![\"Strategic](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.attorneyatwork.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Strategic-Boredom.jpg?resize=770%2C495&ssl=1\" "\\"\\"")
Table of contents<\/h2>\n\n- The Problem Lawyers Don\u2019t Realize We Have<\/a><\/li>\n
- 5 Tips for Bringing Boredom Back<\/a>\n
\n- 1. Create Input-Free Transitions Between Activities<\/a><\/li>\n
- 2. Reintroduce Repetitive, Low-Stimulation Activities<\/a><\/li>\n
- 3. Protect Small Pockets of Unscheduled Time (Sometimes the most productive thing a lawyer can do is embrace strategic boredom.)<\/a><\/li>\n
- 4. Notice and Resist the Urge to Fill Silence<\/a><\/li>\n
- 5. Schedule \u2018Thinking Walks\u2019<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
- The Lost Art of Doing Nothing<\/a><\/li>\n
- More Health and Well-being Tips on Attorney at Work<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
We often spend our days in a state of constant intellectual engagement. Our work demands it. Reading closely, spotting issues, anticipating arguments, analyzing risk. Legal work rewards the ability to stay mentally \u201con\u201d for long stretches of time.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, our mental engagement rarely stops when the workday ends. Instead, we may fill every remaining moment with some form of input: podcasts during commutes, news while eating, social media during breaks, and professional reading in the evening. Even downtime becomes another channel for information.<\/p>\n
The Problem Lawyers Don\u2019t Realize We Have<\/h2>\n
The result of our constant mental engagement can be a life with almost no mental white space. What\u2019s missing isn\u2019t just rest. It\u2019s boredom \u2014 and we need<\/em> boredom.<\/p>\nFor many of us, boredom feels deeply uncomfortable, almost threatening. An empty stretch of time can trigger the urge to immediately reach for stimulation. But the absence of boredom comes with a cost. Without periods of low stimulation, the brain has fewer opportunities to reset, integrate information, regulate emotion and generate new ideas.<\/p>\n
In other words, boredom isn\u2019t wasted time. It\u2019s a biological recovery process. Reintroducing it \u2014 even in small ways \u2014 can improve creativity, emotional balance, and long-term sustainability in legal work.<\/p>\n
5 Tips for Bringing Boredom Back<\/h2>\n
Here are five ways to begin bringing healthy, strategic boredom back into our lives, and why we need it.<\/p>\n
1. Create Input-Free Transitions Between Activities<\/h3>\n
One of the easiest places to reintroduce boredom is in the spaces between things. Many of us instinctively fill these transitions with stimulation: listening to books while driving, checking email between meetings, watching CLE videos during lunch, or scrolling through news during short breaks.<\/p>\n
Instead of filling this time with mental input, experiment with leaving these moments empty. Try:<\/p>\n
\n- A commute without audio.<\/li>\n
- A short walk without headphones.<\/li>\n
- A few minutes between tasks without checking a screen.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Why this works:<\/strong><\/p>\nThese brief gaps allow the brain to shift out of analytical mode. Neuroscience research suggests that insight and creative problem-solving often occur during low-demand mental states. When the brain isn\u2019t actively processing new information, it starts connecting existing ideas in new ways. Like the epiphany you might have while taking a shower. These \u201crandom\u201d solutions that appear in the shower or while walking are not accidents. They are the product of mental downtime that gives the brain time to process and make connections.<\/p>\n
2. Reintroduce Repetitive, Low-Stimulation Activities<\/h3>\n
Many everyday tasks naturally create conditions for boredom: cooking, gardening, folding laundry, washing dishes or taking a walk. But we often overlay these activities with additional stimulation, like music, podcasts or television, making this time high-stimulation instead of low-stimulation.<\/p>\n
When you will be engaging in these common, repetitive tasks, occasionally try doing them without adding mental input.<\/p>\n
Why this works:<\/strong><\/p>\nRepetitive physical activities occupy just enough attention to keep the mind lightly engaged while allowing deeper mental processing to occur. It\u2019s like when you used to doodle in school to help you focus on what the teacher was saying. This combination can help the brain integrate information and release accumulated cognitive tension from the day. In other words, simple tasks without extra mental stimulation help the nervous system downshift.<\/p>\n
3. Protect Small Pockets of Unscheduled Time (Sometimes the most productive thing a lawyer can do is embrace strategic boredom.)<\/h3>\n
We are trained to optimize time. In fact, many of us could not function in our careers and lives if we didn\u2019t optimize our time. Our calendars fill quickly, and even personal time can start to look like another productivity task to be checked off the list of things we must accomplish.<\/p>\n
Even though we need to optimize our time, try protecting a small block of time each day \u2014 perhaps 10 to 15 minutes \u2014 that has no assigned purpose. No work. No screens. No planned activity. Just time. At first it may seem like a waste of time, but you may find that once you get used to the \u201cdowntime,\u201d you look forward to these \u201cempty\u201d minutes.<\/p>\n
Why this works:<\/strong><\/p>\nWhen the brain is constantly directed toward goals and tasks, it remains in an effort-driven state. Unstructured time signals that the brain can release that effort, which helps reduce the physiological stress associated with continuous cognitive demand. This shift also supports emotional regulation and helps prevent mental fatigue from accumulating.<\/p>\n
4. Notice and Resist the Urge to Fill Silence<\/h3>\n
One reason boredom feels uncomfortable is that our brains have become accustomed to constant stimulation. When the input stops, the sudden quiet can feel unsettling. The instinct is to immediately fill the gap. Instead of reacting automatically, try noticing the urge to:<\/p>\n
\n- Check your phone.<\/li>\n
- Turn on background noise.<\/li>\n
- Start consuming information.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Then pause before acting on it.<\/p>\n
Why this works:<\/strong><\/p>\nOver time, constant stimulation trains the brain to expect<\/em> stimulation. By allowing brief periods without input, the nervous system gradually relearns that silence and stillness are safe states rather than problems to solve. This reduces the discomfort that many of us associate with boredom.<\/p>\n5. Schedule \u2018Thinking Walks\u2019<\/h3>\n
Walking without a specific destination or input can be a very effective way to create \u201cproductive\u201d boredom (for those of us who have a hard time spending time not doing something that feels productive). Instead of using the time to listen to something, allow the mind to wander. You may find your best ideas appear during these walks. Even if you don\u2019t have an epiphany or great idea, you\u2019re getting physical exercise and improving your mental health. It\u2019s a win-win!<\/p>\n
Why this works:<\/strong>
Walking activates the body while reducing cognitive load. This state supports the brain\u2019s \u201cdefault mode network,\u201d which is associated with reflection, memory consolidation, and creative insight. For people like us, whose work involves complex problem-solving, this kind of mental state can be surprisingly valuable.<\/p>\nThe Lost Art of Doing Nothing<\/h2>\n
We are trained to be \u201con\u201d constantly: thinking, analyzing and anticipating. That intense intellectual work is essential to our work as successful lawyers. But that doesn\u2019t mean we can never give our brains a break. In fact, that\u2019s the very reason our brains need recovery time.<\/p>\n
Boredom is one of the ways this mental recovery happens. Without it, the mind stays in a prolonged state of effort. Over time, that constant engagement can narrow creativity, weaken emotional regulation and accelerate burnout.<\/p>\n
Fortunately, reintroducing strategic boredom doesn\u2019t require dramatic lifestyle changes. Small moments of low stimulation can begin restoring the mental space that complex thinking requires. Remember: sometimes the most productive thing a lawyer can do is allow the mind to be briefly and deliberately bored.<\/p>\n
More Health and Well-being Tips on Attorney at Work<\/h2>\n
Indoor Fitness Tips for Attorneys With Busy Schedules<\/a><\/p>\nWhy Are You at the Office Until 10 p.m.?<\/a><\/p>\nFive Ways to Stay Energized<\/a><\/p>\nFive Ways to Leave Your Lawyer at Work<\/a><\/p>\nTop-Rated Mindfulness and Meditation Apps<\/a><\/p>\nHealthy Habits for Deskbound Lawyers<\/a><\/p>\nHow to Be Productive When You\u2019re Depressed<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.attorneyatwork.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/The-Lawyer-the-Lion-and-the-Laundry.jpg?resize=600%2C600&ssl=1\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\nThree Hours to Finding Your Calm in the Chaos <\/h2>\n
BESTSELLER! THE LAWYER, THE LION & THE LAUNDRY<\/p>\n
Join lawyer and certified health coach Jamie Jackson Spannhake in an enlightening journey. Read her bestselling book and learn how to \u201cchoose, act and think\u201d in ways that will clarify your desires and set priorities so you can reclaim your time and enjoy your life. Includes exercises.<\/p>\n
\nORDER YOUR COPY N<\/strong>OW<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nImage \u00a9 iStockPhoto.com. <\/p>\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.attorneyatwork.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/AttorneyatWork-Logo-%C2%AE-2021-1.jpg?resize=372%2C106&ssl=1\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\nSign up for Attorney at Work\u2019s daily practice tips newsletter here<\/a> and subscribe to our podcast<\/a>, Attorney at Work Today.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Jamie Spannhake | Boredom isn\u2019t wasted time. It\u2019s a biological recovery process. Reintroducing it even in small ways can improve creativity, balance and long-term sustainability in legal work. The post Why Lawyers Need Boredom, Even Though It May Terrify Us appeared first on Articles, Tips and Tech for Law Firms and Lawyers. Sometimes the most […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-146547","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-legal_matters"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/146547","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=146547"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/146547\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=146547"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=146547"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=146547"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
- \n
- 1. Create Input-Free Transitions Between Activities<\/a><\/li>\n
- 2. Reintroduce Repetitive, Low-Stimulation Activities<\/a><\/li>\n
- 3. Protect Small Pockets of Unscheduled Time (Sometimes the most productive thing a lawyer can do is embrace strategic boredom.)<\/a><\/li>\n
- 4. Notice and Resist the Urge to Fill Silence<\/a><\/li>\n
- 5. Schedule \u2018Thinking Walks\u2019<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
- The Lost Art of Doing Nothing<\/a><\/li>\n
- More Health and Well-being Tips on Attorney at Work<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
We often spend our days in a state of constant intellectual engagement. Our work demands it. Reading closely, spotting issues, anticipating arguments, analyzing risk. Legal work rewards the ability to stay mentally \u201con\u201d for long stretches of time.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, our mental engagement rarely stops when the workday ends. Instead, we may fill every remaining moment with some form of input: podcasts during commutes, news while eating, social media during breaks, and professional reading in the evening. Even downtime becomes another channel for information.<\/p>\n
The Problem Lawyers Don\u2019t Realize We Have<\/h2>\n
The result of our constant mental engagement can be a life with almost no mental white space. What\u2019s missing isn\u2019t just rest. It\u2019s boredom \u2014 and we need<\/em> boredom.<\/p>\n
For many of us, boredom feels deeply uncomfortable, almost threatening. An empty stretch of time can trigger the urge to immediately reach for stimulation. But the absence of boredom comes with a cost. Without periods of low stimulation, the brain has fewer opportunities to reset, integrate information, regulate emotion and generate new ideas.<\/p>\n
In other words, boredom isn\u2019t wasted time. It\u2019s a biological recovery process. Reintroducing it \u2014 even in small ways \u2014 can improve creativity, emotional balance, and long-term sustainability in legal work.<\/p>\n
5 Tips for Bringing Boredom Back<\/h2>\n
Here are five ways to begin bringing healthy, strategic boredom back into our lives, and why we need it.<\/p>\n
1. Create Input-Free Transitions Between Activities<\/h3>\n
One of the easiest places to reintroduce boredom is in the spaces between things. Many of us instinctively fill these transitions with stimulation: listening to books while driving, checking email between meetings, watching CLE videos during lunch, or scrolling through news during short breaks.<\/p>\n
Instead of filling this time with mental input, experiment with leaving these moments empty. Try:<\/p>\n
- \n
- A commute without audio.<\/li>\n
- A short walk without headphones.<\/li>\n
- A few minutes between tasks without checking a screen.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Why this works:<\/strong><\/p>\n
These brief gaps allow the brain to shift out of analytical mode. Neuroscience research suggests that insight and creative problem-solving often occur during low-demand mental states. When the brain isn\u2019t actively processing new information, it starts connecting existing ideas in new ways. Like the epiphany you might have while taking a shower. These \u201crandom\u201d solutions that appear in the shower or while walking are not accidents. They are the product of mental downtime that gives the brain time to process and make connections.<\/p>\n
2. Reintroduce Repetitive, Low-Stimulation Activities<\/h3>\n
Many everyday tasks naturally create conditions for boredom: cooking, gardening, folding laundry, washing dishes or taking a walk. But we often overlay these activities with additional stimulation, like music, podcasts or television, making this time high-stimulation instead of low-stimulation.<\/p>\n
When you will be engaging in these common, repetitive tasks, occasionally try doing them without adding mental input.<\/p>\n
Why this works:<\/strong><\/p>\n
Repetitive physical activities occupy just enough attention to keep the mind lightly engaged while allowing deeper mental processing to occur. It\u2019s like when you used to doodle in school to help you focus on what the teacher was saying. This combination can help the brain integrate information and release accumulated cognitive tension from the day. In other words, simple tasks without extra mental stimulation help the nervous system downshift.<\/p>\n
3. Protect Small Pockets of Unscheduled Time (Sometimes the most productive thing a lawyer can do is embrace strategic boredom.)<\/h3>\n
We are trained to optimize time. In fact, many of us could not function in our careers and lives if we didn\u2019t optimize our time. Our calendars fill quickly, and even personal time can start to look like another productivity task to be checked off the list of things we must accomplish.<\/p>\n
Even though we need to optimize our time, try protecting a small block of time each day \u2014 perhaps 10 to 15 minutes \u2014 that has no assigned purpose. No work. No screens. No planned activity. Just time. At first it may seem like a waste of time, but you may find that once you get used to the \u201cdowntime,\u201d you look forward to these \u201cempty\u201d minutes.<\/p>\n
Why this works:<\/strong><\/p>\n
When the brain is constantly directed toward goals and tasks, it remains in an effort-driven state. Unstructured time signals that the brain can release that effort, which helps reduce the physiological stress associated with continuous cognitive demand. This shift also supports emotional regulation and helps prevent mental fatigue from accumulating.<\/p>\n
4. Notice and Resist the Urge to Fill Silence<\/h3>\n
One reason boredom feels uncomfortable is that our brains have become accustomed to constant stimulation. When the input stops, the sudden quiet can feel unsettling. The instinct is to immediately fill the gap. Instead of reacting automatically, try noticing the urge to:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Check your phone.<\/li>\n
- Turn on background noise.<\/li>\n
- Start consuming information.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Then pause before acting on it.<\/p>\n
Why this works:<\/strong><\/p>\n
Over time, constant stimulation trains the brain to expect<\/em> stimulation. By allowing brief periods without input, the nervous system gradually relearns that silence and stillness are safe states rather than problems to solve. This reduces the discomfort that many of us associate with boredom.<\/p>\n
5. Schedule \u2018Thinking Walks\u2019<\/h3>\n
Walking without a specific destination or input can be a very effective way to create \u201cproductive\u201d boredom (for those of us who have a hard time spending time not doing something that feels productive). Instead of using the time to listen to something, allow the mind to wander. You may find your best ideas appear during these walks. Even if you don\u2019t have an epiphany or great idea, you\u2019re getting physical exercise and improving your mental health. It\u2019s a win-win!<\/p>\n
Why this works:<\/strong>
Walking activates the body while reducing cognitive load. This state supports the brain\u2019s \u201cdefault mode network,\u201d which is associated with reflection, memory consolidation, and creative insight. For people like us, whose work involves complex problem-solving, this kind of mental state can be surprisingly valuable.<\/p>\nThe Lost Art of Doing Nothing<\/h2>\n
We are trained to be \u201con\u201d constantly: thinking, analyzing and anticipating. That intense intellectual work is essential to our work as successful lawyers. But that doesn\u2019t mean we can never give our brains a break. In fact, that\u2019s the very reason our brains need recovery time.<\/p>\n
Boredom is one of the ways this mental recovery happens. Without it, the mind stays in a prolonged state of effort. Over time, that constant engagement can narrow creativity, weaken emotional regulation and accelerate burnout.<\/p>\n
Fortunately, reintroducing strategic boredom doesn\u2019t require dramatic lifestyle changes. Small moments of low stimulation can begin restoring the mental space that complex thinking requires. Remember: sometimes the most productive thing a lawyer can do is allow the mind to be briefly and deliberately bored.<\/p>\n
More Health and Well-being Tips on Attorney at Work<\/h2>\n
Indoor Fitness Tips for Attorneys With Busy Schedules<\/a><\/p>\n
Why Are You at the Office Until 10 p.m.?<\/a><\/p>\n
Five Ways to Stay Energized<\/a><\/p>\n
Five Ways to Leave Your Lawyer at Work<\/a><\/p>\n
Top-Rated Mindfulness and Meditation Apps<\/a><\/p>\n
Healthy Habits for Deskbound Lawyers<\/a><\/p>\n
How to Be Productive When You\u2019re Depressed<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\nThree Hours to Finding Your Calm in the Chaos <\/h2>\n
BESTSELLER! THE LAWYER, THE LION & THE LAUNDRY<\/p>\n
Join lawyer and certified health coach Jamie Jackson Spannhake in an enlightening journey. Read her bestselling book and learn how to \u201cchoose, act and think\u201d in ways that will clarify your desires and set priorities so you can reclaim your time and enjoy your life. Includes exercises.<\/p>\n
\nORDER YOUR COPY N<\/strong>OW<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nImage \u00a9 iStockPhoto.com. <\/p>\n
\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\nSign up for Attorney at Work\u2019s daily practice tips newsletter here<\/a> and subscribe to our podcast<\/a>, Attorney at Work Today.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Jamie Spannhake | Boredom isn\u2019t wasted time. It\u2019s a biological recovery process. Reintroducing it even in small ways can improve creativity, balance and long-term sustainability in legal work. The post Why Lawyers Need Boredom, Even Though It May Terrify Us appeared first on Articles, Tips and Tech for Law Firms and Lawyers. Sometimes the most […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-146547","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-legal_matters"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/146547","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=146547"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/146547\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=146547"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=146547"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=146547"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
- 2. Reintroduce Repetitive, Low-Stimulation Activities<\/a><\/li>\n