23/08/2025
Boredom – Friend or Foe?
Many of my clients tell me they can’t cope with boredom. They see it as something negative to escape. But the truth is: boredom is a normal human experience.
How we perceive boredom matters:
• Some see it as unbearable and reach for quick fixes — food, sugar, alcohol, drugs, endless scrolling — all chasing that dopamine hit.
• Others see it as space to potter, reflect, or reset.
From a CBT perspective, boredom isn’t “good” or “bad” — it’s a feeling. What we do with it shapes the outcome.
👉 A small exercise:
Next time boredom shows up, pause and name it: “This is boredom.”
Notice where you feel it in your body.
Instead of escaping it immediately, try sitting with it for 2–3 minutes. Ask yourself: “What do I actually need right now?”
This shift from reacting to responding can reduce unhelpful coping and open up healthier choices.
The question isn’t whether we’ll get bored (we all will!) — it’s how we relate to it. Is it something to run from, or something that might even help us pause, reset, or create?
👉 How do you experience boredom? Is it uncomfortable… or is it an invitation?
