In an era defined by constant connectivity and endless digital scrolling, the concept of doing absolutely nothing is often viewed as a waste of time. However, Arthur C. Brooks, a professor at the Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard Business School, argues that the elimination of boredom is not a convenience, but a crisis.
In a recent video feature for the Harvard Business Review, the author of The Happiness Files outlines a stark reality for the modern, over-stimulated mind: “You will have less meaning and you will be depressed if you never are bored.”
The Science of Doing Nothing
According to Brooks, the value of boredom lies in neurobiology. When human beings are not cognitively occupied by a specific task, the brain switches on a system known as the “default mode network.” While the term sounds technical, Brooks explains it simply as the structures in the brain that activate “when you don’t have anything else to think about.”
This network is responsible for mind-wandering, daydreaming, and self-reflection. However, entering this state is not always pleasant. The default mode network often directs the mind toward uncomfortable, existential questions regarding life’s purpose and meaning.
Because these thoughts can be unsettling, humans have a historical aversion to boredom. Brooks cites a study conducted by his colleague, Harvard psychologist Dan Gilbert, in which participants were asked to sit in a room for 15 minutes with nothing to do. Their only alternative to boredom was a button that administered a painful electric shock.
“Sit there bored or get a shock,” Brooks recounts. “A big majority of the participants gave themselves shocks instead of thinking about nothing. We don’t like boredom.”
The Digital “Doom Loop”
While humans have always disliked boredom, modern society has invented a highly effective weapon to kill it: the smartphone. Brooks notes that we now have the ability “almost completely to shut off the default mode network in our brains.”
Whether standing on a street corner or waiting for an elevator, the instinct is to reach for a device the moment a lull occurs. By constantly distracting ourselves to avoid the mild discomfort of the default mode network, we effectively block our ability to process life’s bigger questions.
“That’s a doom loop of meaning,” Brooks says. He argues that the correlation between rising rates of depression and anxiety in society and the ubiquity of smartphones is no coincidence. “If every time you’re slightly bored you pull out your phone,” he warns, “it’s going to get harder and harder for you to find meaning.”
The Prescription: Reclaim 15 Minutes
The solution, according to Brooks, is to actively cultivate boredom. He advises individuals to aim for “periods that are 15 minutes and longer of boredom” to see a tangible change in their quality of life.
His recommendations for breaking the digital addiction are practical:
- Go to the gym without a smartphone.
- Commute without listening to the radio or podcasts.
- Sit with your own thoughts, even if they are uncomfortable.
Brooks admits that he is prone to the same “pathologies” as everyone else and adheres to strict personal protocols to maintain his mental well-being. “I have a no device policy after seven in the afternoon,” he says. “We don’t have devices when we have meals… because we’re there for each other. We’re not there for people who aren’t there.”
Ultimately, Brooks suggests that the hollow feeling many experience today is a direct result of never allowing the mind to wander. The path to happiness and coherence requires putting the screen away.
“The news can wait. Seriously,” Brooks concludes. “Put down your phones. You need more meaning in your life.”