'I'm a psychologist and there's an easy experiment I recommend everyone try.'

When was the last time you were truly, utterly bored?

I'm not talking about that fleeting discomfort you feel waiting for your coffee to brew, or the mild irritation of sitting in traffic.

I mean the kind of boredom that makes you stare at the ceiling, sigh deeply, and wonder if time has actually stopped.

The kind of boredom that led to the phrase "bored out of my mind."

When I ask people the question "When was the last time you were truly bored?", I tend to get one of two answers: "I can't remember," or, "Only at work — when I can't escape."

And honestly, I get it.

In today's world, boredom can feel almost extinct.

Are you feeling a bit "meh"? Listen to Dr. Anastasia Hronis breaks down why we get stuck in ruts. Post continues below.

The lost art of being bored.

I have distinct memories from the 90s, before smartphones and endless streaming were a thing, where I'd accompany my parents and their friends out to dinner.

The adults would sit and talk for hours, and I'd be left to my own devices — except, of course, there were no actual devices.

So I'd get creative.

I'd rip up my napkin into tiny pieces, then add salt and sugar to my lemonade, mixing it into a questionable science experiment. I found ways to entertain and occupy myself.

Back then, boredom was an unavoidable part of life. And while it wasn't always comfortable, it was a space where imagination thrived. It forced us to be resourceful, to daydream, to invent games, and sometimes, just to sit with our own thoughts.

Fast-forward to today, and things look very different. If you're waiting in line, you check your phone. If you're stuck in a meeting, you scroll through social media under the table.

Even kids at restaurants now have iPads to keep them entertained.

Technology has made it possible to avoid boredom at every turn.

On the surface, this seems like a win. Who wants to be bored, right?

But here's the catch: By constantly distracting ourselves, we're losing something important — the ability to sit with discomfort.

Why boredom matters.

Boredom isn't just an annoying feeling; it's a vital part of being human. When we're bored, our brains go into a kind of "default mode," wandering through thoughts, memories, and ideas. This is where creativity is born.

But it's not just about creativity.

Boredom teaches us patience. It helps us build a skill that psychologists refer to as "distress tolerance", that is, the ability to tolerate and sit with feelings of distress or discomfort. Being bored can feel quite frustrating and might leave us feeling restless.

But let's be honest — life isn't always exciting.

Pain, disappointment, and discomfort are inevitable. If we never practice sitting with these frustrating or uncomfortable feelings, we're going to be less equipped to handle them when they do inevitably show up in life.

I see in my clinical practice all the time, people who feel anxious or restless whenever they're not busy. Being still and being quiet feels VERY hard. They struggle to relax, to be alone with their thoughts, or to let their mind wander.

It's as if we've forgotten how to be bored — and how valuable that can be.

How to reclaim boredom.

So, what's the solution?

It's simple, but not always easy: Make space for boredom.

Put down your phone. Turn off the TV. Close the laptop. Allow yourself to sit in silence, even if it feels uncomfortable at first.

In fact, I'd say, expect that it might feel uncomfortable at the start. We are so constantly overstimulated with the business of life, that it may feel quite confronting to change gears and suddenly sit in silence.

Start small, maybe just five minutes a day. As you do it, notice what comes up. Notice how you feel and what you think. You might feel restless, or even a bit anxious. That's okay. Sit with it. Let it be.

See what ideas or feelings bubble to the surface. You might be surprised at the creativity, insight, or even peace that follows.

The takeaway here? Let yourself be bored. You might be surprised by what comes next.

Feature image: Supplied.