Our days are jam-packed with to-do lists and calendar invites that even tell us how long we have for lunch, tea, or a loo break. Every minute must be accounted for because time is precious and must be maximised. Ironically, in trying to make the most of every second, we’ve carved out no time at all.
But oddly enough, boarding a flight – especially a long-haul one – gives us a rare moment to pause. It’s a chance to dust off a childhood refrain: “I’m bored!” Suddenly, being bored feels like a tiny luxury.
Why? Because boredom lets the mind wander. It’s a permission slip to stop thinking – or to think about nothing in particular.
That blank space can be where the best ideas germinate: the plan for that “fun” thing you’ve been meaning to do, the hobby you used to love, or even a new skincare routine. Mostly, it makes room for creativity.
And relax…
Boredom relaxes the brain and flips off its usual filters, letting it roam into unexpected corners. What we used to scramble to fill as kids may actually have been fuelling our inventiveness all along. Does that make creative people boring? Ha – let’s leave that one floating!
Like so many good childhood habits – proper sleep, playtime – embracing boredom is worth bringing back. It’s okay not to dive for the inflight entertainment immediately. It’s fine not to pester the crew for constant attention. Let your mind wander a bit.
We trust the pilot to get us where we’re going; in the meantime, let the mind be free and enjoy a little boredom.
Time well spent
Being bored doesn’t mean wasting time – it’s a tiny rebellion against constant ‘doing’. In those quiet minutes mid-flight, you might notice small, delightful things: clouds piled like cotton castles, a fellow passenger’s laugh, or the engine’s steady rhythm like a soothing drum. These small observations can spark conversations, spontaneous sketches, new concepts or even a new playlist idea.
As Steve Jobs put it: “I’m a big believer in boredom. Boredom allows one to indulge in curiosity…and out of curiosity comes everything.”
So next time you board a flight, give yourself the luxury of being bored. Try a five-minute experiment: switch your phone to airplane mode, close your eyes, and let your thoughts drift without a goal. You may discover a surprising memory, a fresh perspective on a problem, or simply a calm you haven’t felt in a long time.
Boredom is also a soft reset for decision fatigue – when we aren’t bombarded by choices, our brain can sort what truly matters. With that in mind, treat boredom as a tiny, portable spa for the mind!
