excellence, actually4 Apr 2024

027 - The Case for Less Technology & More Boredom (with Manoush Zomorodi)

Good news, bad news. The good news: in our modern world of endless entertainment, we have essentially solved the problem of boredom. The bad news: turns out boredom wasn't a problem, but a skill. The ability to do deep, creative work, to complete a long cardio workout, to avoid mindlessly falling into social media doom scrolls—these all require an ability to be bored. As Manoush Zomorodi, host of NPR's TED Radio Hour, lays out in her book "Spark: How to Free Your Brain From Technology and Ignite Your Creativity," boredom affords us the patience we need to get to our most generative ideas, to process difficult emotions, and to work towards our long-term goals. On today's episode, Manoush tells us why (and how) we should build some boredom back into our lives. Plus: What else she has learned about having a healthy relationship to technology after years spent studying how it affects our mental, physical, and cultural health.

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