I’m Going to Embrace Crushing Boredom

While I fear this step, I trust it will help me achieve an important goal

No distractions. He doesn’t mind | Image James Bellerjeau

What use is a Professor who doesn’t teach, a researcher who doesn’t read, and a scholar who doesn’t publish? Not much, if I’m honest.

And that’s why I’m steeling myself to wallow in boredom. It’s the best way I can think of to kickstart something important to me.

We appear to fear boredom more than death

I know many people who live full lives. I am tempted to say frantic because their every waking moment seems filled to bursting. But it’s better to simply say they’re keeping themselves busy.

It’s easier than ever to ensure we are never bored, not even for a moment:

• Is that traffic light burning red for longer than a few seconds? TikTok to the rescue.
• Is your conversational partner falling short of scintillating? A quick scroll through your emails will sort out that problem.
• Are you temporarily in between screens as you’re forced to walk a few steps? Your earbuds save you from the creeping horror that is unfilled time.

Although I was joking with the subtitle above, there’s a streak of truth to it. Why else would we so determinedly…