We've all heard the phrase "Boredom is the new smoking." In an article in the New Republic, Michael Crowley explains that our society is in war with boredom. The media moguls are fighting the battle and releasing new entertainment machines to combat the problem. Is boredom really a problem? Read on to learn more. In this article, we'll explore some of the dangers of boredom.
Research has shown that 63 percent of adult Americans experience boredom at some point in their lives. This is particularly true for men, youths, people of lower incomes, and those without children. In addition to the dangers of boredom, many people would gladly choose pain or discomfort over boredom. Two-thirds of men and one-quarter of women would rather self-administer electric shocks than deal with boredom. This phenomenon is also widespread in North America, Western Europe, and Asia.
While boredom may seem like an insignificant issue, it can have devastating consequences. The person who is constantly bored is likely to have a short attention span, feel apathetic, and fatigued. Chronic boredom can lead to mental health issues like depression and traumatic brain injuries. While boredom can lead to dangerous behaviour, it is best to keep busy and find something to occupy your time.
If you're bored at work, you may not realize it, but you are probably suffering from boredom. The dangers of boredom are numerous and far-reaching. You may have to change jobs, tackle pet projects, have strategic off-sites, or hire a coach to help you find ways to deal with it. If left unchecked, boredom can lead to complacency, and that's what brought down many companies.
Studies have found that boredom can have an adaptive value for some people. But it can also be harmful to your long-term prospects. A study carried out by British civil servants reveals that people who were bored more often died at a younger age. This suggests that boredom could be a proxy for other risk factors. And we all know boredom is linked to depression, early death, and other serious problems.
The rise of boredom is directly linked to the Enlightenment science of rationalism, industrialism, and bureaucracy. These concepts emphasized quantitative calculation over the quality of experience. Similarly, they turned workers into interchangeable commodities and human beings into machines in an organizational system. And as a result, boredom is a significant and unacknowledged danger of rationalism.
In the early 19th century, Baudelaire equated boredom with the virtue of art. The artist is someone who follows unpredictable operations of imagination. He crosses social boundaries. He smoked a hookah and dreamed of the gallows. Boredom is a necessary component of creativity. Without it, we are bound to lack creativity and innovation. If you can master this state, you'll be more successful and creative.