2024 - Neurobiologist: "A good vacation must be boring"

This neurobiologist says:
“A good holiday should be boring”

Marcus Täuber is a doctor of neurobiology, multiple bestselling author and head of the Institute for Mental Success Strategies in Vienna. He deals with the effect of good feelings on mental health and personality development.

Excitement, action, adventure? Not a good idea. We should give in to boredom a lot more on vacation, says the Viennese neurobiologist Marcus Täuber.

BRIGITTE: You say: “A good vacation should be boring.” Sounds a bit boring, doesn’t it?

Marcus Tauber: Indeed, boredom sounds boring on its own. But it is a completely underestimated feeling. Because we find it unpleasant and there are many offers to escape it immediately – keyword smartphone – we miss the positive sides of boredom.

What exactly is it supposed to do for us? bring boredom?

Boredom is an important source of our creativity, it allows us to develop ideas. And we can use them to put them into practice in the next step. On vacation, for example, to take surfing lessons after a few days of boredom or to visit a museum.

That’s all?

Those who learn to endure boredom generally become better at enduring ailments. We improve our ability to tolerate other uncomfortable feelings, such as not wanting to eat cigarettes or sweets.

And how can we cultivate boredom?

Boredom occurs when our attention is not focused on something specific. Our brain then withdraws, memories and plans mix in the head and ideas can arise.

Why is boredom so frowned upon?

Boredom has a bad image because it crops up in activities that aren’t particularly demanding—whether we’re simply looking out the window or performing routine tasks. If you don’t open your laptop on the train or plane, you give the impression of being unimportant and wasting time. But that is wrong.

What does the ideal holiday look like to come home relaxed?

The ideal holiday begins with a good dose of boredom and then gradually moves into activities and experiences – both physically and mentally. Boredom is important, but only when we experience something on vacation do good memories build up that we feed on beyond the vacation.