Boredom: The Hidden Epidemic of the 21st Century - An Yogic perspective on fighting boredom.

Boredom once used to be just a feeling we experienced during dull moments. But now, it’s becoming a real problem affecting our mental health and daily lives. As life moves quickly, many of us struggle to find purpose and excitement. 

Today, boredom isn’t just a fleeting emotion; it’s a silent epidemic shaping how we think, act, and feel. 

This article dives into why boredom is growing, what it does to us, and how we can fight back against this silent crisis and above all, how we can harness the power of Yoga to fight boredom. 

Why should one feel bored at all in this ever-engaging digital society we live in today?

The truth is, boredom has been around for ages, but how we experience it today is totally different from say a few decades ago. In the past, it meant something like the time spent with no much activity to do or sitting still during a long wait or doing chores. 

Now, boredom is often linked to endless streams of digital distractions. Boredom also seam to arise out of the contrary situation also when one is fully digitally engaged. That's one of the reason many youngsters show less and less interest in activities which some of their preceding generations of their age were giving like casual playing with other kids, climbing tree etc., 

Research has shown that we also get bored quickly when our minds are constantly flooded with information too thus turning boredom into a persistent flow overwhelmed feeling due to the information overload.

Imagine mindlessly scrolling through social media, recently I watched a girl from a rich family say this "I get up late say at 10am, I like to watch random things on social media while I snack then when tired I go back to sleep— it’s like being caught in a loop. What genetic signals will get imprinted in our DNA for our future generations? God only knows the answer to this hidden pandemic.

Most of the youth of today are on their phones so much that their real-life moments get drowned out. Research has warned the impact of overexposure to constant notifications and updates makes attention span shrink. Social media provides the entertainment, but often leaves the consumer feeling empty. Many users have reported feeling more bored after hours of mindless online scrolling.

Today’s lifestyle encourages instant gratification not only in digital media but all aspects of life. We are taught to chase quick clicks and fast results. Our schedules are packed, leaving little room for reflection. Self-reflection is like sleep it evens out the emotional spikes, if we do not give time for that our busy pace wears us out emotionally, making moments of boredom feel even more uncomfortable and sometimes resulting in outbursts like frustration and anger.

Mental health consequences of uncontrolled boredom

Chronic boredom can fuel anxiety, depression, and stress. 

When we don’t find meaning in our daily routines, our minds start to wander into endless darker thoughts. Chronic darker thoughts could lead one to clinical mental health conditions.

Studies show people who feel bored often report higher rates of mental health struggles. If chronic boredom is not resolved, it can spiral into serious issues like feelings of loneliness or sometimes hopelessness, the two main pillars of depression.

So I would recommend, if someone said they are frequently bored, take it literally and offer help. 

Boredom has Cognitive impact

Chronic boredom can affect how we think and create. 

When we’re always distracted, our imagination and creativity levels shrink. 

We miss chances to come up with new ideas or solve problems easily. It reduces our focus (That's the primary growth driver) and makes it harder to comprehend life's challenges or even to learn new skills. Over time, boredom can dull our ability to stay productive.

Boredom has Physical health implications

The biggest risk to health is not in boredom itself but feeling bored might lead to unhealthy choices. 

Our lives are made of the choices we make and our health is largely dependent on them too. It is a well know that some overtly bored individuals turn to overeating, sometimes smoking, or drinking to fill the void. Boredom is also known to discourages physical activity, and is the main culprit that some people feel less motivated. Bored people move their body less and this could impact their overall health, leading to obesity and hell a lot of other problems linked to their sedentary life.

The Yogic Perspective on Boredom: An Invitation to Inner Exploration

In the yogic tradition, boredom is not seen as a void to be filled with external distractions, but rather as a profound opportunity for self-discovery and a gateway to deeper states of consciousness. 

This pause is viewed in the Yogic angle as a "natural pause" in the ceaseless activity of the mind, a space between "doing" and "being" that, if approached with awareness, can lead to significant personal growth.

From a yogic standpoint, the feeling of boredom is attributed to the mind that is accustomed constant stimulation and external engagement. When these external inputs cease, suddenly the mind can feel restless and uncomfortable. The resulting feeling is often presented as boredom.

However, instead of immediately seeking to alleviate this discomfort, Yoga encourages turning inward and examining the nature of this experience.

Boredom is perceived as a Mirror to the Mind

According to Yogic philosophy, particularly as articulated in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, our mental and emotional states are often coloured by past impressions or "Samskaras." Boredom can be seen as a manifestation of these underlying tendencies. 

When we sit with boredom without reacting, we begin to observe the repetitive thought patterns and desires that fuel our restlessness. This observation, known as svadhyaya (self-study), is a crucial aspect of the Yogic path. Understanding these repetitive thought pattens and desires are the key to breaking the patterns.

Boredom is tacked in the Yogic tradition by the practice of tapas, or discipline and is  central to handling boredom. Yoga teaches not to forcefully avoid thoughts or habits, instead, it teaches to willingly stay with the discomfort of boredom through meditation thus essentially "burning" through old patterns and karmic seeds and creating new pathways of understanding. 

Yoga believes all the solutions are found withing the person experiencing it, there is no need to feed any solutions that are temporary in nature. The solution lies in the person understanding and getting hold on boredom feel from within and learn to manage it. This is the benefit of meditation, it enriches and equips the person to feel and understand it within and manage the same.

This process of meditation purifies the mind and reduces its dependency on external validation and entertainment.

Now after experiencing and managing boredom, the next level is to transform boredom to a more meaningful experience. This is done through the Yogic practices as stated below:

Transforming Boredom through Yogic Practices

Yoga offers a rich toolkit of practices to navigate and transform the experience of boredom:

  • Yoga Asana (Physical Postures): A dynamic and mindful asana practice can be a powerful antidote to mental stagnation. By focusing on the breath and the physical sensations within each pose, the mind is drawn into the present moment. If the physical practice itself becomes monotonous, Yogic wisdom suggests introducing variety, focusing on different aspects of a pose, or trying a new style of Yoga to re-engage the mind and body.
  • Pranayama (Breathing Techniques): The breath is a direct link to our vital life force, or prana. Specific pranayama techniques can have a profound effect on our mental state: 
    • Nadi Shodhan (Alternate Nostril Breathing): This balancing breath helps to calm the nervous system and quiet the mind, making it easier to sit with and observe feelings of boredom without becoming agitated. 
    • Kapalabhati (Skull-Shining Breath): This energizing breath can help to dispel mental dullness and bring a sense of clarity and alertness, effectively cutting through the fog of boredom. 
    • Ujjayi (Victorious Breath): The gentle, audible constriction at the back of the throat in Ujjayi breath provides a constant point of focus, anchoring the mind in the present and preventing it from wandering into boredom. 
  • Dharana (Concentration) and Dhyana (Meditation): At the heart of the Yogic approach to boredom is the practice of meditation. Instead of seeing meditation as a potential source of boredom, it is viewed as the very laboratory where boredom can be examined and transcended. By focusing the mind on a single point, such as the breath, a mantra, or a visual image, we train our attention. 

When the mind wanders into boredom, the practice is to gently and non-judgmentally guide it back to the object of focus. Through this process, we develop the capacity to be present with any experience, including boredom, without being controlled by it. This leads to a state of "cool boredom," a spacious and peaceful acceptance of the present moment as it is.

In essence, the Yogic take on boredom is a radical shift in perspective. It reframes a state often perceived as negative into a valuable and transformative experience. By embracing boredom with tools of Yoga, we can move beyond the surface-level desire for constant entertainment and connect with the deeper, more abiding peace and contentment that lies within.

 

Krish K. Madembeth

is the founder at PsyYoga®, Pebbles Transformation® and Diversity Equilibrium®. An IT Engineer by profession. Has over two decades of experience in the field of Inner Yoga and Meditation, he has formulated the concept of PsyYoga® which is a Psychological tool culminating the fifth and sixth limbs of Yoga - the Pratyahara and Dharana to achieve everlasting Bliss. His interests align more with inner Yoga, Psychology, Divinity, and Metaphysics. Some of his other interests include Audio/Video, IT, Technology, Music, Reading, Mentoring, Branding. Enjoys both solitude and connecting with people. ​He is on a mission to help people to be blissfully happier while caring for the Planet too. Follow Krish on X : @madembeth - Email: krish@psyyoga.org

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