In praise of boredom

In Craig Mod’s recent podcast interview with Tim Ferriss, he described his regular practice of taking long, multiple-week walks through the Japanese countryside.

One of his goals on these walks is to get very bored, so as to reset his mind and gain more attachment to the present moment.

It reminded me how rarely I experience boredom, quick as I am to fill the gaps in my life with reading, podcasts, or any number of seemingly wholesome activities.

While I question the fetishisation of boredom that has crept into popular culture recently, I’m convinced it must be healthy to experience it occasionally. So, I’m experimenting with fewer distractions to see if I notice any benefits.

I extend that challenge to you today. Try to pick a moment where you would normally turn to a distraction and see how it feels to resist.