This is why boredom can feel so surprisingly, aggressively unpleasant: we tend to think of it merely as a matter of not being particularly interested in whatever it is we’re doing, but in fact it’s an intense reaction to the deeply uncomfortable experience of confronting your limited control. Boredom can strike in widely differing contexts—when you... See more

Social psychology scholars from the University of Virginia and Harvard University asked individuals to put away their belongings, including cell phones and pens, sit alone in a room, and entertain themselves with their own thoughts for fifteen minutes. Should the participants find the task too difficult, they had the option of distracting themselve

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This inclination towards external stimulus, even if harmful, highlights the reluctance many people have towards quiet introspection. I could only speculate that some of my workaholic acquaintances fall into the same category as those who would prefer self-inflicted discomfort over stillness. They continue to shoulder an increasing workload, even wh... See more