A growing body of research is challenging our instinctive avoidance of boredom, suggesting that our constant efforts to escape it—especially through smartphones—may be undermining both our mental health and the potential for meaningful self-discovery. Recent findings discussed in The Guardian highlight the complexity of boredom’s role in the digital age and spark fresh debate on how Thai society should approach this underestimated emotion.
Thais, like people everywhere, live in an era saturated with digital distractions. Whether waiting in line at a food stall, riding the BTS Skytrain, or enduring a lull during classroom lectures, the reflex for many is to reach for a smartphone. The implications run deeper than wasted time: a new consensus among psychologists is that boredom, although often uncomfortable, serves an important function similar to hunger or loneliness by prompting us toward more engaging or meaningful pursuits.
The story begins with a now-classic 2014 study by Harvard University and the University of Virginia, where volunteers were asked to sit quietly with their thoughts for 15 minutes, given only the option to self-administer an unpleasant electric shock. Astonishingly, about half of participants chose to shock themselves rather than sit idly. As the authors concluded, “people prefer doing to thinking,” underlining the discomfort many feel when confronted with their own unmediated thoughts (source). This discomfort has only been amplified by the widespread availability of smartphones, which offer nearly infinite distractions.
Smartphones have become, in effect, psychological shock buttons—tools to neutralize boredom instantly. Anxious thoughts, once left to emerge and evolve in quiet moments, are now easily drowned out by TikTok videos, LINE messages, or endless Instagram scrolls. While this option provides relief from overthinking and rumination—both risky for mental health if excessive—it may also be short-circuiting the very process by which we gain insight into our needs and desires.
Psychologists agree that “boredom alerts us to a need,” says an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Florida. The quality of a task—whether it holds our attention or feels significant—determines if we find it meaningful, meaningless, or just plain dull. Thailand’s traditions offer an interesting perspective: Buddhist monks, for example, are experts in sitting with their thoughts, practicing mindfulness, and embracing emptiness as a path to insight. Yet such tolerance for boredom is increasingly rare in Thai urban life, where productivity and entertainment have become the dominant cultural values.
Recent data analyzed from both China and the United States reveals a spike in chronic boredom among students since the advent of the smartphone era in the early 2010s. If boredom is a warning system, ignoring it not only stunts creativity but can trigger a cascade of negative consequences: depression, anxiety, diminished academic performance, substance abuse, and risky behaviors. Thai health professionals have noticed a parallel rise in anxiety and digital addiction among youth, with reports of students unable to focus on lessons and workers losing productivity (WHO Thailand digital health bulletin).
Paradoxically, while boredom is often seen as a void, it’s actually a “fertile ground” for new ideas and personal reflection. Research cited in The Guardian suggests that frequent digital distraction doesn’t alleviate boredom for long; instead, it sustains a restlessness that social media companies are all too eager to monetize with algorithms designed to keep users scrolling. One international study showed bored employees who turned to their phones found themselves feeling even more bored afterward—a phenomenon mirrored in countless Thai offices and classrooms (see research summary).
Why does this matter for Thai society? The pressure to stay productive and connected is not limited to Bangkok’s business districts. Rural provinces, once known for slower paces of life, are now deeply entwined with digital culture thanks to near-universal smartphone adoption (National Statistical Office of Thailand ICT Survey 2023). As a result, opportunities to sit with uncomfortable feelings—boredom included—are shrinking nationwide. Yet wisdom traditions embedded in Thai culture suggest there’s value in quiet moments. The Thai concept of “jai yen” (cool heart) encompasses patience and acceptance, qualities that boredom can help cultivate if given space.
Expert opinions diverge on how much boredom is healthy or when it tips into pathology. The aforementioned assistant professor contends that “boredom is unpleasant but useful,” urging people to treat it as a prompt to seek genuinely fulfilling activities. Thai psychiatrists and educators echo these sentiments, warning that chronic boredom left unchecked may exacerbate underlying mental health issues or lead to risky online behavior, especially among youth with few offline alternatives.
What might the future hold? If digital technology continues to dominate daily life, the prevalence of chronic boredom—and its psychological fallout—may rise further. Thailand’s education leaders are experimenting with policies such as device-free school periods and mindfulness curricula to help children resist compulsive phone use and reconnect with their inner lives. Some businesses are considering “boredom breaks” to spark creativity and boost well-being, inspired by findings that downtime can lead to bursts of innovation (Harvard Business Review).
For Thai readers seeking practical solutions, this research suggests a new approach: rather than rushing to banish boredom, try embracing it as a signal to explore what’s missing in your life. Experiment with structured device-free periods, such as during family meals or morning commutes. Practice mindfulness techniques rooted in local tradition. Encourage children to tolerate unstructured time, which research shows fosters creativity and resilience. Most of all, use boredom as a starting point to make conscious, more meaningful choices, rather than being moved by the algorithms of digital platforms.
The embrace of boredom isn’t a call for laziness; it is a return to balance. In a rapidly changing society where both old and new pressures abound, giving ourselves and our children permission to “do nothing” may paradoxically be the best way to enrich our lives.
For further reading, international books like “Bored and Brilliant” by Manoush Zomorodi and “Digital Minimalism” by Cal Newport, as well as Thai-language resources on mindfulness, can help guide this journey.
Sources:
- The Guardian: The big idea – should we embrace boredom?
- Psychology Today: Why would anyone choose to endure a painful shock?
- National Statistical Office of Thailand ICT Survey 2023
- WHO Thailand digital health bulletin
- Harvard Business Review: Why Boredom Is Good for Your Creativity
- NCBI – Research on boredom and digital device use