Boredom's hidden benefits: Why embracing it boosts mental health

Boredom is a feeling we're all familiar with. It's typically linked to a lack of interest and difficulty in maintaining attention. However, scientists from the University of the Sunshine Coast in Australia highlight that boredom can have positive aspects. They argue that for our brain, it is an underrated beneficial state.

The brain network is a system of interconnected regions that collaborate to support various functions. Researchers describe it as similar to a city where the suburbs (brain regions) are connected by roads (neural pathways), all working together to ensure efficient information movement.

"When we experience boredom – say, while watching a movie – our brain engages specific networks. The attention network prioritizes relevant stimuli while filtering out distractions and is active when we commence the movie," explain Michelle Kennedy, a youth mental health researcher, and Daniel Hermens, a professor of youth mental health and neurobiology at the University of the Sunshine Coast, as quoted by Science Alert.

However, when our attention wanes, activity in the attention network decreases, mirroring our reduced ability to stay focused on uninteresting content. Researchers note that similar decreased activity happens in the fronto-parietal network, or executive control network, due to the struggle to stay engaged with a dull film. At the same time, the default mode network activates, redirecting our focus to internal thoughts and self-reflection. This is a primary function of the default mode network, known as introspection, suggesting a strategy for managing boredom.

"The amygdala can be likened to an internal alarm system. It processes emotional information and plays a role in forming emotional memories. During boredom, this region processes associated negative emotions, and the ventral medial prefrontal cortex motivates us to seek alternative stimulating activities," the researchers explain.

Spending every free moment on a phone can take a toll on our nervous system. Overstimulation may lead to an overload of the nervous system. Scientists believe the sympathetic system, which manages our fight or flight response, is meant to handle moments of stress. However, constantly being stressed, absorbing new information, and managing various activities can keep the sympathetic system active for too long due to the cumulative effects of repeated exposure to stressors.

This situation is sometimes referred to as "allostatic overload." It happens when our nervous system becomes overwhelmed, maintaining a state of heightened arousal, which may increase anxiety risk. Eliminating boredom removes a simple and natural way to reset the sympathetic system.

In today's information and stress-heavy world, boredom can be an invaluable tool for resetting our nervous system. "In small doses, boredom is the necessary counterbalance to the overstimulated world in which we live," researchers stress. It allows for emotional regulation and nervous system resetting, which is crucial for mental health.

It's important to recognize that excessive stimulation can lead to nervous system overload, increasing anxiety risk. Therefore, scientists recommend that we should occasionally allow ourselves to be bored, which can benefit our mental health and creativity.