The beauty of boredom, digital addiction, and the productive cure to save us all

“I'm the idiot box. I'm the TV. I'm the all-seeing eye and the world of the cathode ray. I'm the boob tube. I'm the little shrine the family gathers to adore.'
'You're the television? Or someone in the television?'
'The TV's the altar. I'm what people are sacrificing to.'
'What do they sacrifice?' asked Shadow.
'Their time, mostly,' said Lucy. 'Sometimes each other.' She raised two fingers, blew imaginary gunsmoke from the tips. Then she winked, a big old I Love Lucy wink.
 -Neil Gaiman, American Gods

 I resist the urge to begin with 'back in the old days before smart phones...' and yet, that is precisely what I want to say.

I have forgotten the joys of being  properly bored. Boredom meant, finding something to lose myself in. Feeling bored meant possibilities.

Of course I have excuses when I turn to the convenience of electronic devices...

Excuse #1: I need to do something mindless.
Hence, a good book takes a backseat to Candy Crush.
Excuse #2: I go on Facebook to keep in touch with people.
Well sure, except I don't see many real updates. It is becoming harder to come across the stuff worth seeing with the flood of  'perfect Memes' that people post to sum up the truth of their lives.

Some examples I came across this week:

The girl who accepts being shit on

The girl who perpetually dates guys who cheat.

The idiot who has no idea who either of these shoppers are and whether they have jobs or not.

Can we ALL take a moment to acknowledge that this maniac could be president and people I am acquainted with openly support him?

The witty voter who has clearly never watched a Nova special.

I'm not without guilt; I'm not above posting memes. Sometimes I see something hilarious and it reminds me that the internet is still a fantastic universe to be a part of...in moderation.

I love a good worldly experience.

I look sooo much younger since buying my magic necklace!!!!

Excuse #3: The internet is a great place to stay on top of the news.
True most of the time but sometimes by the time I get through all the pop-up ads and click bait, I've lost the desire to read the article.

Bottom line: My excuses are unsatisfying and unconvincing. There is no refund of the sand we waste. I'm part of a culture that perpetuates a cycle of lazy stimulation. Though I'm not nearly as tethered to my phone as some,  I'm still guilty and part of the problem. I'm feeding the beast and it isn't providing much nourishment in return.

I go back to the root of what boredom used to do for me before I had a smart phone. I like that version of me more. I'm far more productive, more interested, less self absorbed. I do things that matter to me...

• I read more books.
• I write more.
• I work on my photography.
• I complete jigsaw puzzles.
• I keep my living space comfortable and tidy.
• I have better conversations. 
• I procrastinate less.
• I step outside of my comfort zone.
• I appreciate my surroundings.
• I make things (like dragon eggs)

The internet is an extraordinary place. It connects us all and yet, it disconnects us as well (watch people at restaurants to validate that). So what do I do? How can I learn to love the digital world and still appreciate the value of boredom?

For me it is practicing conscious detachment. When I get home from work I try to remember to put my phone by my bedside instead of keeping it close to me. Even small bouts of detachment make a big difference in the way I spend my time.

Final thoughts: I welcome boredom and its productive cure.  I will kill it on my own terms. Look out for flying books.