“When hit by boredom, let yourself be crushed by it; submerge, hit bottom. In general, with things unpleasant, the rule is: The sooner you hit bottom, the faster you surface. The idea here is to exact a full look at the worst. The reason boredom deserves such scrutiny is that it represents pure, undiluted time in all its repetitive, redundant, monotonous splendor.
“Boredom is your window on the properties of time that one tends to ignore to the likely peril of one’s mental equilibrium. It is your window on time’s infinity. Once this window opens, don’t try to shut it; on the contrary, throw it wide open.”
― Joseph Brodsky
It’s interesting how metaphorical the poet Brodsky gets in this passage on boredom — and his metaphors are so physical. Boredom hits us, and crushes us. We sink under water, we hit bottom. Then we surface fast, and even when encountering a window, we don’t just look through it but throw it open. Take the bull by the horns, I might add. Don’t miss the 
opportunity — go for it!
It may be that my interest in boredom has something to do with its connection to Time. When we are experiencing the restless kind of boredom, it’s often because we think whatever we are doing is a waste of time, or at least that there might be a better use of our time than what has been given to us, what we are stuck doing. But Brodsky doesn’t see time that way, as something to use. We are beings in time, and just letting the seconds and minutes go by as we contemplate that reality — something splendorous — can reveal aspects of our existence that we might miss, if we keep ourselves constantly busy.
Contemplation is mental and hopefully spiritual work. Not laziness, not sloth. Possibly the opposite of sloth, which is another word for acedia. I still hope to explore the idea of acedia, but that will probably not happen soon. In the meantime, I’m growing bored with thinking about boredom. Here’s one last thought to contemplate:
Boredom is the feeling that everything is a waste of time;
serenity, that nothing is.
–Thomas Szasz
Gladsome Lights 
I am fortunate in the sense that I seldom regard myself as being bored – or even bordering on bored – for there is so much that needs to be done. I have, however, often felt guilty that doing something I enjoy (such as reading or watching birds) is a ‘waste’ of time because there are a host of other activities I might be better off doing. Better off? Why? Just because they are practical activities, such as ironing or weeding? This is why I enjoy your observation that We are beings in time, and just letting the seconds and minutes go by as we contemplate that reality — something splendorous — can reveal aspects of our existence that we might miss, if we keep ourselves constantly busy. We do not have to be constantly busy – reflection is an excellent use of our time 🙂
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Well said.
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I have enjoyed reading these posts about boredom. I rarely find myself bored, but occasionally just can’t settle to any particular activity. Walking stirs my blood and my mind, and provides a space for contemplation without feeling like I should be doing something productive.
Atwood’s poem brings home the tension of irritation with a husband and the regret of parting. I have never lived alone and sometimes wonder what it would be like. I hope I don’t have to, but our times are in God’s hands.
Thank you for these posts.
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Thank you, Gretchen, for this thoughtful post on boredom and the need for us to be a little bored sometimes in our frantic, clamouring world. I so agree.
I am drawn to these words by Brodsky: “Boredom is your window on the properties of time that one tends to ignore to the likely peril of one’s mental equilibrium.”
Not only is it good for our mental health, I have also heard it said that being bored gives room for creativity to flourish. As children, when we were bored, we learned to create our own entertainment, which included making up new games to play or crafts to work on. My little sister and I would make up plays to perform for family and our friends. We’d make up a script, find costumes, practice our lines, even make tickets for the performance. What fun we used to have getting it all ready. And it likely happened because we were bored one day on our school holidays.
This week I’ve been immersed in a new book by Sarah Clarkson, Reclaiming Quiet, Cultivating a Life of Holy Attention. It seems to goes hand in hand with your thoughts today on boredom. She talks about how stillness and quietness can reveal aspects of our existence – the core of our being – that we would miss if we are constantly busy.
Thanks again for a lovely post.
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Those are really good points you mention about the creative potential in boredom.
And thank you for the book tip! Those Clarkson women are so encouraging in their writings, but I haven’t read an actual book yet.
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“We are beings in time.” Boredom “is a window on time’s infinity.” What jewel-like words and how illuminating. Also things I had never conceived of. Still interested in accedia vs. boredom.
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💗💗💗
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Right! The bored person feels everything is a waste of time. But that is because they are not engaged; they don’t want to be, or maybe don’t know how.
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