🪫 Allow yourself to be bored more often · The Bunker #33

Hi friends 👋🏻!

As designers, creators, entrepreneurs, and creatives, we're constantly challenged to push the boundaries and bring something new to the table (I know that pressure very well too). However, it's easy to get stuck in a rut and feel like our creative well has run dry. I've got a solution for you that might surprise you - boredom.

Allowing yourself to be bored isn't a waste of time – it's an investment in your creativity.

Yes, you read that right – boredom can actually be a powerful tool for creativity. While it might seem counterintuitive, allowing ourselves to be bored can help us tap into our most creative ideas.Our brains are wired to constantly seek out stimulation and novelty, which is why we often feel the need to constantly be doing something.

However, this constant activity can actually be detrimental to our creativity.

Be honest with yourself, how many times this week have you found yourself bored in front of your couch/computer? Let me guess. 0?

When our minds are constantly occupied with tasks, we don't give our brains the chance to rest and recharge.

Our cognitive resources become depleted, and we start to lose the ability to think creatively.

When we allow ourselves to be bored, we create space for our minds to wander and make new connections.

In fact, studies have shown that when we're bored, our brains are more likely to make new connections and generate creative ideas. By allowing ourselves to be idle and unoccupied, we give our minds the chance to think more freely and explore new possibilities.

Of course, this doesn't mean that we should spend all of our time lounging around and doing nothing. But it does mean that we need to be more intentional about taking breaks and allowing ourselves to disconnect from work. By doing so, we can help prevent burnout and keep our creative juices flowing.

So, how can we incorporate more boredom into our lives? Here are a few ideas:

1. Schedule in downtime: Instead of constantly working or filling your schedule with activities, schedule in regular periods of downtime. This could be as simple as taking a walk or sitting quietly with your thoughts.
2. Engage in a hobby: Pursuing a hobby that you enjoy can be a great way to give your brain a break while still keeping your mind engaged. Whether it's painting, gardening, or playing an instrument, find something that you enjoy and make time for it regularly.
3. Try something new: When we're constantly doing the same things, it's easy to get stuck in a rut. Trying something new, whether it's a new hobby, a new restaurant, or a new activity, can help shake things up and spark new ideas.

I'm sure you know better than I do how to find ways to be bored or simply activities that allow you to enjoy yourself and your circle of friends for a while. You don't necessarily have to be bored, but you need moments where you say "I'm just going to do this and that's it, I'm not going to do anything else".

It's not that you have to be bored, but you need to allow yourself to do activities that just bring you fun and entertainment. Activities that you know you're not going to get anything out of, but you don't care, here what you want is to have a quiet head for a while so that in those moments of peace you can disconnect.

For example, I was thinking of buying Howards Legacy, the new Harry Potter game, but I thought: Playing this game is going to take me a lot of hours and I could be spending those hours doing something more productive, like preparing content for the Bulletin, for example.

And then I thought. Fuck it, I want to have fun and be entertained! I can afford it!

Remember, allowing yourself to be bored isn't a waste of time – it's an investment in your creativity.

By giving yourself the space and time to rest and recharge, you'll be better equipped to come up with fresh and innovative ideas. So the next time you're feeling stuck or uninspired, don't be afraid to embrace the power of boredom.

Until next time,

Jordi Espinosa.