Embrace the Space

Boredom represents a time when, devoid of external and environmental input, the brain shifts to its default mode network. This neurological structure is responsible for introspection, memory processing and more complex social cognition. In this space, executive functioning is required to plan, organize and problem solve unfilled time. 

The valuable mental space freed up in the absence of constant stimulation allows for deeper self-reflection, clarity in the quiet and creativity in the void. There is a chance to further regulate and recalibrate emotions, and often, navigate these feelings with a greater degree of independence. This is meaningful developmental growth for young minds.

According to studies by the American Psychological Association, feelings of boredom grow as imaginative play begins to diminish around age eleven. Creative play, the kind that turns an Amazon box into a race car and a platform into a stage, can emerge from those unscheduled moments if we allow the opportunity without disruption. 

It’s no coincidence that adults also find boredom frightening. Our digital dependence and busy lives do not leave much room for unfettered thinking. Sometimes being alone with our own thoughts can be uncomfortable and, just like stacking camps to get through the summer vacation stretch, we may find it easier to allow our schedules to structure our lives rather than the reverse.

This year, don’t forget to leave those spaces on the calendar open. The growth that comes through a cognitive gap, and the internal reflection driven by that default mode network, helps reduce the anxiety we feel from packed days. After all, summer should be a time to slow down, soak up the sun and enjoy the moment.