“MOOOOOMMMMMMMMM! I BORED”

Please don’t tell me I was the only one who said this as a kid. I got bored…. a lot. But you know what my mom and dad did- or more what they didn’t do? Fix my boredom. They would suggest ideas, but they wouldn’t go out of their way to fill my time (except maybe with chores I didn’t get done earlier). They pushed me to figure it out. There was constant encouragement to use my imagination and be adventurous in the backyard. If I didn’t go outside, be creative and imaginative inside was the other option.

As we grew up, and kids these days too, there is MAJOR value to boredom. Not filling your kids’ time gives them room to think, to create, to explore without limitations. There have been endless studies done on how, as children, being bored can help develop skills, creativity, and self-esteem. Boredom is few and far between these days due to screen time, parents “fixing” boredom with planned activities, and over-scheduled lives.

Part of the reason that I, personally, chose to start on this journey of The Calming Shift is to encourage my son to live in the boredom of no plans. I want him to know that we can still have an amazing life, maybe even better, if we don’t fill every minute of every day. Learning how to problem-solve while also knowing how to entertain himself is a skill that so many are losing. We need to encourage our children to have the time to figure it out themselves.

On top of it all, boredom gives a kid a chance to ask the questions, think outside the box, and learn how to figure out the answers. We live in a world where we can Google a question and instantly get an answer. Giving a kid the opportunity to figure it out provides them with the skills of critical thinking and problem-solving. Giving them a step up before they even begin to read or go to school.

Boredom is encouraged for kids from birth through high school. Then, when you go off to college, you are suddenly too busy to do anything other than cram more information into your mind! Other than getting yourself into trouble (don’t lie, you know most of us have those college years we don’t talk about), there isn’t a ton of extra time. Boredom isn’t an option. Unless someone in their early 20’s is intentional with being creative, curious, and not filling their time from wake up to when their head hits the pillow, they will start to lose the imagination they spent 20+ years creating!

If that wasn’t bad enough, you graduate and then voila! You’re an adult whose life is filled with all the chores, family, and responsibilities. Not only do we fill our lives to the brim with all the things, but we then spend our downtime scrolling through some sort of media, watching TV, or interacting with a screen of some sort. This takes all the time away from any chance of being truly bored.

Are you uncomfortable with boredom? I am! I will be the first to admit that sitting, without something to do or keeping my mind occupied, is really tough. Most nights I am watching TV, scrolling on my phone, and playing games on my phone all at the same time. How is that letting myself find boredom?

Let’s try this together. Tomorrow or this week, find an hour of your time that you can sit and be bored. Let yourself enjoy the quiet (or if your house is filled with the sound of kids, enjoy the crazy kid sounds). Let yourself not fill your empty time with scrolling or screen time. If you are feeling bored, find a way to be creative, imaginative, or even just step outside. Do something to embrace the benefits of boredom!

I cannot wait to see what you all do this week!