By Sarah Callahan
Gray Space Graces
I recently read an article in The Atlantic, “What kids say about how to get them off their phones,” where the author discussed an underexplored reason why kids are spending so much time online. Contrary to popular belief, youth would rather spend time in-person with friends than online. The key is that kids desire unsupervised time and the only place they can get that in these days is on the internet.
This is a frightening fact to consider. Times have changed and quickly. Parents are more anxious than ever to let their children out of their sight. The article explained that the old axiom “go outside” has been replaced with “go online.” Parents are concerned about their children being abducted or injured when unsupervised, so much so that many kids have not even walked down a grocery aisle alone. The article provided encouraging data that could ease parents’ anxieties, although parents know their frequented places best and thoughtful caution should always be put to use. The article noted an author’s findings on kidnapping in the United States; “it is so rare that a child would have to be outside unsupervised for, on average, 750,000 years before being snatched by a stranger.”
Unsupervised free time without technology does much in the way of developing independence, creativity and critical thinking. When playing together unsupervised, children are forced to work through disagreements without an adult moderator. They are also provided the ability to become bored — what a gift!
This dynamic from “go outside” to “go online” has happened recently. Even in my childhood in the early 2000s, outside and unsupervised play was not just normal but encouraged. Even if I was just staying within the boundaries of my neighborhood, I gained independence and a sense of self that I may not have developed had I not had time to wander and play with the other children in my area.
Similarly, I don’t believe that we, adults, take enough time out from behind our screens to allow ourselves to get bored. We fill every minute of our day with either productivity or the “rest” of overconsuming content. Our critical thinking muscles grow weak if we fail to use them. I fear with our overconsumption and constant busyness that we are not permitting ourselves to think deeply and put to use our rationality.
There is a spirituality of boredom that we could all better cultivate in our lives. Boredom nurtures curiosity while overstimulation breeds judgement. It gives us the freedom to wonder. I believe if we all made space for boredom in our lives, we would create opportunity for slower digestion of ideas and in turn, more complex and thoughtful beliefs about the world and others. We would learn to sit with a concept, to mull it over, and then decide what we think about it, rather than making a split-second judgement on a take that someone posted on Facebook.
To become bored, we have to allow ourselves silence. This week, try simply lying down before bed rather than watching television or scrolling, go on a walk without a route or destination in mind, or schedule 30 minutes to sit in a place you love. You never know what may come to mind — take note of these things. What or who is on your heart? Where are you being challenged to grow? What is the Holy Spirit leading you toward? Boredom may be the key to getting there.
(Sarah Callahan is social media coordinator for the Diocese of Davenport.)
