Do We Still Know How to Be Bored?

I remember how, as a child, I loved watching water droplets on taro leaves—whether they were morning dew, raindrops, or water I had intentionally splashed on them. They looked like pearls glistening in the sunlight; when the leaf was moved, they would slide across the surface without wetting it, darting back and forth.

It was truly fascinating.

My friends and I used to compete to see who could keep a droplet on the leaf the longest while moving it—swaying it right and left—until it finally fell off; whoever lasted the longest won.

Even something as simple as watching water droplets on a leaf could be incredibly engaging back then. A minute... two minutes... I could happily stay occupied for more than five minutes.

Nowadays, five minutes is out of the question. Waiting just one minute at a red light feels like an eternity.

A while back, I was waiting in line at a pharmacy—probably for about fifteen minutes. Without even thinking, I instinctively reached into my pocket for my phone.
Scrolling through Instagram.
Opening Facebook.
Checking WhatsApp.
Then reading posts on Ecency.
I simply didn't want to feel bored while waiting.

It makes me wonder: when was the last time I truly allowed myself to be bored?

When I was little, I used to accompany my parents to the rice fields. While waiting for them to work, I would play on my own—catching grasshoppers on the field ridges or scooping up tadpoles.

No phone, no internet.

If boredom struck, I’d embrace it by daydreaming, drawing in the dirt, or watching a swarm of ants carry the carcass of an insect many times their size.

Now,
Boredom is filled with content.

In the past, boredom forced our brains to be creative and find their own entertainment. Today, entertainment is available whenever we want it. Even before boredom has a chance to set in.

Back in the day, gathering with cousins ​​was such a joy—spending time chatting, laughing, and even playfully teasing one another.
Nowadays, whenever there’s a big family gathering, I see my nieces and nephews busy with their own phones.

I see the same thing at hangout spots. A group of young people sitting together in a coffee shop—silent, heads bowed, focused entirely on the phones in their hands. Whether they’re gaming or scrolling through social media, who knows?

It’s funny, really—people even take their phones to the restroom now.
Myself included. 😁

I once read something interesting about the mind. If I recall correctly, the gist was this: our brains actually have a sort of "mind-wandering mode." When we aren't focused on a specific task—like daydreaming while waiting—our brains often organize ideas, connect experiences, or come up with solutions we hadn't thought of before.

That might be why so many people get great ideas while showering, walking, or lying in bed before sleep. It’s not because they’re working hard, but because their brains are given the space to wander.

What if creativity doesn't emerge when we’re busy, but rather when we’re doing absolutely nothing?

Next time I’m standing in line, I might still want to check my phone. I might not change my habits right away. But I’ll try to give myself a little more time without touching it.

Observing the people and the atmosphere around me.
Letting my mind wander wherever it pleases.
Because perhaps it wasn't boredom I was avoiding all along—but rather the chance to truly be alone with my own thoughts.

When was the last time you waited for something without touching your phone?

Do you remember what it felt like?

Image: Photo by Skyler Ewing on Pexels

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