Why Some People Get Bored Faster, And What It Reveals About Them What Your Low Tolerance for Boredom Reveals About You A January 2025 article featured in Yahoo News highlights a growing wave of boredom among teenagers, largely fueled by constant social media and device use. One example is 16-year-old Santiago Gonzalez-Winthrop, who reflects on how boredom has crept into his everyday life: He used to feel excited about going home after school, but now he finds himself “watching the clock count by” in class and dreads “digital detox days” when he’s disconnected from his phone New York Post. Santiago’s reliance on his phone to escape boredom has trapped him in a loop of endless scrolling—and once he’s off it, he admits feeling “horrible… like, ashamed” This pointed example shows how boredom is a deeply uncomfortable emotion for many that they now avoid at any cost. Boredom is more than having “nothing to do.” Researchers now see it as an emotion that reflects how we engage with the world, and for some, it can be deeply tied to personality. Back in the 1980s, psychologists at the University of Oregon created what they called the Boredom Proneness Scale — a set of 28 questions that measures how easily someone feels bored. Since then, research using this scale has uncovered patterns that go far beyond the old saying that “only boring people get bored.” Psychologist John Eastwood of York University, one of the leading voices in this area, describes boredom as being closely linked to attention. In his words, attention is the ability to “regulate your engagement with the world.” People who score higher on boredom proneness often struggle with this regulation. For example, people with ADHD report more frequent boredom, but even those without a diagnosis may experience the same if they find it hard to focus. When our attention drifts, we lose connection with the activity in front of us — and that loss often registers as boredom. Interestingly, this isn’t always a drawback. Some studies suggest that people who are easily bored may also be more creative. The logic is that distraction sometimes pushes people to seek new ways to entertain or challenge themselves. Lin-Manuel Miranda, the creator of Hamilton, once reflected on his childhood by saying he was “the most bored little kid you’ve ever seen.” Later, he noted that having time alone with nothing to do was what taught him self-entertainment — and that, in his view, is where creativity begins. But boredom isn’t only about attention. It also gives insight into motivation. Psychologists often describe two systems that drive human behavior. The behavioral-activation system pulls people outward to seek stimulation, while the behavioral-inhibition system pushes them inward to avoid risks. People on the extreme ends of either system tend to be more boredom-prone. Sensation-seekers, for instance, may find the world too slow and constantly search for the next thrill. On the other hand, those who are more anxious or withdrawn may cut themselves off from meaningful activity, which leaves them equally vulnerable to boredom. Another factor researchers have identified is how people understand and express their emotions. Some individuals, high in what psychologists call alexithymia, struggle to put feelings into words. They might describe discomfort in physical terms — like saying they have a stomachache — but not articulate what they are really feeling. These individuals tend to report more boredom, which Eastwood explains as a lack of emotional “compass points.” Emotions, he says, orient us toward meaning and value. Without those guides, it’s harder to know what will bring purpose or enjoyment, leaving people adrift in their own day-to-day lives. Boredom also doesn’t play out the same way for everyone. Dr. Jenna Vyas-Lee, a clinical psychologist, points out that women and men often experience boredom differently because of social roles and expectations. For women, responsibilities such as caregiving and household work may limit opportunities for leisure or personal growth, leading to feelings of isolation. These roles often come with pressure to put others’ needs first, leaving little time for hobbies or self-development. Vyas-Lee suggests that solutions involve both personal and structural changes: women can work to carve out time for hobbies, social connections, and goals, but real progress often depends on partners sharing household and caregiving duties more fairly. So, what do we do with boredom? That question matters because, like pain, boredom serves a purpose. Laci James, a licensed marriage and family therapist, explains that many of us were not taught as children how to deal with boredom. Instead, caregivers often rushed to distract us with TV, toys, or snacks. But emotions exist to signal something important: they motivate us, help us understand ourselves, and communicate with others. Learning to sit with quiet moments — instead of always trying to escape them — can be a skill worth developing. Think of boredom as a kind of alert system. Just as pain tells you to step away from harm, boredom tells you something is missing in the activity you are doing. It nudges you to seek more meaning, purpose, or stimulation. While no one enjoys the feeling, it can be a powerful guide.

If You Get Bored Easily, Psychologists Says Your Brain Might Be Telling on You

Written ByGrace T. Olsen
Published August 25, 2025
InPeople & Science

January 2025 article featured in Yahoo News highlights a growing wave of boredom among teenagers, largely fueled by constant social media and device use. One example is 16-year-old Santiago Gonzalez-Winthrop, who reflects on how boredom has crept into his everyday life:

He used to feel excited about going home after school, but now he finds himself “watching the clock count by” in class and dreads “digital detox days” when he’s disconnected from his phone.

Santiago’s reliance on his phone to escape boredom has trapped him in a loop of endless scrolling and once he’s off it, he admits feeling “horrible… like, ashamed”

This pointed example shows how boredom is a deeply uncomfortable emotion for many that they now avoid at any cost.

Boredom is more than having “nothing to do.” Researchers now see it as an emotion that reflects how we engage with the world, and for some, it can be deeply tied to personality. Back in the 1980s, psychologists at the University of Oregon created what they called the Boredom Proneness Scale, a set of 28 questions that measures how easily someone feels bored. Since then, research using this scale has uncovered patterns that go far beyond the old saying that “only boring people get bored.”

Psychologist John Eastwood of York University, one of the leading voices in this area, describes boredom as being closely linked to attention. In his words, attention is the ability to “regulate your engagement with the world.” People who score higher on boredom proneness often struggle with this regulation. For example, people with ADHD report more frequent boredom, but even those without a diagnosis may experience the same if they find it hard to focus. When our attention drifts, we lose connection with the activity in front of us — and that loss often registers as boredom.

Interestingly, this isn’t always a drawback. Some studies suggest that people who are easily bored may also be more creative. The logic is that distraction sometimes pushes people to seek new ways to entertain or challenge themselves. Lin-Manuel Miranda, the creator of Hamilton, once reflected on his childhood by saying he was “the most bored little kid you’ve ever seen.” Later, he noted that having time alone with nothing to do was what taught him self-entertainment — and that, in his view, is where creativity begins.

Read: How Stress Made Us Expert Shallow Breathers

But boredom isn’t only about attention. It also gives insight into motivation. Psychologists often describe two systems that drive human behavior. The behavioral-activation system pulls people outward to seek stimulation, while the behavioral-inhibition system pushes them inward to avoid risks. People on the extreme ends of either system tend to be more boredom-prone. Sensation-seekers, for instance, may find the world too slow and constantly search for the next thrill. On the other hand, those who are more anxious or withdrawn may cut themselves off from meaningful activity, which leaves them equally vulnerable to boredom.

Another factor researchers have identified is how people understand and express their emotions. Some individuals, high in what psychologists call alexithymia, struggle to put feelings into words. They might describe discomfort in physical terms — like saying they have a stomachache — but not articulate what they are really feeling. These individuals tend to report more boredom, which Eastwood explains as a lack of emotional “compass points.” Emotions, he says, orient us toward meaning and value. Without those guides, it’s harder to know what will bring purpose or enjoyment, leaving people adrift in their own day-to-day lives.

Boredom also doesn’t play out the same way for everyone. Dr. Jenna Vyas-Lee, a clinical psychologist, points out that women and men often experience boredom differently because of social roles and expectations. For women, responsibilities such as caregiving and household work may limit opportunities for leisure or personal growth, leading to feelings of isolation. These roles often come with pressure to put others’ needs first, leaving little time for hobbies or self-development. Vyas-Lee suggests that solutions involve both personal and structural changes: women can work to carve out time for hobbies, social connections, and goals, but real progress often depends on partners sharing household and caregiving duties more fairly.

So, what do we do with boredom? That question matters because, like pain, boredom serves a purpose. Laci James, a licensed marriage and family therapist, explains that many of us were not taught as children how to deal with boredom. Instead, caregivers often rushed to distract us with TV, toys, or snacks. But emotions exist to signal something important: they motivate us, help us understand ourselves, and communicate with others. Learning to sit with quiet moments instead of always trying to escape them can be a skill worth developing.

Read: Over 1 Billion Young People at Risk of Hearing Loss from Loud Music and Venues Globally

Think of boredom as a kind of alert system. Just as pain tells you to step away from harm, boredom tells you something is missing in the activity you are doing. It nudges you to seek more meaning, purpose, or stimulation. While no one enjoys the feeling, it can be a powerful guide.