A Bit of Boredom can help Creativity Grow

By Allison Berman
February 23, 2010

I remember someone telling me, "If you're bored, you are probably also pretty boring, because if you aren't doing anything, you don't have much to share." It's a lesson I took to heart.

Many children today go from school to after-school activities and spend their weekends playing soccer or softball or skiing. I had my share of extracurricular activities as a kid, too, but I also had plenty of time to be bored. And when I was bored, I was responsible for figuring out a way to become "un-bored."

I might have learned to make myself "un-bored" too well, considering I decided it made perfect sense to start a business while simultaneously carrying out the responsibilities of a stay-at-home mom.

In general, I prefer to be busy, but every once in a while, it might be nice to be bored. There is something I find enticing about knowing I have nowhere I have to be, and nothing I have to do. But the truth is I like being busy too much, to do that for very long.

One of the great things about having had time to be bored as a kid is that I learned how to entertain myself rather than relying on others to entertain me. I learned to paint and write - two creative outlets I turned into a career I love.

My hope is that, being home with my girls, I can help them to find their "thing" that they are passionate about. So, rather than rush them from one activity to another, I try to limit their activities and purposely give them opportunities to be bored, to find their passions.

A lot of good can come from letting kids be a little bored. For starters, they won't ever be accused of being boring. I assure you, they will have plenty to talk about.

Allison Berman, an artist and mother of two, works out of her home studio in Warwick. She paints one-of-a-kind home accessories, specializing in kids' décor. See her collection at www.withlovealib.com. She can be reached at info@withlovealib.com. Her column appears Tuesdays.