I'm afraid of boredom – and how this fear destroys my best ideas.
I've noticed a massive problem that directly affects my creativity: I have a paralyzing fear of being bored.
Every time I go for a walk, drive a car, or simply take a break, I instinctively reach for my phone. Social media, podcasts, YouTube – anything for constant input, constant noise. I kept telling myself that I had to stay "always informed."
Deep down, I knew it: It's an addiction. And it's drowning my best ideas.
The dictatorship of productivity and the death of creativity
We live in a society that indoctrinates us into believing that boredom equals weakness. Constant "grinding" and "doing" are sold as virtues. We feel uncomfortable when we're not being productive – or at least consuming something that feels like productivity (like a business podcast).
But that's exactly the trap:
Killing boredom kills creativity.
My best ideas, the ideas for videos and projects, never came to me while I was watching the 17th educational video. They came during the most mundane activities:
- Washing dishes
- Cleaning
- Going for a Run without headphones
- Mowing the lawn
Boredom is the birthplace of creativity. It is the gap in which our brain begins to build instead of just consuming.
Silence as a mirror: Why we drown out our thoughts.
Why do we find silence so difficult? Because it forces us to hold a mirror up to ourselves.
When we're not constantly distracted, we have to confront our own thoughts. We start asking ourselves uncomfortable questions, reflecting on decisions, or dealing with things that we've pushed aside in everyday life.
Social media, YouTube and the like know this – they are the perfect drug to avoid this introspective reflection.
As a self-employed person, you urgently need this space. Without this free mental space, you lack the capacity and clarity to:
- To truly realign your business strategically.
- To think through an unresolved customer problem on a deeper level.
- Finding the groundbreaking ideas that will set you apart from the competition.
Returning to silence: Your creative training
I've realized that my "need for input" is just as harmful as any other form of numbing. Sometimes it's better not to rush into complicated new habits, but simply to leave things out.
I am now trying to deliberately incorporate small moments of boredom into my daily life:
- Leave your mobile phone at home when you go for a walk.
- Do not listen to music or podcasts while driving.
- Be consciously aware of your surroundings and listen.
I invite you to do the same. Welcome boredom back into your life. It's not a weakness, but a training ground for focus and clarity. You'll be amazed at what inspirations and ideas surface once you stop drowning them out with constant noise.
