How Boredom is Just as Important as Busyness

When someone asks you how you are, what’s your typical answer? If you’re like most people, you probably say something about being busy.

We live in a culture where busyness is expected. Life has become faster and faster, with more and more “conveniences” demanding our attention.

Our schedules are jammed. Our inner motors are constantly revved up. It’s a go go go world, and we work hard to keep up.

Problem is, we like it that way.

As my pastor Kevin Beeson said recently,

We wear our busyness like a badge of honor. It makes us feel like we’re important.

People used to say that cleanliness is next to godliness. These days, busyness is next to godliness — and Christians aren’t much better than others at being counter-cultural on this.

There’s nothing inherently wrong with being busy. Jesus lived a busy life. But as John Ortberg puts it,

It’s okay to have a busy life. It’s not okay to have a busy soul.

Ah, there’s the rub. Do you have a busy soul? Here are a few questions to ask yourself:

1. In my daily life, is there any opportunity for “do nothing” time? Or must I constantly  attend to one task or another?
2. Can I put my devices aside for periods of time without becoming anxious? Or do I fill every spare moment with checking what’s happening on my rectangle?
3. Am I generally at peace, with my inner engine on idle? Or am I usually pushing myself from one project to the next, revving at high RPMs?

If you struggle with any of these issues, I’m right there with you. I value efficiency and productivity. I am a product of Western ideals.

We’ve just gotta get stuff done.

With this mindset, the idea of boredom looks suspect, if not downright evil. Boredom means the production line has stopped. It means you’re a slacker.

Or does it?

Take a guess where creativity comes from. It’s not from whipping ourselves into a constant frenzy of activity. It’s not from trying hard.

Creativity flows out of doing nothing.

Dr. Kathy Koch of Celebrate Kids points out that the brain sifts and sorts while it is at rest. You might think you’re getting nothing done while you sleep, but your mind is happily filtering and organizing all the thoughts of the day.

Like sleep, taking breaks from activity gives the brain a chance to organize thoughts and follow new. interesting trails. So indulge in some “do nothing” time,  because…

Boredom stimulates reflection and deep thinking.

Boredom is good for us. It refreshes our ability to create. It inspires us to solve problems. It helps us stop and breathe and rev down.

Human beings are not machines. We can’t constantly push ourselves and think there won’t be consequences.

I spoke with a high-profile Christian leader who told me that, at one point, his energy level dropped to 10 percent of normal. For the sake of his health and his life, he had to learn to stop pushing.

So if you’re a high achiever like this leader, and like me, consider this:

Your constant activity actually undermines your ability to “get stuff done” … at least, the truly important stuff.

Stuff like creativity. Like thankfulness. Like availability, because your schedule has breathing room. Like stopping to smell the roses, breathing deep, smiling at the antics of children.

Stuff like living from a place of peace and joy.

That’s the kind of stuff I want to get done. You?