Boredom isn’t just good for you; it is necessary for your mental, physical, and spiritual well-being.
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Smartphones and social media are harming the minds of children and teens. This is a true statement, and a lot of recent data backs up the negative impact technology is having on young people’s education, including reading, math, sciences, as well as their mental health and wellness. Books like Jonathan Haidt’s The Anxious Generation document the concerning data behind these trends.
But if we’re being honest, most adults aren’t doing much better. The only significant difference is that our brains were allowed to develop during adolescence before all of this technology took over and became a part of our daily lives.
How many of us use our phones as a boredom tool when we’re waiting on a flight, an appointment, or even using the bathroom? It has become a distraction device for nearly all of us. How often have we found ourselves watching TV and then start scrolling on our phone in the middle of a show? Who hasn’t gone to dinner with a friend or loved one and ended up answering texts or scrolling on social instead of talking to the person sitting across from us? Gen Z calls it “doom scrolling,” which means the act of continuously consuming negative news or social media content, despite feeling anxious, depressed, or overwhelmed. This constant stimulation does the opposite of what boredom provides—it drains rather than restores.
Multiple studies from 2024-2025 demonstrate just how important boredom is for creative thinking and mental health. Ever wonder why you have so many great ideas in a staff meeting or a church service when it is impolite to have your phone out? Research shows that the brain’s “default mode network” activates during these moments of rest, allowing the mind to wander and think of ideas when you’re not being distracted by the endless cycle of push notifications coming from that screen in your hand.
If you’re interested in taking a deeper dive, here are some recent publications on boredom:
“Boredom Is Good for You: Why Embracing It Calms the Brain” (Neuroscience News, May 2025)
This article explains the neuroscience behind boredom, detailing how the brain shifts from external attention to the default mode network. It describes how this process supports emotional regulation and can act as a “necessary counterbalance to the overstimulated world.”
“The Hidden Benefits of Boredom: How Downtime Supports Mental Clarity” (Raleigh Oaks Behavioral Health, March 2025)
This piece discusses how embracing boredom can lead to creativity, self-reflection, and mental clarity. It cites research connecting mind-wandering to increased creative thinking and references famous examples, like J.K. Rowling conceiving Harry Potter while on a delayed train.
“The Importance of Boredom for Good Mental Health” (johndray.com, October 2024)
This blog post emphasizes the need for regular pauses from constant stimulation to support good mental health. The author argues that in a world of constant device usage, intentionally creating moments of boredom allows for mental rest and emotional regulation.
As Christians, we have another reason why pursuing boredom can be a godly pursuit. In fact, God’s word offers many examples on choosing quiet time.
In Psalm 46:10, we read: “Be still and know that I am God.” Steven Curtis Chapman captured this truth beautifully in song, with lyrics that echo our need for stillness:
“Be still and know that He is God
Be still and know that He is holy
Be still, oh, restless soul of mine
Bow before the Prince of Peace
Let the noise and clamour cease”
“Let him sit alone in silence, for the Lord has laid it on him.” (Lamentations 3:28) gives us a model for dealing with suffering through silence and reflection.
In Luke 5:16, we read: “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” Several times, we see Jesus find a quiet place to pray. Most notably in the Garden of Gethsemane, when the disciples fell asleep waiting for Jesus.
Our relationship with God grows stronger in quiet spaces where we can hear from the Lord. Consider the example in 1 Kings 19, God speaks to the prophet Elijah not through a powerful wind, an earthquake, or a fire, but in a quiet, gentle whisper. This encounter occurs after Elijah flees to Mount Horeb in fear and exhaustion following a major spiritual victory.
Here is my call to action, brothers and sisters in Christ. Join me in creating time where the phone is off. No distraction, no social media, no annoying push notifications. Ironically, as I’m writing this, my phone is buzzing from notifications begging me to look at it.
Practical Steps to Embrace Boredom:
- Daily quiet time: Pick a time of day that is best for you and give yourself at least 15 minutes of quiet time to read the Bible.
- Silent commutes: Next time you’re in the car alone, keep the radio off and just allow the silence to guide your thoughts in prayer and conversation.
- Phone-free moments: Headed to the bathroom? Leave the phone on the couch.
- Turn off notifications: Your phone doesn’t have to be as distracting as it has become. Go into your settings and turn notifications off on all non-essential apps. That means social media, food apps, banking, and shopping. Making your phone less noisy will make your mind less noisy.
Boredom is a good thing. It is good for the mind, soul, and body. Take corrective action and make a plan to improve your well-being. Put the phone down so you can hear God whisper.
