Let yourself be bored

Today's action · 10 min

Choose one moment today, a queue, a commute or a cup of tea, and spend 5 to 10 minutes without your phone or any screen. Just let your mind wander.

Why it works

In experiments by Mann and Cadman, people who first did a boring task, like copying numbers from a phone book, then came up with more creative ideas than those who didn't. Boredom is not always a problem to fix; sometimes it gives the mind room to roam.

Source: Does Being Bored Make Us More Creative? (Mann & Cadman, 2014)