COMMENTARY: Boredom might feel like torture, but it is not the end of the world

Boredom is a modern concept for humans. Only since the industrial revolution have people actually had the time to be bored on such a scale that it becomes an actual threat to living full and happy lives. 

July’s National Anti-Boredom Month was created by Alan Caruba in the 1980s as part of his anti-boredom campaign. Caruba efforts were fueled by the belief that boredom can fuel unhealthy habits.

However, being bored is not necessarily bad. While highly uncomfortable, boredom can lead to an increase in productivity and creativity. It allows the mind to rest and look at problems with a new viewpoint. Additionally, when faced with a difficulty, people dislike being bored so much that they will invent solutions just to keep their minds running.

Researchers have discovered five different types of boredom: indifferent, apathetic, calibrating, reactant and searching. 

Those who suffer from “indifferent boredom,” typically appear to be withdrawn and calm. “Calibrating boredom” stems from doing repetitive tasks.

“Reactant boredom” is marked by restlessness and negative emotions, while “searching boredom” happens when people try to find activities to cure their boredom. 

However, people who suffer from “apathetic boredom,” which occurs mostly with high school and college students, is characterized by low arousal, helplessness and high levels of aversion.

People who suffer from gambling issues, binge drinking and other behavioral issues tend to blame risky actions on boredom. By not learning how to channel boredom into productive outlets, people can go to extremes in order to relieve themselves of the discomfort of their melancholy.

Daydreaming is just one of the mechanisms the human brain uses in order to combat boredom. Cognitive scientists have found that people who daydream often, tend to have higher levels of working memory, especially when faced with distractions. 

When boredom strikes, try to focus on daydreaming and then call it a mental workout. By okaying the nature of boredom and transforming it into a positive experience, a person could try and eliminate some of the more negative side effects of boredom.

While there are benefits to boredom, those who suffer from mental health issues might feel differently. People with anxiety or depression can find true boredom to be a trigger. 

This does not mean the occasional bout of boredom that comes on after finishing four episodes of “Grey’s Anatomy” on Netflix, but a more debilitating chronic boredom that can spark a relapse in mental health.

One study showed those who battle depression typically also suffer from chronic boredom. The study concludes chronic boredom does not cause depression but can be an indicator for depression as the two are highly correlated. 

Chronic boredom mimics some of the symptoms of depression, but there is a major difference. Boredom is categorized by the absence of attention and depression by the absence of emotion. 

For those battling mental health disorders, when faced with boredom, focus on trying to spark concentration. Practicing mindful meditation or yoga are both positive options for focusing on attention without having to pay an emotional cost.

Because boredom varies from person to person, trying to figure out how to stop it is the hardest aspect of boredom. While daydreaming, meditation or athletic activities might work for some, they are not a cure for all types of boredom. 

Next time, one is staring blankly at a computer screen willing the essay to write itself, walk away from the task at hand. By taking a break and focusing on another project or watching the next episode of a beloved television show, the brain is restimulated and the boredom dulls, if not disappears.

Boredom is a wearisome ailment that affects all of humanity, but it does not have to be a burden. Take the month of July to find different ways to activate the part of the brain that runs on autopilot and learn to enjoy the boredom.