In our hyper-connected, always-on world, boredom has become the ultimate enemy.

We swipe, scroll, click, and consume, all in an attempt to banish any hint of an empty moment.

But this aversion to boredom may be stifling your creativity, dulling your mind, and even diminishing your wellbeing.

We’ve been conditioned to believe that productivity is measured by perpetual motion, and that doing nothing is a waste of precious time.

I’m guilty of this. As a writer, artist and all-round busy person, it can be endlessly frustrating to feel like I’m not making full use of my time. But I have often found that inspiration strikes in the lull.

So, doing “nothing” is something I have (begrudgingly) come to accept as a positive.

Here’s why financial planners and advisers should, too.

What exactly does it mean to be bored?

You may think you know what being bored means, but scientists all over the world have been debating what it means to be bored, as well as why it can be good (and bad) for you.

According to Psychology Today, boredom exists as both a state and a trait. If you are in a state of boredom, you might feel bored in specific situations. The boredom trait is often associated with a lack of necessary stimulation, anxiety, and depression.

In general, boredom means:

• Feeling disengaged or uninterested in what you’re doing
• Constantly checking the clock or counting down the minutes
• Daydreaming or zoning out
• Procrastinating or avoiding tasks
• Engaging in mindless activities, such as scrolling through social media.

In the modern age of technology, it’s all too easy to escape the feeling of boredom, but this is part of the problem.

Sometimes you just can’t stand to stare at the blue walls in the dentist’s office any longer, but in most cases, are we just replacing one black hole with another?

Boredom can be a catalyst for change and an opportunity for reflection, particularly if you’re able to take a step back and allow your brain to rest.

The hidden power of an idle mind

The reality is that this allows our brains time to rest and switch off, and it’s in these places of rest where:

• Your ideas have a chance to cross-pollinate. You might find that random thoughts, odd pieces of information, or long-forgotten memories can connect in new ways, leading to unexpected insights and creative breakthroughs.
• You have the opportunity to explore more personal subjects. Without external distractions, your mind may be free to wander inward and reflect on experiences, emotions, and relationships, potentially deepening your empathy towards others.
• Your reactive decision-making could become proactive planning. Periods of quiet contemplation could allow for information to marinate, priorities to clarify, and your subconscious to work through complex problems.
• You can allow your mental batteries can recharge. Just like your phone, your brain needs time to recharge. Boredom can provide a low-stimulus environment where mental restoration can happen.

All of the above could help to prevent burnout and may even make it easier to sustain focus for longer periods of time. More than that, there are dangers to being constantly “on”.

Having constant access to entertainment is not always a good thing

While access to information and instant communication offer undeniable advantages, there is a hidden toll to always needing something to do.

Whether you’re scrolling for your next watch on Netflix, skipping through news headlines, or wiling the hours away on your social media platform(s) of choice, constant stimulation can come at a cost.

• Decision fatigue: Every notification, email, or headline demands a micro-decision from us. Do you engage or do you swipe away? The truth is that our brains are simply not designed for this relentless barrage, and it can lead to mental exhaustion.
• Increased stress and anxiety: The fear of missing out (FOMO), or of not being “productive enough”, can create a baseline level of stress and anxiety. When this happens, your nervous system doesn’t get a chance to calm down, and this can prevent you from achieving genuine rest.
• Diminished creativity: Creativity can emerge from moments of quiet reflection, often from allowing disparate ideas to bump into each other in the background of our minds. When you’re constantly feeding your brain external information, it’s likely that you’re not allowing genuine space for original thought and creativity.
• Shallow thinking: The human brain loves novelty, but constant novelty can keep us in a reactive, superficial mode of thinking. We skim headlines, absorb snippets, and rarely engage in the concentrated thought required for more complex problem-solving or creative breakthroughs.

The relentless pursuit of activity and stimulation isn’t just inefficient, it’s actively detrimental to our wellbeing, both physical and mental.

Indeed, boredom can be a place for mental rest and imaginative growth, not just a void to fill.

Why this matters for financial advisers and planners

On a daily basis, you’re dissecting market trends, navigating complicated regulations, building client relationships, and constantly thinking of ways to evolve your service offering.

While boredom may seem like a luxury in this space, you could consider making it a strategy.

Allowing yourself to experience boredom could help you step away from the sector’s echo chamber, foster creative client solutions, or even develop new ideas to expand your business.

It’s easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of daily tasks, but deliberate downtime could provide you with the space to zoom out, assess your business strategy, identify new growth opportunities, and allow you to make proactive decisions that benefit your long-term plan.

Free up your mind for what truly matters

This is where we come in. We can help you free up valuable time by managing the complexities of content creation and communication strategies. This gives you more time to do the kind of deep work only you can do.

Indeed, this is the kind of work that emerges from clarity, contemplation and yes, a little boredom.

Talk to us today to learn how we can help you focus on leading, innovating, and truly connecting with your clients.

Email hi@theyardstickagency.co.uk or call 0115 8965 300 today and let’s see what we can do together.