"But Moooommmm… I’m soooo bored!"
Sound familiar? My 9- and 12-year-olds hit me with this every time I tell them to put their screens down. And let’s be honest—they’re not alone. Screen addiction is a modern struggle, one I’ve wrestled with myself. The endless dopamine rush of mindless scrolling and “relaxing the brain” can be all too tempting.

Even my clients admit to procrastinating or scrolling for a “non-productive buffer” in every possible break in their day. Many of us are even double screening, zoning out on our phones while watching TV.

As a mom and mindset coach on a mission to improve generational behavioral cycles, I give attention to the big and seemingly little things, such as boredom. Teaching my kids to handle boredom in a healthy way helps them—and future generations—thrive. It's also how I stay resilient, avoid burnout, and perform at a high level sustainably as a wife, mother, and entrepreneur.

So, when faced with the classic “But Moooommmm… I’m bored!” complaint, here’s my silver bullet: Resist the urge to tell them what to do. Instead, ask, “Why are you making boredom a bad thing?”

When they respond with, “I don’t know.” remind yourself (and them) that “I don’t know.” is an excuse to avoid thinking deeper and answering the question. Shift their focus by asking, “How can you make boredom fun?” Use this opportunity to help them learn how to enjoy boredom by doing something restorative like taking a walk in our beautiful and friendly neighborhood, for example.

In a world overflowing with distractions, I find myself craving boredom—it’s a chance to take a deep breath, reset, and discover creativity. I hope you enjoy fun boredom with your children and witness the blessings of their creativity, inspiring future generations to do the same.

 

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