Manoush Zomorodi, a host of NPR’s TED Radio Hour and former host of WNYC’s Note to Self, explores the idea of letting the mind wander in her book, Bored and Brilliant: How Spacing Out Can Unlock Your Most Productive and Creative Self. This concept is particularly relevant in today’s hyper-connected world, where distractions abound. The book builds on a 2015 series from Note to Self, which focused on minimizing digital distractions and embracing boredom, ultimately leading to the book’s release in 2017.
Zomorodi discusses the pervasive nature of smartphone addiction and how it affects cognitive processes. She offers insights from experts, scientific studies, and anecdotes from readers engaged in their own digital detox efforts. For example, she notes that phones are designed to be addictive; this is a challenge many people likely experience but may not fully recognize.
The introduction of the book describes Zomorodi’s personal experience with enforced boredom while caring for her newborn. Initially resistant, she eventually found value in the lack of a fixed destination, framing this as both a discomfort and an opportunity for creativity. The book addresses issues like choice paralysis, which many can relate to, especially during times spent scrolling through options without making a decision.
Throughout Bored and Brilliant, Zomorodi does not criticize technology use but instead shares her struggles and reflections on how it impacts her daily life, including habitual behaviors like compulsively checking social media. Each chapter concludes with a challenge designed to help readers assess their own tech usage and take active steps to reduce their reliance on devices.
The book invites readers to consider the benefits of occasional disconnection and to engage with their surroundings meaningfully. Ultimately, it provides practical strategies for those looking to manage their digital habits more effectively.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/report/834063/treatise-on-spacing-out-bored-and-brilliant-manoush-zomorodi