Source: https://www.pexels.com/search/bored/?orientation=landscape

 

One of the most interesting aspects of the digital age is the way that having instant access to information has made us more impatient and less willing to tolerate boredom. In many cases, rather than opening us up to new ideas and ways of thinking, the online world has made us feel like even a couple of minutes of quiet is no longer tolerable. Add in the fact that those entering adulthood over the next few years will have grown up surrounded by ultra-fast WiFi and iPhones, and we’re facing a fascinating point in our shared history.

 

With this in mind, we want to take a closer look at the boredom threshold many of us are willing to tolerate and what it means for the way we think, act, and behave.

 

What is the boredom threshold?

Psychologists define the boredom threshold as the point at which we grow restless with periods of quiet inactivity and go in search of some form of external stimulation. Common examples are commuting to work without our headphones in and queuing in a store without reaching for our phones. While previous generations would simply stand and wait, the digital age has meant that the threshold has dropped to less than a couple of minutes for many of us.

 

A study comparing psychological and physical discomfort

While the last thing we want to do is judge the simple act of reaching for a phone and checking updates, there is an interesting point to consider. A study by the University of Virginia conducted in 2014 showed that when participants were placed in a quiet room alone for as little as 6 minutes, 67% would choose to administer a mild electric shock to themselves rather than continue to sit still. The researchers concluded that many of us consider mild physical discomfort to be more tolerable than the mental discomfort of sitting and doing nothing other than thinking. Our devices are always with us and can supply the solution to boredom with nothing more than a quick glance and swipe.

 

The smartphone acts as an instant antidote to boredom

Checking for updates, scrolling endlessly on Facebook, and checking for two blue ticks on WhatsApp are actions that many of us do on autopilot dozens of times during the day. While there is nothing wrong with staying connected and looking at items of interest, it does have a profound impact on our perception of time and boredom. Rather than allowing the mind to wander for a couple of minutes and begin to process the events of the day, the smartphone interrupts this natural pattern with a new source of stimulation. The result is that over time, our internal boredom threshold continues to fall as we become increasingly conditioned to an expectation of instant gratification.

 

A shift from passive to active content interactions

Looking at a Facebook feed is a largely passive activity, as many of us robotically use the inertial scroll to work our way down a never-ending stream of curated content. A sizeable number of smartphone users now report that they actively play various types of games throughout the day as they look for more stimulation. While 10-15 years ago gaming was something that would require a dedicated PC or console at home, games can now be accessed by doing nothing more than swiping the homescreen. Those with low boredom thresholds typically turn to fast-paced games like slots, including popular Megaways-style games featured on Megaways Casino, or quick-play formats where players compete in battles against one another. These types of activities are distinct from more in-depth turn-based games that require the development and execution of a strategy over the course of an hour or more.

 

What happens if you push back against the boredom threshold?

The interesting thing is that you can increase your boredom threshold if you take a series of relatively simple steps, and that doing so is essential for optimal brain health. The first couple of minutes of stillness and a lack of external stimulation will prove the most uncomfortable, especially when facing them for the first time. Moving through this phase tends to be a battle of willpower, but one that you can win by doing something as simple as placing your phone in a different room and sitting alone without checking the time. With practice, your mind will begin to slow down and accept the lack of stimulation, and it’s at this point that the interesting neuroscience happens.

 

As a species, we have evolved to live in small groups, to travel large distances on foot, and to solve complex problems. The brain is our best tool, but by continually feeding it new information, we don’t give it the time and space it needs to process the things it has already experienced. By sitting with the initial discomfort for just a couple of minutes, you give your brain the freedom it needs to start solving in-depth problems, to come up with new ideas, and to regulate stress levels and emotional responses.

 

Finding balance in an increasingly digital world

The last thing we want to do is call for a full digital detox purely for the sake of it, but there is a lot to be said for achieving a greater sense of balance. Switching off and disconnecting from the digital world can help you feel more grounded, calmer, and connected to the real world, potentially soothing internal noise in the process. Given time, you will find that your boredom threshold naturally increases and that your background stress levels fall as a result. Waiting in a queue will become a chance to reset mentally, as opposed to dead time that urgently needs to be filled with something new and exciting.

 

Now that you’ve seen what happens when you work on increasing your boredom threshold, it’s over to you to figure out how you want to proceed. As with everything in life, the key will be to strike a balance that you feel comfortable with and that is sustainable.