How to Stop Avoiding Boredom and Embrace Doing Nothing

How to Stop Avoiding Boredom and Embrace Doing Nothing

Author: Pushkin Industries June 10, 2024 Duration: 25:30

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"

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


We often chase after things we believe will bring us joy-the next promotion, a perfect vacation photo, a bigger house-only to find the feeling is fleeting. The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos digs into the surprising psychology behind why our instincts about happiness are so frequently wrong. Dr. Santos, a Yale professor, doesn't just offer vague self-help advice; she translates the rigorous research from her record-breaking university course into practical, actionable science. Each episode feels like a personal conversation, where she breaks down complex studies and shares stories from people who've applied these lessons, revealing how counterintuitive changes in our daily routines and mindset can have a profound impact. This Pushkin Industries podcast moves beyond the surface of wellness trends, offering a grounded look at what genuinely improves our well-being across our social lives, personal health, and cultural expectations. Tuning in, you'll hear not just theory, but the tangible steps you can take to rewire your habits, backed by evidence that often contradicts our modern chase for more. It’s a refreshing take that makes the science of a better life accessible and genuinely useful, episode by episode.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos
Podcast Episodes
The Surprising Science of Creativity (with Dr. George Newman) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:34
We often think creativity comes from sudden flashes of genius within us. But what if ideas actually exist in the world around us — waiting to be discovered and shaped by anyone paying attention? Creativity expert Dr. Geo…
Why Chasing Success Can Leave You Feeling Stuck (with David Brooks) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:48
It’s easy to fixate on the usual markers of success — your resume, your net worth, or how “impressive” you seem on paper. But how much do those things really speak to our wellbeing? And what do we miss when we only focus…
How to Bounce Back from Life’s Curveballs (with Dr. Maya Shankar) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:32
Life has a way of upending even our best-laid plans. Breakups, job losses, scary health diagnoses — these unexpected changes can leave us feeling stuck and uncertain about what comes next.Dr. Laurie speaks with her dear…
Holiday Survival Guide I: Ending Family Arguments (with Rainn Wilson) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:15
What stresses you out over the festive season? Happiness Lab listeners sent in their holiday woes so Dr Laurie and guest Rainn Wilson (The Office star and host of Soul Boom) could weigh in with some science-backed advice…
How to Experience the Joy of Giving Right Now [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:42
According to the science, it really is better to give than receive. Donating a dollar; sharing a kind word or lending someone a hand changes lives, but can also hugely boost your happiness. So we're teaming up with other…
Why Being Grateful Makes Us Feel Great (A Thanksgiving Re-run) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:17
It's Thanksgiving - a good time to think about gratitude and being selfless. Concentrating on the things we have to be grateful for is a great way to boost your happiness. So thank the people who've done good things for…