Boredom and Creativity: How an Idle Mind Sparks Innovation

Category: Blog

By Janice

25/03/2025

Does Boredom Inspire Creativity?

My previous article T he Sound of Silence – Can You Bear It received a lot of interest on LinkedIn. It got me thinking. Silence can help to refresh the brain, the mind, inspire thoughts, but what about boredom? Can that fuel innovation and creativity? From my own personal experience, I believe it can.

I have always maintained that there is nothing wrong with a healthy dose of boredom. There is nothing wrong with doing nothing and just … being. However, it seems that today we always have to be doing.

Definition of Boredom

The Oxford Reference definition of boredom is “Condition characterized by wandering attention, impaired physical and mental efficiency, and low levels of arousal. It is sometimes confused with physiological fatigue, but boredom is usually the result of lack of stimulation, motivation, and interest. It is commonly caused in sport by monotonous training routines.”

Monotony enabling Creativity

So that doesn’t sound too good. However, I know that during some of my most "boring" jobs, the sheer monotony allowed my brain to wander. I once worked in a factory in Lubeck in the north of Germany tapping down the chopped pumpkin in jars. It was incredibly boring. However, I used to do some simple calculus in my head, "write" stories, imagine what I would do next and generally contemplate my navel. It may sound indulgent, but in reality, this kind of mental wandering can be a breeding ground for creativity. There have been many other instances in my life where "boredom" enabled me to think and create.

I am aware of something similar in others. For instance, a younger colleague was bored over Christmas a few years back and ended up with an idea which involved NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens), cryptocurrency and some other complex tech stuff. He even earned money from it.

Devil’s Work

There is the other side of the coin in ‘The devil finds work for idle hands’ implying that not having enough to do, or being bored means that people are more likely to get into trouble – or perhaps they are just being extremely creative but don’t have anyone channelling their creativity into more traditional activities.

So, boredom does seem to have a negative spin. However, a little bit of research throws up all sorts of stuff on boredom. So, could there be a link between boredom and creative thinking?

Default Mode Network

I found out there is something called "Default Mode Network", basically DMN is a network of interconnected brain regions that becomes active when the mind is at rest and not focused on external tasks. It is linked to daydreaming, self-reflection, imagination, and spontaneous thought—key processes for creativity. When we’re bored, the DMN allows the brain to make innovative connections, leading to new ideas and insights.

If you type "default mode network boredom and creativity" into a search engine you will find lots of articles and You tube videos on the link between DMN. It is not new. There are even studies which suggest people solve problems more creatively after a period of boredom. This Vox article provides some interesting insights.

Einstein and Darwin

Einstein and Darwin were "fans" of boredom too and other innovators had major breakthroughs during idle time.

Albert Einstein often spoke about how his best ideas came when he was not focused on equations but when his mind wandered. He used to take long walks and played the violin—activities which allowed his subconscious mind to make creative connections. The famous insight that led to the theory of relativity reportedly came to him while daydreaming about what it would be like to ride a beam of light.

Charles Darwin on the other hand followed a strict daily routine that included long, unstructured walks along a path near his home, which he called his "thinking path." These idle strolls provided space for deep reflection, leading to groundbreaking ideas on evolution. He wrote in his letters about how some of his most important thoughts surfaced when he was simply wandering outside.

Embracing Boredom

So, what can we do to embrace boredom? How about…. Just nothing…. Do nothing…. Allow yourself to be bored? What does this mean in practice? Perhaps we could:

Take breaks from screens and structured activities.
Allow the mind to wander during mundane tasks (walking, showering, waiting).
Schedule “do nothing” or “unproductive” time to enhance creative thinking

And Finally

Instead of fearing boredom, we should see it as a powerful tool for creativity. In a world that constantly demands our attention, allowing ourselves to be bored—truly bored—might be one of the most productive things we can do.

History shows us that great thinkers like Einstein and Darwin embraced moments of idleness, using them as fuel for groundbreaking ideas. Science backs this up, with research suggesting that boredom activates the brain’s default mode network, fostering innovation and problem-solving.

So, the next time you find yourself reaching for your phone at the slightest hint of boredom, resist the urge. Let your mind wander. Embrace the discomfort. You never know what brilliant idea might emerge from the quiet.