Healthy@UH Podcast - The Benefits of Boredom

Text messages, emails, news notifications and social media have us in a heightened state of stimulation. While some of that information is positive, turning off the stimuli, even temporarily, has tremendous upside. UH psychiatrist, Patrick Runnels, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Population/Behavioral Health, explains the science behind the benefits of boredom. Being in the moment decreases anxiety and stress and allows us to be happier overall.

0:00 Introduction
1:23 Is it unhealthy to be overly connected?
5:30 What it does to our bodies
7:42 The benefits of shutting down our brains - the benefits of boredom
11:45 The value of introspection
13:38 The value in creating time for yourself
16:29 The Google factor
18:18 How much time should you spend alone each day?
22:25 Kids are better than adults at disconnecting
29:06 Takeaways

This podcast was recorded on 3/25/2022.