The beauty of being bored in nature
With no crowds or distractions, inspiration and creativity can flourish
I’ve been fortunate enough to spend part of this summer in northern Sweden, in what’s dubbed “Europe’s last wilderness,” a place that abounds with natural beauty and has more reindeer than people. I’ve spent my days mostly hiking, camping and reading – and allowing myself to get bored. While boredom may not sound like a key ingredient for a dream vacation, it does come with some surprising benefits.
Boredom happens when our brains are under stimulated and fail to find meaning in a given situation, the uncomfortable feeling of wanting to do something different but not knowing what to do. It’s a state of mind that we tend to avoid at all costs, and with smart phones, doing so has become all too easy. We scroll through social media while brushing our teeth, listen to the latest episode of our favorite podcast when we’re out for a walk, check work emails while we’re eating and mindlessly sift through endless notifications, even as we’re having conversations IRL.
The downfall of permanent distraction
With a barrage of stimulation constantly at our fingertips, we may get temporary relief from our discomfort, but we also risk becoming permanently distracted. And it’s not just our attention spans that are going down the drain. By eliminating every idle moment before it even sets in, we fail to give our mind a chance to wander or space for reflection.
That’s a shame.
Because boredom is a force that pushes us to shift our attention to something meaningful. It allows us to think deeply and imaginatively and can be a catalyst for creativity. In Eastern cultures, which embrace boredom, it’s even considered the path to higher consciousness.
I came to think of all this during my trip up north, where I often hiked by myself, covering long distances without talking to a single person and doing little but putting one foot in front of the other for hours on end. The repetitive movement, the silence and the lack of distractions, combined with the intrinsically slow, non-linear pace of nature were just what my busy brain needed. When I allowed my mind to wander, great things happened.
Finding flow
I may not have reached what Buddhists call Nirvana, but against the backdrop of crooked, windswept birch trees and serene mountain tundra, I did find my flow. My mind opened up and I felt a profound sense of connection to the natural world. After going through a creative dry spell for some time, my brain suddenly filled up with ideas and inspiration. (According to this University of Utah study, our creativity level actually increases in measurable ways by around 50 percent when we’re out in nature for multiple days.)
Now I’m back home and I’m trying to figure out how to A) hold on to this feeling of tranquility in everyday life and B) simultaneously channel my newfound creativity in a productive way. I think I’ll start by going for a walk.
One thing to contemplate
“Nature invites us to simply be, without the need to constantly do. When you embrace nature, you give yourself permission to exist without judgment or the need to achieve.”
Two things to read
1. How Living an Open-Air Life Can Help You Boost Well-Being. Find out how to live better and find a deeper connection with the natural world through the Nordic philosophy of friluftsliv.
2. Are you struggling to get the kids’ bedtime routines back on track? Try getting them into this habit.
Three things to do outside
1. Practice being bored in nature, for example by sitting on a stump with no agenda other than to observe your surroundings, or by lying on your back watching clouds pass in the sky.
2. If you’ve ever thought about getting started with cold plunges in nature, fall is a great time to ease into it, while water temperatures are still fairly high. Read more about the benefits of cold plunges in this NPR article.
3. Savor everyday friluftsliv by creating an outdoor habit and sticking with it. The easiest way to practice open-air life is to go for a walk in your neighborhood or a nearby park. Going the same way several times per week may seem boring at first but on the flip side, you get to see nature change with the seasons and will develop a stronger connection with the place where you live.
See you outside!
Linda
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Before you go...
I have a curated selection of some of my favorite children's outerwear at Outdoor School Shop. When you shop through the link, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Check out the Rain or Shine Mamma shop at ODSS here.
I've published two books: There's No Such Thing as Bad Weather and The Open-Air Life. If you enjoyed them, you can help others find them by leaving an Amazon review here and here respectively.
I often get interviewed about outdoor play and nature connection at various podcasts. You can find all the episodes I've participated in here.
Do you have a book club or head up a nature play community? I love doing virtual author visits! Just hit reply to this message to connect.
I do virtual speaking events for corporations, non-profits and online summits. You can read more about that here.
Do YOU have something going on in the nature connection space that you think this community should hear about? If so, hit 'reply' and let me know what you're up to - I'd be happy to share!