Can boredom make you successful?

Yesterday I read This Charles Scott Article from CNBC. The synopsis of it states that while boredom is an incredibly annoying feeling on a daily basis, it can, in fact be very useful. Our society is used to instant gratification, instant access to information, and immediate responses. I myself am guilty of using my cell phone to check emails, facebook, stock reports, and yes, even twitter, when I have down time - anything to fill the few minutes here and there of empty space.

Scott's article, however, derides this common activity as more counter productive than anything else. Being bored lets your mind wander. It lets it work. It helps you be creative, innovative. You think about things that you normally wouldn't have. You go off on tangents, you daydream, you have ideas. All of this in today's society is becoming more and more what would set someone apart. These days a bachelor's degree is what a High School diploma was a generation ago. You can't go anywhere without one. It is expected, and to do anything more worthwhile, a graduate degree is almost required. Creativity and innovation may not get you in the door, but it will get you noticed, and get you advanced.

I am on an incredibly busy schedule - I go from work, to graduate school, to the gym, and then to sleep, only to start it all over again. My weekends are usually tied up in events, or I am drilling with the California National Guard. Almost every hour is taken up by obligations to either others, or myself. I would enjoy a little boredom from time to time, and considering the creative nature of both my job, and my educational pursuits, it seems like I might need it.

What I am trying out is nothing new, or revolutionary, as many people try to be productive on their daily commutes, but what I am attempting is to simply be bored. I have turned off my car radio. The hum of the engine, and the feel of the road is all that distracts me during the 2+ hours I spend driving on days that I have class. I am not claiming any dramatic breakthroughs, and it is a far cry from studying or working while on a train or a bus, but it can be quite calming. I get lost in my thoughts. I consider what I am doing that day, and why. My mind wanders. I come up with new ways to do things, and new concepts. This is only my second day of driving with no distractions, but it has already pushed me to write this blog, and given me ideas for several others - not to mention the half finished, viscereal concepts and ideas that are still floating around up there waiting to be fleshed out.

Go out there and make yourself bored. Meditate. Go for a walk. Stare out the window. Enjoy it. Revel in it. You might be surprised just how productive you can be when you do absolutely nothing.