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Why You Shouldn’t Trust Boredom | Kevin H. Gary | TED

Are you actually bored, or is something else going on? Educator Kevin H. Gary shares three practical takeaways to deal with the doldrums, so you can take control of your attention, figure out which feelings to trust and name the real problem. If you love watching TED Talks like this one, become a TED Member…

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Are you actually bored, or is something else going on? Educator Kevin H. Gary shares three practical takeaways to deal with the doldrums, so you can take control of your attention, figure out which feelings to trust and name the real problem.

If you love watching TED Talks like this one, become a TED Member to support our mission of spreading ideas:

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65 Comments

65 Comments

  1. sword_fight

    November 27, 2023 at 8:12 am

    Boredom is the new freedom. 30s is the new 20s. Books are the new netflix. But I am still single…kindly help me get into a relationship

  2. Callum Rhys

    November 27, 2023 at 8:24 am

    Did it really take him 10 boring long minutes to just say “don’t think about being bored”?

  3. research1

    November 27, 2023 at 8:26 am

    If you want to never be bored work on your spiritual life – you will never get to perfection but you will never be bored trying !

    • John Adams

      November 27, 2023 at 8:28 am

      😂

  4. laojace

    November 27, 2023 at 8:29 am

    Summary: Why we should pay attention to our boredom

    1. Boredom tends to be externalised & objectified but it reflects our internal mood state. Boredom should not be trusted.

    2. To avoid the pain of boredom, people become avoidant or resignated. Due to a loss of agency and of imagination. We need to protect our bored minds which become primed for distractions.

    3. Get strategic about managing our boredom. Name and talk about these strategies.

  5. David Lange

    November 27, 2023 at 8:48 am

    Oh my God, this is the most boring ted talk of all time

    • David Lange

      November 27, 2023 at 8:55 am

      The ad was a welcome reprieve from this ted talk

  6. Peaceful Warrior

    November 27, 2023 at 8:57 am

    If you find yourself board often then you may be a boring person. Try doing some soul searching to find what you value which money can’t buy

  7. Peaceful Warrior

    November 27, 2023 at 8:58 am

    School is a system of propaganda, it’s pretty much child abuse to force kids into modern schools. Ever notice how schools and prisons look the same???

  8. Luci Feric

    November 27, 2023 at 8:58 am

    Hard work is the best cure for boredom.

  9. m kk

    November 27, 2023 at 9:29 am

    good topic

  10. Sandeep kn

    November 27, 2023 at 9:47 am

    To avoid wathcing videos in the mornings i go for running …and dont take mobile while running

  11. John Christopher Blog

    November 27, 2023 at 10:11 am

    who’s coughing? it’s so loud!

  12. Arrigo MMXVI

    November 27, 2023 at 10:20 am

    it’s 7min in the vid and when is he going to say smth useful 🙈damn this is boring 😸but i will finish the vid i hope there’s some wisdom at the end

    upd. finally, some actual tips start at 9:20

  13. @arrigommxvi7822

    November 27, 2023 at 10:20 am

    it’s 7min in the vid and when is he going to say smth useful 🙈damn this is boring 😸but i will finish the vid i hope there’s some wisdom at the end

    upd. finally, some actual tips start at 9:20

  14. 隋文琪

    November 27, 2023 at 10:28 am

    whats meaning about hallway procedures?

  15. @user-tb1mr8xy2l

    November 27, 2023 at 10:28 am

    whats meaning about hallway procedures?

  16. Mr. Sharique

    November 27, 2023 at 11:28 am

    Well, really got bored by this..

  17. @_mr.sharique_

    November 27, 2023 at 11:28 am

    Well, really got bored by this..

  18. Happy Killmore

    November 27, 2023 at 11:31 am

    The irony of this one…

  19. @happykillmore349

    November 27, 2023 at 11:31 am

    The irony of this one…

  20. Poyitjdr

    November 27, 2023 at 11:34 am

    I think boredom is the brain’s way of telling us we need a change. It could be a change of perspective. Ex: math is boring to me but the history of it isn’t- now I know the history and math is way more fascinating.

    It could be a physical change, like dyeing your hair because you’re bored of your current hair color.

    Boredom may also signify that you need to take time for yourself. You might be overworked or burnt out.

    I don’t think boredom is the enemy. I think it’s an incredibly useful signifier. Boredom has caused me to branch out and learn new things, try new activities, explore, and form new relationships. If I never got bored, I’d be a boring person.

    • Natalie P

      November 27, 2023 at 2:36 pm

      Well said.

  21. @poyitjdr

    November 27, 2023 at 11:34 am

    I think boredom is the brain’s way of telling us we need a change. It could be a change of perspective. Ex: math is boring to me but the history of it isn’t- now I know the history and math is way more fascinating.

    It could be a physical change, like dyeing your hair because you’re bored of your current hair color.

    Boredom may also signify that you need to take time for yourself. You might be overworked or burnt out.

    I don’t think boredom is the enemy. I think it’s an incredibly useful signifier. Boredom has caused me to branch out and learn new things, try new activities, explore, and form new relationships. If I never got bored, I’d be a boring person.

    • @nataliep6385

      November 27, 2023 at 2:36 pm

      Well said.

  22. Harthik Thumma

    November 27, 2023 at 11:41 am

    Been bored for well over an year now i can say that this is definitely true

  23. @HarthikReddyThumma

    November 27, 2023 at 11:41 am

    Been bored for well over an year now i can say that this is definitely true

  24. Ömer Yıldız

    November 27, 2023 at 12:16 pm

    Me clicking this video to have solution to it.

    Meanwhile TEDx: Boredom should not be trusted.

  25. @omeryldz6338

    November 27, 2023 at 12:16 pm

    Me clicking this video to have solution to it.

    Meanwhile TEDx: Boredom should not be trusted.

  26. Frances Bernard

    November 27, 2023 at 12:23 pm

    When getting strategic about managing boredom after going through many years of being at risk how do I narrow my focus again while avoiding negative comments offered to me by people outside of school about how i should continue giving up learning any computer languages at age 67? At the time I had to agree being very slow at typing meant it would not be my forte when learning computer coding anyway.

  27. @francesbernard2445

    November 27, 2023 at 12:23 pm

    When getting strategic about managing boredom after going through many years of being at risk how do I narrow my focus again while avoiding negative comments offered to me by people outside of school about how i should continue giving up learning any computer languages at age 67? At the time I had to agree being very slow at typing meant it would not be my forte when learning computer coding anyway.

  28. Merican Made

    November 27, 2023 at 12:28 pm

    The 2 ways of dealing with boredom: avoiding it (by like going on your phone) or giving in to it and just conforming to it

  29. @mericanmade9843

    November 27, 2023 at 12:28 pm

    The 2 ways of dealing with boredom: avoiding it (by like going on your phone) or giving in to it and just conforming to it

  30. deltaangelfire

    November 27, 2023 at 2:02 pm

    the “complaining” negative loop is how the media gets us to stop caring about every political matter ever. War in Ukraine, Massacres in Gaza, Reubuplican government hypocrisy, Democrat government ineffectiveness, Pandemics, Homelessness, Pipelines, Loot Boxes, CEOs, everything. And it’s really f*ckin effective.

  31. @deltaangelfire

    November 27, 2023 at 2:02 pm

    the “complaining” negative loop is how the media gets us to stop caring about every political matter ever. War in Ukraine, Massacres in Gaza, Reubuplican government hypocrisy, Democrat government ineffectiveness, Pandemics, Homelessness, Pipelines, Loot Boxes, CEOs, everything. And it’s really f*ckin effective.

  32. Qasim Waseem

    November 27, 2023 at 2:11 pm

    What a boring speech.

  33. @NotQuasim

    November 27, 2023 at 2:11 pm

    What a boring speech.

  34. Skipping2HellPHX

    November 27, 2023 at 2:27 pm

    The powerpoint thread just got abruptly dropped. I expected there to be a point to that anecdote, but the point never came.

  35. @Skipping2HellPHX

    November 27, 2023 at 2:27 pm

    The powerpoint thread just got abruptly dropped. I expected there to be a point to that anecdote, but the point never came.

  36. g t

    November 27, 2023 at 2:39 pm

    This is boring

  37. @gt-gu7rb

    November 27, 2023 at 2:39 pm

    This is boring

  38. Darren John

    November 27, 2023 at 2:55 pm

    Yeh takaway good idear

  39. @darrenjohn3382

    November 27, 2023 at 2:55 pm

    Yeh takaway good idear

  40. @thuyrubicosmetic

    November 27, 2023 at 9:38 pm

    cảm ơn a đã chia sẻ cách tránh sự nhàm chán: giảm sự chú ý và tập trung điều mình quan tâm

  41. @yordygarcia1242

    November 27, 2023 at 9:45 pm

    I clicked because I was bored and started thinking about dying

  42. @uaps28

    November 27, 2023 at 10:10 pm

    Another boring TedXTalk, ha, ha.

  43. @bird5119

    November 27, 2023 at 10:51 pm

    2:29 Okay, he did NOT have to out me playing tetris while he was saying that..

  44. @fauxvier8519

    November 28, 2023 at 1:31 am

    Kinda proud of myself that the idea of being left to my thoughts for 15 minutes is actually pretty doable and prolly shows how im doing well adapting to age.

  45. @TuNrIs

    November 28, 2023 at 3:55 am

    What in the world are hallway procedures? That’s something I’ve never had in my country. At all.

  46. @dannyburleigh1

    November 28, 2023 at 4:30 am

    Hey people don’t ever come to my VEGAS just to DORK around on your phone! If that’s the case!=I hope you lose your phone!

  47. @marcinbadtke

    November 28, 2023 at 6:39 am

    In my opinion there is no such thing as boredom. A person can feel anxiety when there is no external stimulus when a person is addicted to stress. Emotional peaks. Which is almost anyone in modern high developed countries. Children are brought up with fast moving pictures before their eyes all the time. Parents play with them. They play with other children in kindergarten. All the time high emotions. No one is teaching them how to be self aware. How can we expect from them to eventually sit still and listen to the teacher in school? How can we expect from such adults to work constantly on something hard to achieve for a longer period of time? Quick reward is an ultimate goal.

  48. @pw.70

    November 28, 2023 at 8:22 am

    That presentation was not boring at all.

  49. @evelynullman8360

    November 28, 2023 at 9:11 am

    Watched this video, ended up being completely bored.

  50. @ridachuhan9632

    November 28, 2023 at 3:37 pm

    This talk is boring

  51. @Claus-dx2qy

    November 29, 2023 at 2:28 am

    Bueller’s Day Off / classroom scene / “anyone, anyone?”

  52. @epiclifechangingdevice

    November 29, 2023 at 5:18 am

    Summary: Get the “Light Phone”

  53. @user-cd6pd7di8q

    November 30, 2023 at 1:33 am

    Thanks A Million for this Video. Great Talk. I got Nice Knowledge and it will help me.

  54. @naromsky

    November 30, 2023 at 3:39 am

    Boaring.

  55. @Pete_R63

    December 1, 2023 at 5:32 pm

    I like a quote from one of the characters in Game of Thrones. He quoted his father as saying, “Boredom shows a lack of inner resources.” Personally, I don’t get bored.

  56. @HarpaAI

    December 2, 2023 at 5:01 am

    🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation:

    00:03 🚌 *Boredom as a common human experience.*
    – Introduction to the speaker’s son’s first day of school and his reaction to hallway procedures.
    – Boredom as a pervasive issue in schools and institutions, leading to disinterest and misbehavior.
    01:01 💡 *The complexity of boredom.*
    – Examination of boredom as a multifaceted problem.
    – The impact of boredom on students in school and its potential consequences.
    03:00 🎭 *Boredom as a subjective mood state.*
    – Exploration of the subjective nature of boredom and how individuals judge what is boring.
    – The paradox of boredom as both objective and subjective.
    04:01 ⚙️ *Coping strategies for boredom.*
    – Discussion of the two dominant ways people deal with boredom: avoidance and resignation.
    – The pain associated with boredom and how it can lead to avoidance behaviors.
    05:33 🔄 *The consequences of avoidance and resignation.*
    – Examination of the effects of avoidance and resignation in various life situations.
    – The loss of imagination and agency when boredom leads to resignation.
    07:03 🤝 *Finding a middle way.*
    – Personal stories highlighting the need for a balanced approach to boredom.
    – The importance of not automatically trusting boredom judgments and protecting attention.
    09:03 ✋ *Takeaways for contending with boredom.*
    – Three key takeaways: not trusting boredom judgments, protecting attention, and discussing boredom.
    – Encouragement to reflect on and manage boredom in order to focus on meaningful aspects of life.

    Made with HARPA AI

  57. @maulidasafirak.l.7348

    December 2, 2023 at 7:04 am

    Love

  58. @nguyenquangminh1544

    December 2, 2023 at 9:49 am

    If you can control boredom well, it will be a pretty good state of feeling to have. It’s like a signal that motivate us to change and take some actions to get out of it. If you constantly avoids boredom, you’ll be easily end up with constant distractions. Besides, boredom also gives us time to think about our own problems (which is quite rare nowadays)

  59. @mochikokopop

    December 2, 2023 at 2:55 pm

    And guess who did the Arabic subtitles for this video 🙂
    My sister did °•°
    So proud of u sis

  60. @aSHTEBALA

    December 3, 2023 at 7:35 am

    The kid be like: Sheesh, I got it, no need to make a whole TED talk about it

  61. @60yv

    December 3, 2023 at 8:32 am

    It’s huge issue – just find something I would not be bored. Thx. It starts with smart kids bored

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