Put a little boredom in your life
Is your job an endless, soul-sucking vortex of dreariness? Do you stare at the wall for hours at a time while you’re at work, wishing you had something better to do? Do you look forward to leaving early to go to the dentist? [Editor query: What does this have to do with health care? LOTME: You’ll see. We’re building dramatic tension.]
Did you answer yes to any of these questions? Way to go! You’ve taken the first step on the road to creativity. [Still waiting. We’re almost there.]
A recent study examined the effects of boredom by assigning people to either a really boring task – sorting a bowl of red and green beans by color for 30 minutes using only one hand – or a nonboring art project using paper, glue, and, of course, beans. [What’s with the beans? It’s not our fault they used beans.]
The next task was the same for both groups: Come up with some reasons for being late for work and think of ideas for a new product by a hypothetical company. The answers were graded on their uniqueness, and the bean-sorting group had more creative ideas than did the art-project group.
The point is, ladies and gentlemen, that boredom is good. Boredom is right. Boredom works. [A Gordon Gekko reference? Couldn’t you find something from this century? No.]
By now you’re probably wondering: “But how can I get one of those really boring jobs? After all, I’m a doctor. I heal the sick and care for the needy. My work is way too interesting to inspire true creativity.” Have you ever considered writing a medical humor column?
[Note to readers: We’ve pulled the staff away from their building blocks and crayons and given them a timeout. Hopefully things will be a little better by next week.]
