Scenario 1: “Mom, I’m bored,” a child from yesterday says to their parent mid-summer break, listlessly slumping on the couch.

Scenario 2: Current day. Said child is in their bedroom, scrolling on their phone, nary a complaint in sight.

Which is preferable? At first glance, scenario 2 seems to be the winner—the child is self-reliant and adequately entertained. But pause for a moment as boredom quietly slithers out the back door, unnoticed and unwelcome. Are we merely losing idle moments, a trivial inconvenience at best? Or is the loss far more consequential than we realize?

To answer this, we need to give voice to the functionality of boredom. Yes, it sounds like an oxymoron, but even the driest, dullest, most yawn-inducing moments have a purpose. First, boredom is a signal. It tells us when our current activities, lifestyle, relationships, or decisions no longer satisfy us—when our attention is unstimulated, or our curiosity is not adequately piqued.

Picture a child on the soccer field, halfheartedly playing a sport that they once loved. They stare at the sky instead of keeping their eye on the ball and wonder why they are suddenly so bored. Perhaps they need new challenges, or a new passion is calling their name. Boredom opens the mind to reflection and, maybe more importantly, provides insight into what we truly want.

Boredom also encourages us to problem-solve and think outside the box. When we’re bored, our mind naturally asks, “What can I do to cure this boredom?” Imagine yourself sitting in a........

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