A Boring Overview

Boredom is a common experience for everyone across the world—no matter how old you are or where you live, you can get bored. Boredom occurs when we are feeling negative and we want to be doing something other than what we are currently doing. Scientists think we may experience boredom as a way to tell ourselves that it is time to move on to something different. What we choose to do next may depend on what we are currently doing; we may choose to do something different based on whether we experience boredom during class vs. at home. Boredom is associated with some negative behaviors, but it may also lead to positive things like more creativity. This article provides an overview of the definition of boredom, who experiences boredom, when they experience it, and what behaviors and brain areas are associated with boredom.