Perhaps we resist rest not because we can’t find the time, but because we fear the boredom that can accompany doing nothing. But boredom is an important part of our lives. Often it’s used as a catch-all for feeling frustrated or upset or unfocused, but true boredom can be an important signal that something does not feel meaningful. As researcher and philosophy professor Andreas Elpidorou wrote in a journal article titled “The Bright Side of Boredom,” “In the absence of boredom, one would remain trapped in unfulfilling situations, and miss out on many rewarding experiences. Boredom is both a
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