Scrolling through my feed, I stumbled upon a quote by Bruce Mau that made me pause: “Cool is conservative fear dressed in black.” At first glance, it seemed like a commentary on fashion. But as I sat with it, I realized Mau’s words went far deeper—they captured something essential about how we live today. In our quest to be “cool,” we’re avoiding risk, wrapping ourselves in the safety of what’s socially accepted. Yet, Mau’s quote also made me think about something even more pervasive: our fear of boredom.
We live in a world where boredom is seen as something to escape at all costs. With smartphones in our pockets, we’ve armed ourselves with constant distraction. We scroll, swipe, and tap through every dull moment, hungry for anything that fills the silence. But what if our obsession with avoiding boredom is more than just a habit? What if it’s a symptom of a deeper fear, much like Mau’s “cool”—a fear of confronting our thoughts and ourselves?
The Fear Behind “Cool”
The fear Mau talks about isn’t just about style. It’s about conformity, a desire to play it safe. Psychologist Erving Goffman, in his book The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life, explains that we all adopt roles to protect ourselves from vulnerability. “Cool” becomes one such role—a shield that allows us to avoid the discomfort of standing out, of being seen for who we really are .
In a way, digital distraction functions similarly. It’s a form of “cool” in the digital era, a way to dodge boredom and the vulnerability that comes with it. Psychologist Brene Brown, who has extensively studied vulnerability, argues that we’re afraid to be uncomfortable because it exposes us to risk . And boredom, with its empty, uncomfortable moments, presents a similar challenge.
The Neuroscience of Boredom
But boredom isn’t the enemy. In fact, research suggests that it’s one of our most powerful tools for creativity. James Danckert, a neuroscientist, has studied how boredom activates the brain’s default mode network (DMN). This part of the brain is responsible for daydreaming, introspection, and—most importantly—creative problem-solving . When we’re bored, our brains are forced to turn inward, generating ideas and solutions that don’t come to us in the midst of constant stimulation.
Sandi Mann, a psychologist who specializes in boredom, takes this further. In her book The Upside of Downtime, she argues that boredom pushes us to find new ways to engage with the world. Instead of avoiding it, we should be embracing those moments of stillness, because it’s in those moments that the seeds of creativity are planted .
Digital Distraction: The Modern Escape
So, why do we run from boredom? A major culprit is the digital world. Our devices are designed to keep us engaged, feeding us an endless stream of shallow content that provides quick hits of dopamine. Cal Newport, in his book Deep Work, explains that the more we engage with this shallow content, the less capable we become of focusing deeply on meaningful tasks . Every time we scroll through our social media feeds instead of sitting with our thoughts, we’re avoiding the discomfort of boredom—and missing out on the creative breakthroughs that could come from it.
But there’s a catch: digital distractions are not just convenient—they’re addictive. Adam Alter, author of Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology, describes how apps and platforms are specifically designed to capture our attention and keep us engaged . This constant engagement prevents our minds from ever fully disengaging, robbing us of the mental space required for creativity to flourish.
Creativity Born from Discomfort
Creativity doesn’t thrive in comfort; it needs discomfort, constraint, and the space to roam free. Rollo May, in his book The Courage to Create, argues that creativity comes from confronting anxiety and discomfort. Boredom, as a form of discomfort, forces us to wrestle with our thoughts, pushing us toward new and innovative ideas .
Even Madsen et al.’s research on constraint in creativity shows that limitations—like the enforced stillness of boredom—are crucial for innovation . Without the discomfort of boredom, we never get the chance to let our minds wander, to explore new ideas, or to confront the questions we’ve been avoiding.
The Cost of Escaping Boredom
Every time I pull out my phone in a moment of boredom, I’m choosing the easy route. It’s safer, more predictable, and comfortable—much like the “cool” Mau talks about. But there’s a cost. I’m missing out on the chance to let my mind drift, to discover new ideas, and to do the kind of deep thinking that can only happen when I allow myself to be bored.
Andreas Elpidorou, in his study on boredom, emphasizes that boredom isn’t a nuisance—it’s a critical motivator for seeking out new experiences and goals . By constantly escaping boredom, we’re robbing ourselves of the chance to unlock our creative potential.
Embrace the Boredom
So, what if we stopped running from boredom? What if we saw it not as something to escape, but as a gateway to creativity? The next time you feel the pull to scroll through your phone, resist it. Let yourself feel that discomfort. Sit with it. Because it’s in those moments—those quiet, empty spaces—that the magic happens.
We need to rethink our relationship with boredom and, by extension, with creativity. Boredom isn’t just downtime—it’s the wellspring of innovation. It’s time to strip away the layers of “cool,” the fear of discomfort, and the distractions that keep us from truly engaging with our thoughts.
As Bruce Mau’s quote suggests, we’ve been hiding behind the safe and the predictable for too long. But if we’re willing to embrace boredom, we might just find that underneath it all lies the creativity we’ve been searching for.
References
- Goffman, E. (1956). The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life. New York: Doubleday.
- Brown, B. (2012). Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead. Gotham Books.
- Danckert, J., & Merrifield, C. (2018). Boredom, The Brain, and Creativity: The Role of the Default Mode Network. Frontiers in Psychology.
- Mann, S. (2016). The Upside of Downtime: Why Boredom is Good. Robinson.
- Newport, C. (2016). Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World. Grand Central Publishing.
- Alter, A. (2017). Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked. Penguin Press.
- May, R. (1975). The Courage to Create. Norton.
- Madsen, S. R., & Ulhøi, J. P. (2012). Creativity in Constraint: How Limitations Fuel Innovation. Management Decision.
- Elpidorou, A. (2014). The Bright Side of Boredom. Frontiers in Psychology.
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