logo
episode-header-image
Nov 2016
58m 45s

Being Bored: The Importance of Doing Not...

Bbc Radio 4
About this episode

Is boredom under threat? There are more TV channels than we can count, Smartphones keep us engaged around the clock, and the constant white noise of social media coerces us to always 'interact'. In fact, there is so much to stimulate our everyday lives in this digital age that we need never be bored ever again. So do we still need to be bored? And what would we miss if we did eliminate boredom completely from our lives?

The happily bored Phill Jupitus takes a creative look at our attitude to this misunderstood emotion. He will examine what boredom is, and how it has influenced our leisure time, our workplaces, our creativity and our evolution. Phill will examine its impact on comedy, art, music, and television, taking us from punk to prison, from J. R. R. Tolkien to Sherlock Holmes, from Danish sex clubs to London's 'Boring Conference'.

This will be a lively look at the simple, very real and essential emotion of boredom, and a stout defence of the right to sometimes just sit down and do nothing.

Interviews include - the Reverend Richard Coles, the writer Natalie Haynes, the artist George Shaw, the comedy writer & producer Robert Popper, the psychologist Peter Toohey, the punk musician Gaye Black (formerly of The Adverts), the psychologist Sandi Mann, the BBC newsreader Simon McCoy, Dr Teresa Belton and the social media entrepreneur Jodie Cook.

Up next
Jul 2024
Stealing Power
Meter tampering means altering a meter to prevent it from fully recording how much electricity or gas is being used, or bypassing the meter completely to energy usage being recorded at all. It may seem like a great idea, but there are consequences. It’s dangerous and it is a crim ... Show More
28m 31s
Jul 2024
The Club Nobody Wants to Join
There Is a club that no high school principal in the USA wants to join, but they are all incredibly grateful that its there. Because in the event of the worst possible scenario happening, they will need it The 'Principal Recovery Network' is made up of school leaders who have liv ... Show More
28m 31s
Jul 2024
Searching for Butterflies
In the mountains of Latakia, Syria, Mudar Salimeh devotes much of his time to searching for butterflies. A geologist, artist, and nature lover, Mudar's fascination with butterflies began in the spring of 2018 when a great number of caterpillars appeared in his art studio. Over ti ... Show More
28m 52s
Recommended Episodes
Jun 2024
How to Stop Avoiding Boredom and Embrace Doing Nothing
Dr. Laurie used to dread boredom and would do anything—binge watch bad TV, take on extra work, snack endlessly—to avoid it. But boredom is actually an incredibly useful tool to boost our happiness and creativity. With the help of leading boredom experts, Dr. Laurie learns how to ... Show More
25m 30s
May 2023
Boredom
One must imagine Sisyphus…bored. Take a break from boredom and listen to episode 78 of Overthink as David and Ellie guide you through the fabulously idle realm of this “bestial, indefinable affliction.” They discuss the peaceful highs and painful lows of their middle school summe ... Show More
58m 3s
Jan 2025
Feeling Bored? That May Actually Motivate You
Boredom – it’s a state many of us try to avoid. But, in a world full of distractions, maybe it’s time to embrace boredom as a way to spark creativity and reclaim our attention. Dr. Sanjay Gupta sits down with cognitive neuroscientist James Danckert to explore how boredom affects ... Show More
32m 47s
Apr 2024
the importance of boredom
i came to the conclusion the other day that i need to allow myself to be bored more often. this is not a new conversation for us here on anything goes. i have talked about this before, but i've come to the conclusion again recently that i'm not bored enough. and i know that being ... Show More
47m 56s
Feb 2021
Am I Boring You? (Ep. 225 Rebroadcast)
<p>Researchers are trying to figure out who gets bored — and why — and what it means for ourselves and the economy. But maybe there’s an upside to boredom?</p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for informat ... Show More
39m 12s
Oct 2015
225. Am I Boring You?
<p>Researchers are trying to figure out who gets bored - and why - and what it means for ourselves and the economy. But maybe there's an upside to boredom?</p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for informat ... Show More
39m 32s
Apr 2020
128. Boredom
Join me this week as I talk through what boredom actually is, whether it’s a problem, and how you can handle it better. Letting boredom just exist in your body can feel extremely uncomfortable, but you’ll be surprised at how much growth and new insights you’ll discover on the oth ... Show More
12m 46s
Mar 2016
Episode 23: Boredom
<p>We've all been there: bored in class, bored at work, bored in standstill traffic. But why do we find boredom so unbearable? And, if we hate being bored so much, why do we still take boring jobs? This week on Hidden Brain, we try to answer these questions and more — hopefully, ... Show More
19m 39s
Jul 2020
Are You Bored?
“Boredom” has become something negative. We see it as a condition of our lives that we must change. We search for stimulation and distraction, but by doing that, we are essentially saying that this moment is not enough. The next time you feel bored, pause and examine it. You may ... Show More
5m 18s