Give boredom a chance - why an idle mind can be the secret to creativity

The pandemic has forced many of us to reflect on our lifestyles - both at home and at work. It is wonderful that we are thinking more carefully about where and how we work. But a recent Economist article urges us to go even further and pay attention to what actually constitutes work. Should sitting in meetings and responding to emails be considered work? Undoubtedly both are a necessary part of modern work. But we are all guilty of booking too many meetings and sending too many emails.

It is important to challenge these kinds of habitual behaviours. Can the content of an email be handled through a group chat or people collaborating in a shared document? Can a meeting be 15 minutes forcing all parties to get to the point? Changing these behaviours also creates time for two very important elements of life -first, deep work and second, boredom. See full transcript here.

Photo credit: Annie Spratt