Why we should be frustrated and bored more often, according to a cognitive scientist

 

By Art Markman

Chances are, you’ve had the experience of watching a movie or TV show and recognizing an actor without being able to remember their name or what other shows or films you’ve seen them in. These days, you just look them up on an app or the internet. Before cellphones, you had to live with the frustration. Invariably, though, you’d be taking a walk, showering, or daydreaming later in the day and suddenly the actor’s name or prior roles would come back to you.

These days, cellphones are ruining these moments of insight. First, we don’t get to practice living with the frustration of not knowing something. Apps like IMDB provide us with the instant gratification of answering our questions. A few swipes and keystrokes, and we know who we’re watching.

The problem is that there are many situations in life—particularly in our working lives—in which the correct answer for the problem we’re facing isn’t known yet. In fact, we’re being paid the big bucks to find the answer.

If you’re not comfortable with the discomfort of not knowing the answer to a question, then you may find it difficult to wrestle with a thorny problem for days or weeks at a time without having a clear resolution. In that case, consider avoiding the easy route to getting answers so that you can practice living in the limbo of not knowing.

Cellphones also ruin moments of insight by providing constant stimulation. That stimulation gets in the way of the mental process of incubation.

Essentially, when you walk away from a problem that you’re trying to solve, several things happen that can help you solve it later when you return to it.

    The active information in your working memory subsides, which can help you think about the problem in a new way, rather than staying focused on how you were thinking about it previously.

    As the active information fades, the information you were being reminded of when you were focused on the problem also fades. As a result, when you return to the problem later, you may be reminded of other things that help you solve the problem. That is one reason why putting a crossword puzzle down and then returning to it later can lead to solving clues that stumped you before.

In addition, there are a few elements of incubation that are actively harmed by keeping your mind occupied all the time. If you walk away from a problem and continue to do things like use your cellphone, then you won’t get these benefits. And here’s why the mental process of incubation is important:

 
    Over time, you may continue to do a little thinking about the problem in the background, which can lead you to moments of insight later.

    As you encounter other things in the world, you may serendipitously see something that provides you with information valuable to addressing a problem that you’re struggling with. Your brain actually stays vigilant for information relating to an active problem, so it isn’t farfetched to think that you may suddenly notice things relevant to the problem, even if you’re in a familiar environment. However, you won’t notice anything if you’re constantly occupied with other tasks, including scrolling on your cellphone.

    Sleeping aids the incubation process as well. As you sleep, you lose some of the details of the problem you’re solving. When you return to thinking about the problem again the next day (or even several days later), you will be reminded of different things than those you were thinking about before, because your internal description of the problem has changed.

For these reasons, it’s a good idea to practice living with the frustration of not knowing the answer to something and not distracting yourself when you step away from the problem by immediately moving on to focus on something immersive like your phone. Instead, recognize that boredom can have value when you’re stuck without a solution to a thorny problem.

    The active information in your working memory subsides, which can help you think about the problem in a new way, rather than staying focused on how you were thinking about it previously.

    As the active information fades, the information you were being reminded of when you were focused on the problem also fades. As a result, when you return to the problem later, you may be reminded of other things that help you solve the problem. That is one reason why putting a crossword puzzle down and then returning to it later can lead to solving clues that stumped you before.
    Over time, you may continue to do a little thinking about the problem in the background, which can lead you to moments of insight later.

    As you encounter other things in the world, you may serendipitously see something that provides you with information valuable to addressing a problem that you’re struggling with. Your brain actually stays vigilant for information relating to an active problem, so it isn’t farfetched to think that you may suddenly notice things relevant to the problem, even if you’re in a familiar environment. However, you won’t notice anything if you’re constantly occupied with other tasks, including scrolling on your cellphone.

    Sleeping aids the incubation process as well. As you sleep, you lose some of the details of the problem you’re solving. When you return to thinking about the problem again the next day (or even several days later), you will be reminded of different things than those you were thinking about before, because your internal description of the problem has changed.

Fast Company – work-life

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