Peter Toohey, PhD
Peter Toohey, PhD, professor of classics, faculty of arts, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Dr. Toohey is author of Boredom: A Lively History (Yale).
I never thought that I would see an entire book written about the concept of boredom—let alone find it interesting! But I certainly did. The recently published Boredom: A Lively History made me realize how underrated it actually is. Between e-mailing, texting and updating Facebook statuses… working anywhere and everywhere on laptops… and responding to endless phone calls, it seems like no matter where we are, we fill every minute of our free time. And that leaves precious few moments to simply daydream, which helps our creative juices flow. In today’s busy, wired world, slowing down and carving out moments for ourselves is more important than ever. To discuss the latest findings, I called the author, Peter Toohey, PhD, a professor of classics at the University of Calgary in Canada.
Dr. Toohey explained to me that research increasingly supports the notion that daydreaming—just like dreaming at night while you sleep—is actually a dynamic period for the brain. For example, in a recent study done by the University of British Columbia in Canada, investigators placed a group of students in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanners and asked them to push a button when numbers appeared on a screen—a mindless, routine task that would give them an opportunity to daydream. After the exercise was over and researchers looked at the fMRI brain scans, they found that the parts of the students’ brains that are associated with complex problem-solving had actually been highly active during episodes of daydreaming.
In other words, while you are bored and daydreaming, you are unknowingly working your way through puzzles that are bothering you, such as figuring out the perfect theme for your child’s birthday party or discovering exactly what to say to your mother-in-law that will prevent her from spending the whole week with your family but won’t insult her. “Sometimes the most useful ideas and solutions come to us when we are trying the least hard,” said Dr. Toohey.
Of course, there are times when concentration is key. Dr. Toohey wouldn’t recommend daydreaming while, say, driving, rushing to meet an important deadline or having a heart-to-heart conversation with your spouse. But there are ways to create space for yourself—dull moments during which it’s perfectly acceptable to let your mind wander.
I don’t know about you, but for me technology—as great as it can be—is often the biggest obstacle. So I’m going to try unplugging myself from all of my various devices (yes—that means the phone, the computer and the TV!) for about 30 minutes a day. Instead, I’m going to go for a walk or a bike ride, whittle a stick or knit a scarf, which will hopefully allow my thoughts to drift off into whatever direction they like.
I know what you’re thinking—it sounds boring. It gives us an uncomfortable feeling when we think about cutting off communication and facing silence. But, ironically, when we’re less wired, our brains’ batteries seem to recharge, so why not give it a shot?
