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Positively_Lisa

Why being bored is actually good for you...

Published about 1 month ago • 2 min read

Reader

There are two words that can send a parent into immediate fix-it mode (and if you've ever spent a summer with kids at home, you know exactly which ones I mean.)

"I'm bored."

Here's what the science actually shows: boredom isn't a problem to solve. It's a signal. And when you stop rushing to fill it, something surprisingly useful happens.

When your brain isn't being directed toward a task or fed a stream of content, a specific neural system activates called the default mode network. This is the part of your brain responsible for mind-wandering, creative association, future planning, and making connections between ideas. It's why your best thinking tends to happen in the shower, on a long drive, or anywhere else you're not staring at a screen.

Boredom creates the conditions for that network to do its work. The problem is we've become very good at making sure it never gets the chance.

If you want to start reclaiming some of that unstructured cognitive time (aka invite boredom in), consider building the habit gradually. Start with one low-stimulus pocket in your day — a commute, a walk, the few minutes before bed — and leave it open. No podcast, no scroll, no input. Just you and whatever your brain decides to do with the space.

If the quiet feels genuinely uncomfortable, that's normal and expected. Research shows most people find it difficult to sit with their own thoughts, even for just a few minutes. Start small. The goal isn't to love it immediately — it's to build enough tolerance to let your brain move through the discomfort into something generative.

You don't have to be productive every moment. You don't have to fill every gap. Some of your best thinking is waiting on the other side of a pause you keep interrupting.

Want to learn more? Check out Episode #322 of the Positively Living® Podcast:

>> Listen to the podcast here​

>> Read the blog post here​

Here's to leaving a little more space this week,

♥

Lisa

Positively Productive Systems Resources

If building new habits feels harder than it should, that's exactly the kind of thing I work on with clients through async coaching — a flexible, message-based alternative to traditional coaching calls. You share what's going on, I respond with support and strategy, and we work through it together on your schedule. Learn more at positivelyproductive.com/coaching.

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Positively_Lisa

Productivity Coach + Podcast Host | Shame-free, Sustainable Solutions

I’m Lisa Zawrotny, a Productivity Coach, host of the Positively Living® Podcast, and founder of Positively Productive Systems, on a mission to redefine productivity with compassion. I help overwhelmed clients ditch hustle culture and design shame-free, personalized systems that lead to sustainable success—without burnout or sacrificing what they love. I believe productivity is meant to support a more satisfying, joy-filled life. For me, that means road-tripping with my husband and teens, making music with my family and friends, and inspiring others with my voice. One of my favorite ways to recharge is curling up with a book, an iced coffee, and a cat on my lap. ------------------------------------------- Check out the resources I offer below and request my Toolkit to reduce overwhelm, boost energy, and align your actions with your values!

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