2026: The Year of Boredom

When was the last time you were genuinely bored?

Not distracted. Not entertained. Not rushing toward the next thing—just plain bored.

For many of us, boredom feels uncomfortable. Even hearing the word can spark restlessness, a sense that time is slipping away. So we fill it—scrolling, tasks, noise, distractions—anything to avoid the quiet.

And yet, boredom can be necessary, even healthy.

It isn’t emptiness. It gives us what we need: space.

“Boredom is the fear of self.”

— Marie Josephine Suin De Beausa

Boredom as Pause

Boredom gives your brain and body a chance to pause and reset. When we’re constantly entertained or distracted, our nervous system rarely gets a break.

Boredom slows the world down, allowing your mind to settle and your heart to catch up.

In that quiet space, subtle things emerge: a thought you hadn’t noticed, a feeling you’d pushed aside, a connection you hadn’t made.

Boredom as Creativity

Creativity often blooms not in the busy moments, but in the spaces between doing.

Boredom nudges the mind to wander, and where the mind drifts, the imagination wakes.

As Rick Rubin has reflected, there is a certain power in wordlessness — those moments when there’s nothing to say or do, and stillness itself speaks.

Some of the world’s most brilliant ideas have arisen in these quiet moments, when all you need to do is notice, imagine, and simply be.

Boredom as Self-Reflection

Sitting with boredom can feel uncomfortable at first, but it teaches us to be with ourselves.

Thoughts, feelings, and subtle patterns surface when we aren’t distracted.

Boredom is a mirror to your inner world, inviting curiosity and self-awareness.

It’s a gentle reminder that we don’t always need to be doing or fixing — sometimes we just need to be, in silence, in wordlessness, in the spaces within ourselves we’ve been avoiding.

Boredom as Patience

Learning to tolerate boredom strengthens our ability to be present without constant stimulation.

It teaches patience, emotional regulation, and the confidence that we can sit with ourselves even when it’s uncomfortable.

Boredom as Reconnection

In boredom, there’s space to reflect: what do you want? What matters to you? Who are you outside of obligations, entertainment, and the rush of daily life?

Boredom is space to discover yourself.

Next time you find yourself bored, lean into it. Sit with it. Notice what arises. Breathe. Let your mind wander, your heart soften, and your awareness expand.

"You need to let the little things that would ordinarily bore you suddenly thrill you."

— Andy Warhol

Want to explore this further, together?

Book your free 15-minute consultation or email info@erinsaccomano.ca today.