Boredom feels like internal agitation. Your sympathetic nervous system (the “go” side of your autonomic system) quietly stirs, which can make you feel fidgety, restless or slightly anxious. That’s why we tap pens, jiggle legs or compulsively reach for a phone. That’s why I travel with knitting, a book AND headphones.

If you have heard me deliver a speech anytime in the last decade you have probably heard me say “I bore easily” which really means, I don’t tolerate boredom for long. I feel it in my guts. Boredom is almost painful for me. I love a good daydream, but boredom is different. My distaste for boredom has sent me on some epic adventures.

In a past life I was the CEO of charities, one in Ethiopia and one in Cambodia. In Cambodia particularly, boredom is rife and leads to the country’s two biggest problems: gambling addiction and alcoholism. I wanted to fundraise for table tennis and foosball for every village in Cambodia, but donors weren’t so keen. Fun was considered too luxurious for the donor dollar.

Studies show that boredom isn’t laziness and fun is not a luxury. It’s your brain begging for stimulation. Neuroscientists refer to boredom as an ‘aversive state’ designed to nudge you into action. So instead of numbing with booze, or distracting with Candy Crush, here’s what scientists (and Lucy Bloom) suggest you do…

1. Give your brain a novelty hit

Dopamine, the brain’s motivation chemical (and my personal ally in knocking off my to-do-list), spikes when we encounter something new and novel. Try something new: swap your usual morning playlist for Afrobeat, switch the background on your phone to a random rotation of images so you never know what you are going to get or sit at another desk at work. Take a new route to work, or rearrange your living room furniture to give your brain a change. Research shows even micro-novelty like this keeps your brain engaged. Remember when you were a kid and you rearranged your bedroom and it felt like you lived in an entirely new house? That’s boredom converting to novelty simply by way of a furniture jiggle.

2. Move, don’t scroll

Physical movement floods the brain with oxygen and growth factors like BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), which boosts mood and memory. A brisk 10-minute walk to the post office, some impromptu stretches or a few squats between emails yanks your brain out of boredom. Look up my mate Lizzie Williamson who’s famous for her two minute moves which jolt conference audiences back to consciousness with enthusiasm and some arse shaking.

Compare this to doom scrolling. Research shows social media use increases boredom with a predictable drip feed without true engagement. It’s like snacking on empty calories when your brain needs a real meal. Instead, stack your day with movement snacks: push ups against the kitchen bench while the kettle boils, take the stairs not the lift, leave your desk every 20 mins to lie on the floor with your dog.

Movement doesn’t just beat boredom. Regular motion regulates stress hormones, sharpens focus and gives you a splash of endorphins that scrolling will never deliver. In other words, your body is the fastest boredom-buster you’ve got and humans were not designed to sit all day.

3. Mine the boredom for ideas

Neuroscientists have found that when the default mode network kicks in (that wandering-mind state you hit while daydreaming), creativity and innovation flourishes. I wrote a whole flipping article about why we have our best ideas in the shower. Go read that! Essentially, boredom kicks in when we disconnect from the constant inputs in our lives and we wallow in some boredom and quiet space while we have a hot shower, fold the laundry, take a long run or a peaceful drive. That gives your brain a chance to make creative connections between things you already know.

4. Add meaning

Boredom feels most acute when a task is meaningless or repetitive and eases up when people focus on something meaningful. So choose something to do which gives you a sense of progress, connection or contribution. Look at your to-do list and pick an easy win. Purpose gives your brain dopamine, oxytocin and even a little nudge of serotonin: the neurochemical cocktail of motivation, connection and calm.

Even tiny acts of purpose matter. Send a thank you text, fix something around the house or make a donation to a friend’s Kilimanjaro Charity Climb to switch boredom for satisfaction. Purpose kills boredom faster than cat videos because it taps into the brain’s need for significance. Distraction numbs. Meaning nourishes.

*I’ve been sitting too long so I’m taking a break to go talk to my 22 year old son who always makes me laugh. BRB.

5. Saving the best until last: decide to be easily entertained

One of the best ways to beat boredom is to lower your standards for fun. My kids often point out that I am easily entertained. Ha – take a bow, Lucy Bloom. Studies show that even small, low-stakes pleasures give your brain a little dopamine and breaks the monotony. For me it is the ridiculous joy I feel when things match: like my parking fine and the exact amount I won on Lotto. Or the song my washing machine plays when a load is done. It goes on and on, giving me time to make up lyrics in my head. Or the sassy gifs my operations manager Sam sends me over WhatsApp.

The key is to notice when your brain lights up and let yourself enjoy it without judgement. Nothing wrong with a good snort laugh. You can quote me on that.

By giving yourself permission to be amused by small things, boredom becomes less of a signal of frustration and more of an opportunity to notice life’s tiny sparks. In short, being easily entertained is not about wasting time or being silly. It is about training your brain to notice joy, delight and playfulness, even in the smallest things.

In summary

Boredom is not the enemy. It is a neon sign in your brain flashing: You’re ready for more. Use it as fuel to inject novelty, movement, creativity and meaning into your life. And next time you catch yourself staring at the fridge wondering if cheese counts as a hobby, remember: your brain isn’t bored. It’s just begging for brilliance.