Boredom: A Mirror or a Door?

What bores you?

What Bores You?

As a teacher, I’ve heard “I’m bored” more times than I can count. Over three decades in the classroom, I’ve also heard some fantastic responses from veteran teachers:

A no-nonsense science teacher I knew would say, “Well, you see, sweety, when I got my teaching degree, it did not come with an entertainment license. Do your work.” (Ironically, she was one of the most entertaining teachers around.)

A wise mentor of mine used to counter with, “If you were more interesting, you’d find me less boring.” That one either led to deep self-reflection or a total brain short-circuit.

And then there was the poet-teacher who always took the most beautiful path to his destinations. He would gently agree with students, telling them that boredom was natural—until they developed an inner life. Once that happened, curiosity would make learning interesting.


Boredom is real. And it’s not the enemy. In fact, it’s a gift—if we let it do its work. It can be the catalyst for creativity, problem-solving, and wonder. But only if we resist the urge to fill every empty moment with screens and distractions.

So, what bores you? And what might happen if you sat with that boredom for a little while?


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