your time, causing your day to be completely consumed, leaving you with no time to be productive. Being bored allows you to notice many things and small details that are frequently overlooked under the guise of being busy, leading to some of the most innovative ideas. Creativity is one of the imperative factors in determining competency, and boredom, according to Manoush Zomorodi, is one way to boost it. Taking a break and doing nothing is a way to stop and realize little things when you are not engrossed in your daily schedules and meeting deadlines. She believes that boredom provides us with some clarity and allows us to set some goals. She concludes by advising us to use everything to our advantage, but not to the point where it consumes our mental ability to stop and think. She believes that by doing nothing, you are being your most productive and creative self, allowing yourself to come up with some of the most innovative ideas. The episode concludes splendidly by explaining why it is important to be bored occasionally.

Although being bored is not something we intend to do, it is also not something that is usually appreciated when one finds themselves in a situation where they are bored. This TED Business podcast, on the other hand, approaches boredom as an opportunity to cultivate some of your most innovative ideas, hence making us realize why is it important to take a break and also embrace leisure time.