Can you swipe away boredom?
You laugh as two kittens chase each other in circles. Swipe. A chef rapidly chops ingredients. Swipe. The camera pans across a gorgeous view of a lake. Swipe. A girl talks to the camera as she applies makeup. Swipe. A golden retriever in a silly costume performs tricks. Swipe. Swipe. Swipe.
Sound familiar? Whenever boredom strikes, your first instinct might be to reach for your phone.
It may seem like endless scrolling is the antidote to boredom. However, according to a study published in the “Journal of Experimental Psychology,” participants reported increased boredom after fast-forwarding or switching between videos. They expressed more enjoyment and satisfaction after watching a video in its entirety.
“Boredom is defined as the feeling of being uninterested in what you are doing. It’s a common expression that we hear thrown around by many different people in a variety of contexts,” says Dr. Kenneth Davison, a psychologist at Advocate Health Care. “While we think we know what it means and how to deal with it, boredom is more complex than we would surmise when we first hear the word.”
There are five types of boredom:
- Indifferent: A relaxed, fatigued but cheerful state
- Calibrating: A wandering state of distraction and uncertainty
- Searching: An active, restless state of frustrated desire
- Reactant: An unhappy state of feeling trapped and desperation to escape
- Apathetic: An emotionless and helpless state
The first two types can be a positive experience, associated with quiet solitude, reflection or daydreaming. Dr. Davison notes that searching boredom is likely what the participants felt as they swiped through videos. And the last two types of boredom are often generated by menial, repetitive tasks and lethargy and depression, respectively.
“While it’s natural to experience the different types of boredom from time to time, the concern is if the more problematic types become more pervasive,” Dr. Davison says. “The best way to manage boredom is by taking care of your whole self.”
How to care for your whole self, according to Dr. Davison:
- Engage in proper rest, nutrition and physical activity
- Practice mindfulness to become more attuned to your thoughts, feelings and emotions
- Interact with positive and supportive people and reduce contact with negative people or excessive media
- Find activities or practices that connect you to a sense of meaning, purpose and value that are beyond yourself
“One practical way to incorporate all of these is to monitor and reduce screen time, particularly the tendency to rapidly switch media,” Dr. Davison adds. “You can adjust your lifestyle to enhance positive boredom and reduce the negative. However, if you find yourself continuing to struggle with pervasive boredom, consider speaking with a mental health professional.”
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