Trending Now - Benefits of Embracing Boredom for Creativity

WHO:

Arthur C. Brooks, CBS News contributor and author of "The Meaning of Your Life: Finding Purpose in an Age of Emptiness"

Ed Forgotson, producer

Lucie Kirk, producer

Chad Cardin, editor

WHAT:

Arthur C. Brooks discusses the impact of boredom and the consequences of constant distraction from devices.

The average person looks at their phone 205 times every day.

Brooks suggests that the Default Mode Network in the brain, which is responsible for mind-wandering and abstract thinking, is turned off due to constant device use.

Brooks claims that the absence of boredom can lead to a sense of emptiness, lack of purpose, anxiety, and depression.

He recommends managing devices to reintroduce boredom into life, which can take about two weeks to adjust to.

WHERE:

Not specified in the articles.

WHEN:

Articles published on March 22, 2026, at 10:15 AM EDT.

WHY:

The need to solve boredom has led to a decrease in abstract thinking and an increase in anxiety and depression.

HOW:

Brooks suggests living with simple rules that introduce more silent spaces into life to manage device use.

(UPDATED March 22, 2026 17:19 UTC)

Today, Arthur C. Brooks, a CBS News contributor and author, discussed the impact of boredom and the consequences of our constant distraction from devices, revealing that the average person checks their phone an astonishing 205 times a day. He explained that this relentless device use can turn off the brain's Default Mode Network, which is crucial for mind-wandering and abstract thinking, leading to feelings of emptiness, anxiety, and depression. To combat this, Brooks recommends managing our device usage and reintroducing boredom into our lives, a process that may take about two weeks to adjust to.