“Like water after days in the desert”

Abstract By presenting empirical findings on the character of boredom and its relationship to self-regulation, the chapter advances a theoretical account of the emotional state of boredom that highlights its significance for our everyday lives. It argues that the experience of boredom is of great value to us. Not only does boredom inform us of the presence of an unsatisfactory situation, it also motivates us to pursue new goals and situations when our current goals and situations cease to be satisfactory, attractive, or meaningful to us. The chapter shows how boredom can help us discover and engage with activities that are congruent to our projects. Boredom, the chapter concludes, ought to be understood as a regulatory state capable of promoting activities that are in line with our wishes and values.