How to Stop Avoiding Boredom and Embrace Doing Nothing

Dr. Laurie used to dread boredom and would do anything—binge watch bad TV, take on extra work, snack endlessly—to avoid it. But boredom is actually an incredibly useful tool to boost our happiness and creativity. With the help of leading boredom experts, Dr. Laurie learns how to embrace doing nothing and finds that in the midst of tedium our brains can come up with amazing breakthrough ideas.

Experts Mentioned:
- Blaise Pascale, 17th-century French philosopher
- Dr. Sandi Mann, Senior Psychology Lecturer, University of Lancashire
- Dr. Jonathan Schuller, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, UC Santa

Resources Mentioned:
- “Just Think: The Challenges of the Disengaged Mind,” (Science, 2014)
- “Boredom Proneness Scale-Short Form," (Assessment, 2017)

Related Episodes of "The Happiness Lab":
- "Reconnect with the Moment"
- "The Surprising Science of Creativity"
- "You Only Live Once... So Commit"

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