Boredom is an uncomfortable, unpleasant, and seemingly inevitable part of human existence. So why does it happen? Boredom is not a bad thing — it is a call to action. If we consciously engage with the world in meaningful ways that give full expression to our skills and talents, we can become the authors of our own lives.
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James Danckert is a professor of psychology at the University of Waterloo. He is an expert on the psychology of boredom and the neuroscience of attention. Boredom makes us feel restless and agitated, but what if we listened to boredom instead of banishing it? His groundbreaking research into adaptive approaches to boredom can help us avoid its troubling effects and lead us to live fuller lives. He lives in Waterloo, Canada, with his wife and two sons, and enjoys playing his electric guitar.
James Danckert is a professor of psychology at the University of Waterloo. He is an expert on the psychology of boredom and the neuroscience of attention. Boredom makes us feel restless and agitated, but what if we listened to boredom instead of banishing it? His groundbreaking research into adaptive approaches to boredom can help us avoid its troubling effects and lead us to live fuller lives. He lives in Waterloo, Canada, with his wife and two sons, and enjoys playing his electric guitar.