Boredom is productive
In an age of constant stimulation, boredom has become something we avoid at all costs. A 2023 study from the University of Virginia found that people would rather give themselves mild electric shocks than sit alone with their thoughts for 15 minutes.
But research increasingly suggests that boredom serves an important psychological function, especially for developing brains.
What boredom does for the brain
When we're bored, our brain enters what neuroscientists call the default mode network. This is the same brain state associated with:
- Creativity and imagination
- Self-reflection and identity development
- Planning and goal-setting
- Empathy and social understanding
For teenagers, whose brains are actively developing these capacities, regular periods of unstimulated time aren't just okay — they're essential for healthy cognitive development.