Does the rise of smartphones signal the death of boredom? A new study from Pew Research & American Life Project estimates 45 percent of adults now own smartphones and many use the devices for entertainment to combat boredom.
In an interview with CNN, Christopher Lynn, anthropology professor at the University of Alabama, said smartphones help ease the tedium felt in day-to-day life. But they also overstimulate users, increasing our natural craving for stimulus.
"When we aren't used to having down time, it results in anxiety … (a)nd we reach for the smartphone. It's our omnipresent relief from that," he said.
Our increased desire for entertainment has led researchers to study how smartphones have affected our attention spans and ability to concentrate. A recent study discussed in The New York Times found our ability to focus has remained constant. However, our desire to focus has changed.
Daniel Willingham, who wrote an op-ed for the New York Times, points out the limitless capacity for entertainment held by smartphones. If we don’t like the song we are listening to, we can immediately change it. We can download another app, watch a different show or play a different game. Convincing ourselves we are doing what we really want and should be doing is more difficult than ever. We constantly question “is something better out there.” And, because the Internet has no end, we never stop searching.
But this endless entertainment could detrimentally impact our ability for introspection and creativity. One possible problem with lacking “boredom” in our lives is it could stifle our ability for inward thought. Smartphones encourage us to direct almost all of our focus outward, on a game, video or image, wrote Willingham, citing a study conducted by neuroscientists regarding human attention.
CNN reported the findings from a study conducted through the Social Issues Research Centre, where researchers wrote, "Informational overload from all quarters means that there can often be very little time for personal thought, reflection, or even just 'zoning out.’ ”
Constant stimulation from smartphones can also threaten our ability to sleep and can lower our production at work. The Wall Street Journal reported a study from several universities that suggested workers who stay plugged in long after they clock out have a harder time sleeping and are more tired and unproductive during the workday.
Researchers say this could indicate people need time to disconnect from mobile devices in order to recharge and rest. Using smartphones just 30 minutes before bed has shown to have adverse effects on sleep. The convenience and capacity of smartphones makes them especially dangerous when using before bed, wrote Melissa Korn for the Wall Street Journal.
Becoming aware of when we need time to reflect can help us to disconnect from our smartphones and reconnect with our minds. Simple things like limiting the amount of time we spend per day on smartphones and taking time in the evening to rest and recharge could offset some of the negative aspects of smartphone use, said Willingham.
As it turns out, there is a time and place for everything in life, even boredom.
Leslie Corbly is a senior at the University of Oklahoma. She loves to read, write and run. Leslie can be contacted at leslie.corbly@gmail.com