Embracing boredom: A mental health boost in a busy world
Boredom, often perceived as a negative phenomenon, can actually benefit our brain and mental health. Scientists suggest that it's worth learning to accept it. "In small doses, boredom is the necessary counterbalance to the overstimulated world in which we live," they emphasize.
Boredom is a feeling we all recognize. It's usually associated with a lack of interest and difficulty in maintaining attention. However, scientists from the University of the Sunshine Coast in Australia point out that boredom can have positive aspects. They believe that for our brain, it is an underrated positive state.
The brain also works in a state of boredom, but in a different way
The brain network is a system of interconnected regions that work together to support various functions. Researchers describe it as comparable to a city where the suburbs (brain regions) are connected by roads (neural pathways), all working together to enable efficient movement of information.
"When we experience boredom – say, while watching a movie – our brain engages specific networks. The attention network prioritizes relevant stimuli while filtering out distractions and is active when we commence the movie," explains Michelle Kennedy, a youth mental health researcher, and Daniel Hermens, a professor of youth mental health and neurobiology at the University of the Sunshine Coast, as quoted by Science Alert.
The amygdala is the brain's internal alarm system
However, when our attention wanes, activity in the attention network decreases, reflecting our reduced ability to maintain focus on unengaging content. According to researchers, similar reduced activity occurs in the fronto-parietal network or executive control network due to the struggle to maintain engagement with an unengaging film. At the same time, the default mode network is activated, shifting our focus to internal thoughts and self-reflection. This is a basic function of the default mode network, called introspection, suggesting a strategy for coping with boredom.
"The amygdala can be likened to an internal alarm system. It processes emotional information and plays a role in forming emotional memories. During boredom, this region processes associated negative emotions, and the ventral medial prefrontal cortex motivates us to seek alternative stimulating activities," the researchers describe.
Boredom versus excessive stimulation
Spending every free moment with a phone can be costly for our nervous system. Overstimulation can lead to excessive stimulation of the nervous system. Scientists believe that the sympathetic system, which manages our fight or flight response, is designed to handle times of stress. However, when we're constantly stressed, absorbing new information and juggling various activities, the sympathetic system may remain active for too long due to the cumulative effects of repeated exposure to various stressors.
This is sometimes called "allostatic overload." It occurs when our nervous system becomes overwhelmed, keeping us in a state of heightened arousal, which can increase the risk of anxiety. Eliminating boredom deprives us of a simple and natural way to reset the sympathetic system.
How does boredom affect our brain?
In today's world, full of information and stress, boredom can be an invaluable tool for resetting our nervous system. "In small doses, boredom is the necessary counterbalance to the overstimulated world in which we live," researchers emphasize. This allows for emotional regulation and nervous system resetting, which is crucial for mental health.
It's worth noting that excessive stimulation can lead to nervous system overload, increasing the risk of anxiety. Therefore, scientists recommend that sometimes we should allow ourselves to be bored, as it can bring benefits to our mental health and creativity.
