Boredom vs Burnout
The attention that we’re giving to digital media isn’t free.
I didn’t realize just how tightly I was wound…
Y’all, it took me three days of vacation before I was able to relax. THREE DAYS! And I’m not exaggerating the slightest bit. We arrived on Sunday — at some point on Tuesday I finally took a breath, and I noticed on Wednesday evening that I’d let it go. It’s not like anything special happened to trigger it, and that’s probably the whole point.
I wasn’t just burnt out — my throttle was stuck, wide open.
I’ve been standing on this hill for a bit. I’ve known for some time that something was off. But I’d struggled to name it. “Admin Galore!”, I’d said. But it’s not just that…
I’ve also noticed that I was beginning to have a harder and harder time with my meditation practice in the mornings. I’d cut it out, or skipped it as much as I’d attempted to practice lately. And I think that it’s because I wasn’t capable of slowing down, of releasing the tension.
I’d lost the Pause Button. Not entirely, but I wasn’t applying it to the big picture.
I was wound too tight, coiled up like a slinky at the bottom of the staircase. And I’d become unable to see it because I never took a chance to look. I was swimming so furiously that I didn’t realize I was actually drowning.
It wasn’t until I got bored that I was able to release the breath I’d been holding for, I don’t know how long — months, years maybe?
So I stayed bored for the rest of the vacation, and it was marvelous. I didn’t allow myself to do anything. That’s right. No phone. No books. No writing, not even in my journal. I didn’t read in the mornings either. It was just me and my Sweetheart for the next four days. Nothing else.
And it was really hard at first. Every time I’d get bored, I’d catch myself wanting to reach for the phone or open the laptop. But I held firm, and soon those cravings lessened.
I used the phone as sparingly as possible. It was just a tool. I used it to book an Uber and buy event tickets, or to check the weather as we planned our day. Then I would place it back out of reach.
I even attempted to drive around without the map open. Which is probably the reason we ended up at The Black Crowes concert on Tuesday night. Would I have noticed the sign at the Amphitheater entrance saying, “The Black Crowes Tonight,” if I’d been following the onscreen map instead of watching for the next turn?
In his Waking Up series, Embracing Discomfort, Michael Easter says, “the average person today spends between eleven and thirteen hours per day engaged in digital media.”
Easter continues by explaining that digital media isn’t the problem. Nor is the problem that we are wired to avoid boredom. But it’s that we actually need boredom at times.
Boredom is what Easter calls, “an evolutionary discomfort.” It tells us that whatever we’re doing with our time isn’t paying off.
Until recently, boredom triggered us to be more productive. Even if it was just casting a line or watching a sunset. But today, digital media has made boredom virtually nonexistent. It’s always there waiting. Why sit in boredom, when you can just scroll through the day?
The problem is, we actually need boredom at times. Now I’m no nueroscientist, but even I know that the brain really only has two modes of attention: It’s either focused, or it’s unfocused. And if it’s focused, it’s on. It’s working. And that can be anything that requires our focused attention, including tv, podcasts, social media, and yes, even reading.
Sure, I was choosing carefully where I placed my attention. But I was still choosing constantly, which had virtually kept my brain in “work mode” constantly as well. That’s why it took three days for the light to dim even after I’d turned the switch off.
As it turns out, I’d been staring straight into the sun unaware that I’d become blinded by it. The mind needs rest. And not just at night, but throughout the day as well.
“Time in unfocused mode is actually critical to get shit done, tap into creativity, process complicated information, and more.
The attention that we’re giving to digital media isn’t free.” -Michael Easter
There’s a cost to killing time while connected to digital media. It keeps our attention focused, so our brains stay in work mode. And to say that this new modern world is overstimulating, would be putting it mildly. This collective over stimulation is extremely unhealthy, too. We all know that stress kills. But it also robs you of the ability to see the true beauty of life. And that beauty can’t be seen through a screen.
I’d become increasingly agitated of late. I knew I needed a break, and I’m glad I took it. As Dr. Bob would say, “I went to Earth School today.” And boy, did I learn a lot. Now the task is to try not to forget what I learned before I can replace those old habits with new ones.
I’ve already noticed myself attempting to slide right back into the familiar pattern of picking up the phone, or opening the laptop even though I do not have a task to complete.
It’s tough to embrace boredom. It goes against everything we’re made of. So I’m working to fill my time with other things, which I’ll discuss more in my upcoming essay, Admin Galore! 2.0 Overcoming Writer’s Block. Because for me, writing is life.
But in the meanwhile, I’m keeping my phone out of reach and my laptop out of sight. Since my work is completed via digital media, I need to be much more cognizant of how I spend my non–working hours.
Does that mean that you’ll continue to see less of me? Possibly. But the time that you will receive from me in the future, will be of much more value. I’ll figure this out, little by little. And once I get my feet back under me and find my balance, I’ll be capable of a bit more. Then hopefully I can remain aware of the cost, and adjust accordingly.
Come on, let’s get bored together!
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What Is The Southern Copywriter blog?
I think it’s time I introduced myself properly: I’m MJ Polk, The Southern Copywriter. 🤠🤙
I call it "I need to do something different." I feel this every so often. It doesn't have to be something big. Sometimes it is a day trip to a historical site or a conservation area. Sometimes it is just a movie or bike riding or kayaking. Other times, like this weekend, it is an overnight stay somewhere away from home. The batteries are recharged. The mind becomes clearer and more focused. I was able to get some writing done during our time away. The small town had a beautiful old library. It doesn't take much to turn the mind to see something different.
No point leaving comments on this post, folks. He won't see 'em for months. We can talk about him, and he'll never know.