Outwork Everyone by being Bored

✍️ Quote

Hustle culture.

Waking up at 4am and working until midnight. Being productive every single second of your life. Grinding 24/7 to get ahead of everyone else.

I would like to say I was really deep into this at some point, but the truth is I’ve always been too lazy.

If you’ve ever felt this way, stick around. I’ve found that the way to outwork everyone is NOT through discipline, work ethic, or willpower. It’s through boredom.

Walk with me here.

First, we need to understand two neural networks. The default mode network, and the executive function network.

• Executive function netowrk- A set of cognitive processes and mental skills that help an individual plan, monitor, and successfully execute their goals.

• Default mode network- The part of our brain that’s active when NOT directed by external stimuli.

This is important because when we’re not processing external information, it means our memory becomes the primary source of our thoughts and images. Just think about all the random thoughts that pop into your head right before bed, or when you’re in the shower with nothing to look at.

True creativity is born when our thoughts are allowed to wander inward without outward stimulation distracting us. And it’s here that we make new connections and associations. That’s all creativity is, anyhow—the ability to connect unrelated pieces of information in new and novel ways. Since an IBM survey of over 1000 CEO’s found creativity to be the most valuable skill in the modern workforce, it’s well worth our time to find new ways to expand our creativity.

The way that you outwork people is by producing more value than them in the same period of time. We all have 24 hours, so it’d be crazy to think you could put in way more hours than anyone else. Not to mention, more isn’t always better. There are people who work 2-3 jobs and barely get by, while there are others who work 4 hours a week and make millions a year.

Success isn’t about how much you get done. It’s about what you get done.

Let’s talk about why the human brain ever developed the capacity to feel boredom. Boredom is usually described as feeling simultaneously stressed, agitated, yet somehow lethargic. What’s the point? The leading idea is that boredom serves as a motivational factor to go out there and get things done. It also induces more introspection, and time spent thinking about the future. Also known as daydreaming (which sounds pretty similar to the default mode network, doesn’t it?).

All these concepts—-boredom, creativity, daydreaming— are interconnected to the same neural network.

Studies show that daydreaming boosts creativity, problem-solving skills, and your focus on specific tasks. You might have grown up thinking daydreaming was bad, like I did. You wouldn’t believe how much my teacher reprimanded me over daydreaming. By association, boredom seemed bad as well; I equated it to a lack of discipline, work ethic, and focus. With the rise of hustle culture in recent years, I wondered if these business gurus had a point.

I had to learn to give myself permission to be bored, and stop looking at moments of stillness as unproductive. I allowed myself to just look out of a window, or sit in silence from time to time.

A benefit of boredom is pushing us to experiment with new things, like trying new foods, venturing into uncharted lands, and exploring our curiosities. I’m sure boredom has driven just as much invention as necessity.

Here’s a huge reason why we run from boredom, as well as one of the hugest benefits. There are tons of tasks at this moment that we’re putting off. Things that we know should do, and maybe even want to do, but we put them off because we’re distractable little monkeys, and they require an act of creation. Consumption is always easier than creation. But you can’t consume your way to fulfillment; it can only be created.

This creates a dissonance between what we are doing, and what we should be doing. We can usually distract ourselves from this by scrolling Tiktok, or watching Netflix. But when boredom occurs, we suddenly have space to think. Most of us desperately run because we don’t want to face these responsibilities, or wonder about anything too scary (who we are, our purpose in life). But, as Aristotle said, the unexamined life is not worth living.

Now, knowing the benefit of boredom is one thing. But acting on it is another. Because, being bored kind of sucks. But the advantages to harnessing it are too great to ignore. So here are a couple of simple ways to make space for boredom in your life:

Take boring breaks: If you’re a fan of the Pomodoro technique, working for 25 minutes and taking a 5 minute break, it’s important that you don’t do interesting things during that break. Don’t reach for your phone. It’ll short-circuit your subconscious from continuing with your (less fun) primary task. Take a walk, do some squats. Maybe…stare at a wall?

Meditation: You don’t even have to worry about focusing on your breathing or anything else. Just sit with the stillness and boredom, and do nothing about it.

If you apply these practices, you’ll be well on your way to turning boredom into a superpower.

🤓 Fun Fact

In an intriguing study, participants were placed alone in a room with a button for 15 minutes. The button could administer a mild electric shock if pressed. Funnily enough, before the study, the majority of participants said they would pay to avoid being shocked. However, by the end of the experiment, 67% of men and 25% of women chose to press the button. People would rather be electrically shocked than left alone with their thoughts.

🤔 Wall Thoughts

🙏 Mindful Moment: Boredom

In the spirit of this email, just take some time and be bored. Whether that’s staring at a wall, meditating, walking, or something else. You can do it. I believe in you.