You Need to Be Bored. Here's Why.

26 Aug 2025

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Boredom isn’t a bug—it’s a feature. Harvard professor Arthur C. Brooks explains why boredom unlocks creativity, activates a powerful brain network, and might even protect you from depression. Learn how the mind wanders—and why that’s a very good thing. For more insights on leadership, success, and workplace well-being, explore Arthur's new book, "The Happiness Files", a curated selection of essays from his popular column in The Atlantic: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F4MFQ6VN You can also sign up to receive Arthur’s new six-week newsletter, “The Leader’s Happiness Reset.” It includes excerpts from his new book along with insights and guidance on how to find happiness at work, for yourself and for your team: https://hbr.org/email-newsletters. More by Arthur Brooks: https://arthurbrooks.com/ Books, tools, and more: store.hbr.org Follow us: https://hbr.org/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/harvard-business-review/ https://www.facebook.com/HBR/ https://twitter.com/HarvardBiz https://www.instagram.com/harvard_business_review Sign up for Newsletters: https://hbr.org/email-newsletters #HarvardBusinessReview #YourCareer #Career #Job #Work #Business #Harvard #HarvardBusinessSchool Copyright © 2024 Harvard Business School Publishing. All rights reserved.

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