[visakanv]

I'm of the opinion that it's useful to make a distinction between boredom and idleness. Idleness can be good (Bertrand Russell wrote an essay about this, which OP might be riffing off of), but boredom, in my opinion, is almost always not.

The article also seems to imply that boredom is some sort of ineffable, indescribable thing. I think it's actually quite describable:

Boredom (often described as “I have nothing to do / wear / watch / read”) is a bug we encounter when…

1- a tired mind 2- attempts to find an optimal solution 3- in a cluttered space 4- with options that have poorly-defined utility-values.

The solution, then, is to…

1. rest 2. satisfice 3. declutter 4. define your utility-values more precisely

[Adamantcheese]

I find your definition to be somewhat lacking, at least in terms of being bored at work. While 1 makes sense, as a lot of people are tired at work, if there is actually nothing to do, 2 does not necessarily apply. Also I assume 3 does not necessarily mean physically, but also mentally cluttered, to the point that it is hard to pick something from the mush of information floating about. That is understandable, it is hard to begin working when you don't know what to do, which leads into 4. But in a work sense, a lot of the time you do not have control over what tasks you are assigned, which makes it hard to define utility values properly.

Even though I can agree that tiredness can induce boredom, the other solutions to the problems you mentioned are not always applicable or their resolutions too difficult for an already bored mind to begin working on.

[visakanv]

I meant boredom in a general sense, where you have control over your variables (ie you're bored by yourself, with yourself, at home).

If you're bored at work, that's a little more complicated. It depends on the context you're in. Is there "nothing to do", or is there NOTHING TO DO? (I experienced the latter context when I was in the military. In that situation, the best thing you can do is maybe read a book if you have one, or meditate and/or reflect on your life). You might have nothing to do if you were say, in some dead-end minimum wage job.

But if you're working in some sort of professional setting, there's almost always something you can do. You can learn more about the organization you're in. You can build relationships with other people. You can help other people out. You can ask your manager for more work.

In the worst case, if there's really nothing you can do, and if it's bothering you, you could quit and find a better job where there are actually things to do.

[manmal]

There is also the possibility that there is no utility function available, i.e. one is unenthusiastic or indifferent to her surroundings or the work at hand. People that are easily bored lack the enthusiasm for trying things, playing, just "smelling the flowers", perhaps because they perceive no value in those things. Yeah, I'm one of those people, and dare I say, I'm bored by that.

[chriswoodford]

> Bertrand Russell wrote an essay about this, which OP might be riffing off of

He absolutely is. I had Kingwell as a professor for an undergraduate seminar that focused on, what I imagine were, his early thoughts surrounding boredom. We read In Praise of Idleness, but also Virilio's Speed and Politics. Made for a really interesting juxtaposition.

[gumby]

in Anathem, Stephenson wrote the aphorism, "Boredom is a face frustration wears." I've found that useful.

[Klockan]

So jail is the ultimate solution to boredom?

[visakanv]

The options you have in jail typically have shitty utility values, so no.