The Opposite of ‘Bored’

I used to buy into the old adage, “I’d rather be busy than bored” – especially in my professional life. At times, I wore this as a badge of honor. Even as a salaried employee, I would chain myself to my desk refreshing my email, working ahead, or volunteering for projects outside of my normal scope of work. Some might say this made me a dedicated team member. Others might call it a recipe for burnout. But both opinions are beside the point.

You see, the problem with the juxtaposition of ‘busy’ versus ‘bored’ is that ‘bored’ has nothing to do with productivity. This adage suggests it’s better to be running than standing still, but people’s resistance to rest is another topic entirely. ‘Bored’ is a matter of attention, enthusiasm, immersion, and interest.

To pique one’s interest is to knock on the door of their curiosity and – usually – find creativity standing on the other side.

Instead of glorifying a busy life, what if we created for ourselves a life we were interested in living? What might happen then? What would have to change?

How can you bring a little less ‘busy’ and a little more ‘interested’ into your life today?