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While mentoring at a summer camp, I was surprised when a few children aged 10 to 12 kept coming up to me saying, “I’m bored.” Later, a cute five-year-old girl told me the same thing: “I always feel bored.”
I used to believe that children’s minds were naturally playful and that they could always find something to occupy themselves. That moment made me realise that boredom is a universal phenomenon – it affects everyone, regardless of age, and perhaps even animals too. To help them, I suggested a quick exercise: look around the room, find something unique to observe, or count random objects nearby. It was a simple way to break the spell of boredom.
Boredom is often treated as a failure – something to avoid, fix, or disguise. In everyday life, we confuse it with emptiness, assuming that a dull moment means there is nothing of value present. Yet boredom is far more complex than it appears. When we explore the ‘power and art of boredom’, we realise it is not merely a lack of stimulation; it can also be a tool, a style, and even a subtle form of influence.
In a world that rewards speed, novelty and constant distraction, boredom interrupts the noise. It forces us to sit with our thoughts. While that discomfort can feel uneasy, discomfort is often where self-awareness begins.
If a conversation, lesson or activity lacks energy, people disengage. They might comply or go through the motions, but their emotional connection fades. In this way, boredom can act as a quiet form of control – shaping how much attention people are willing to give.
Real boredom isn’t always accidental; it can be crafted intentionally. The art of boredom involves timing, repetition, and restraint – knowing how long to keep something plain before it turns from peaceful to frustrating.
When everything around us is loud, bright and fast, nothing stands out. Using boredom intentionally can reveal hidden depth. A minimal performance or a slow-paced film forces the viewer to notice details they would otherwise ignore: posture, texture, silence and subtle expressions. Boredom creates the space needed for true perception.
Many of life’s most valuable pursuits are boring at first. Learning a language, building physical strength through repetitive training, or refining a piece of writing all require patience over excitement. They are not boring because they lack meaning; they are boring because mastery requires repetition.
Ultimately, boredom serves as a reminder that attention is our most precious resource. Sometimes, the most radical thing we can do is not chase constant excitement, but sit still with the ordinary – because in that quiet space, something truly real can emerge.
Keyem Thomez
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