Being bored and letting your mind wander in new directions is a great way to solve problems, but it’s not the easiest process to self-induce. The 99 Percent blog has put together a selection of tips for embracing your boredom, and the easiest one to put into practice is to stay where you are until the boredom subsides.
Photo by Rennett Stowe.
We already know that letting your mind wander can boost creativity after you brainstorm, and that idea plays nicely with the 99 Percent’s suggestion:
Don’t put pressure on yourself to come up with something amazing straight away. Just lay your paper/laptop/canvas/guitar/whatever in front of you, and look at it. If it’s a work in progress, look at what you did yesterday. When I do this, I usually find myself tempted to make a few light edits here and there, and before long the edits get bigger, I cross out fewer words and start adding more and more. So give yourself permission to do nothing or just tinker around – as long as stay focused on the work in front of you.
The suggestion also falls in line with the idea that getting started is everything. When you’re bored and staring at a project, it’s easy to get up and just walk away. Instead of wandering off, force yourself to sit there until you get going. Head over to The 99 Percent for a few more tips on capturing the creative potential of being bored.
Why Boredom is Good for Your Creativity [The 99 Percent]
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