Raw Dogging Boredom
The Mind Yearns for Stillness.
A recent study found that Americans spend 5 hours and 16 minutes per day on their phones.
Looking at the Gen Z demographic, this becomes even more dramatic.
They spend, on average, 6 hours and 27 minutes on their phone, every day.
It seems, at first glance, as if all of us, but especially the younger generation, are headed towards a future when attention spans are sub-5 seconds. A world that has no space for complex books, calm animated movies, and definitely no afternoons spent on a grassy field looking at the clouds. A world without focus and stillness.
It may seem like that, no doubt, however, hope has not been extinguished just yet.
The flame still burns.
Recently, when caught in this same distraction, I came across a post that made me genuinely happy and proud.
Somehow, someway, meditation has reached GEN Z. Better yet, they rebranded it as “raw dogging boredom”.
As soon as I read this, I let out a chuckle and was taken back more than a decade, all the way to when I first discovered it too. At the time when there were no Instagram reels, TikTok, and there was barely an algorithm, the best option to find entertainment was the YouTube home page recommendations, which, to be fair, was quite nice.
Despite there being many fewer ways to distract oneself, I still found myself spending too much time on entertainment. I was often left with the mental feeling that I can only compare to when you chew too long on a bubble gum.
I can’t remember exactly how, but I ended up finding the classic book, “The Power of Now” by Eckhart Tolle. A beautiful work that, more than any other thing I have consumed, passes the feeling of what it is like to be present in the here and now.
It gives a glimpse into the result of meditation.
Before we get to the knitty-gritty of it, there is an undeniable fact we must acknowledge first. One highlighted by the “raw dogging boredom” trend…
That is: the human mind yearns for stillness.
For how much we all dislike being bored, we dislike even more being suffocated with distraction. The first is annoying, but the latter makes us feel as if we are wasting our lives.
I remember how it felt when I was younger, with much fewer distractions, so I can’t even imagine what a teenager of today feels when access to them is always resting inside their pocket. It is a tougher battle than ever, yet, no matter the generation, we all recognize that it is a battle that must be fought.
The algorithm can’t defeat the human need for peace.
The Algorithm Can’t Defeat The Human Need For Peace.
The initial surprise of finding this trend, one I think we all share, shouldn’t be that surprising, after all, we are all very similar to each other.
Sure, we may use different expressions, dress in different ways, and indulge in different hobbies, however, at our core, we are all somewhat after the same - a life well lived. Some do it through their job, others through charity, others through sports, and others through God, however, we are all after the path that will get us moving toward this goal.
It is innate to every single human being.
Unfortunately, the temptation of comfort is also shared among us all.
The angel on our right may whisper for progress, but the devil on the other side screams to do it tomorrow.
We know we shouldn’t do it, we know it won’t fulfill us, but often, we can’t see past the feelings of the present. The trap is set, and we fall willingly.
I’m not here to attempt to change human nature, as that would be futile. Instead, I’m here to give you a different perspective, one that will hopefully change how you see things.
You see, this need for boredom goes well beyond Gen Z, Millennials, and Boomers. It has always been there.
In ancient Mesopotamia, clay seals depict figures in meditative postures.
The ancient Egyptians engaged in meditative practices as part of their spiritual ceremonies.
Archaeological discoveries from the Indus Valley over 5,000 years ago show terracotta seals with figures in meditative poses
We have always been after inner stillness.
Practices that force us to be in the here and now, such as meditation and prayer, date back thousands of years. Again, this is nothing new.
Before we get to why it matters so much that you do it, I don’t think it would be wise for me to skip on sharing how you actually meditate. It is simple and accessible at any time, so don’t let anyone convince you that they have some secret to reach enlightenment.
First, ideally, find somewhere quiet and free of distractions - you can do it anywhere, but it is easier if you are left alone.
Then, sit upright, hands on your lap, and close your eyes. Begin to breathe deeply and shift your focus to each inhale and exhale.
As you do this, inevitably, thoughts will pop into your mind. Also, inevitably, you will end up absorbed by them, your focus away from your breathing. This is the key moment of meditation. Once you become aware that your focus has shifted, you simply want to shift it back, as smoothly as possible, without rejecting your thoughts, without pushing them down. What I mean by this is that you want to observe the thought without indulging in it. While it may seem weird at first, you will soon understand once you do it. The easiest way is to imagine that you are a mountain and the thoughts are clouds around you, and, as the wind blows them in front of you, you can observe them passing by.
They appear randomly and they also disappear so. The mere recognition of the thought showing up unannounced shows you that they are a part of you, but not the fullness of you.
The more you practice, the more moments of full presence you will have. If you have never done it, then you will likely experience life in a way you have never before, it will feel as if a veil has been lifted, and reality now feels more real.
Do 10 minutes per day, for 2 weeks, and you will never go back.
Why We Crave Boredom
This drive towards stillness is not accidental, much less a trend. It is the first step in your call to adventure, even if it does not seem like it at first glance. After all, how could such a passive habit lead you toward your life’s mission?
Simply put, it forces what always precedes the beginning of said journey: Awareness.
Beyond removing boredom, all this digital noise allows you to “shove down”, metaphorically speaking, all the unresolved issues you know have to be addressed. The laziness, the lust, the gluttony, and, most importantly, the lack of respect for your time.
Initially, when confronting all of this, you will be overwhelmed. You will feel as if you are a failure, incapable of sorting out your life’s problems. No doubt, shame and guilt will arrive.
“Where do I even start? I can’t do all of this.” - Many have thought before pushing it further for tomorrow.
Those who manage to stay with the feeling and, crucially, begin organizing the mess around them, soon realize that it doesn’t take that long to fix the urgent.
Cleaning your room, planning your week, calling to book the appointment, and similar urgent tasks can all be sorted in less than a day. It seems more daunting than it actually is.
Yet, that is not the purpose of becoming more aware.
Once the initial mess is taken care of, the real game begins. At this point, continuing faithful to making space for stillness, you will find that new problems arise, this time, much more complicated ones.
The one that takes priority here is what you will do with your life, in other words, your career.
Let me be clear here, this is not because making money is the most important thing in your life, but because most of your time will be spent “working”. Done right, and this will be your life’s mission, opposed to the dreaded 9-to-5 rat race.
It’s important to distinguish because the way one gets to their life mission is very different than how one gets to a job.
The path to a life well lived is one that often does not make sense when walking. It requires faith and endurance, it will force you to stick to your morals and beliefs when there are great rewards for not doing so, yet those who endure always find what they are after.
When looking back, all the dots connect.
This, I truly believe, can only be achieved by listening to our intuition, that quiet voice inside, the feeling that points you in the right direction, that nudge that is so inconvenient and uncomfortable to follow, but that is never wrong.
What we can’t intellectually figure out with our Excel sheets and lists, the mind can when allowed to function. All your past experiences, learned knowledge, breakthrough moments, and literally everything else are stored and used to make the right decisions whispered to you via intuition.
The more you meditate, the easier it is to listen.
The easier it is to listen, at least in the beginning, and you may find this strange, the worse your life will feel.
Glory Demands Pain
What is to give light, as Viktor Frankl said, must endure burning.
The voice of intuition will push you to burn off all that is dragging you down, and my friend, let me tell you, it is a painful process.
If you are too shy, it will push you to free yourself from this social anxiety. If you are out of shape, it will push you to burn the fat you do not need. If you are being a degenerate, it will push you to let go of your addictions.
A process, for all of them, that often feels hopeless and pointless. It will lead you to a dark place where you will genuinely wonder if there is something wrong with you, if you simply are not meant to change.
A pit that you may not be able to overcome without God, if I’m being honest with you.
This is why most simply go back to the comfortable life they have always led. Sure, it may not be fulfilling, but at least it is not burning with the pain of change.
One can argue for both sides, and many end up choosing to stay ashore, however, at the end of the day, no one can hide from the truth.
Deep down, when the phone is put away, when the lights are off, and you are left with yourself during the 15 minutes between getting in bed and falling asleep, you always know what must be done.
You cannot trick yourself forever.
You can find all the logical arguments you want, but none of them will suffice when you quiet the noise and face the demons lurking underneath.
You don’t need more information, more time to get ready, or even more resources. That is missing the point.
You need, as some of the youth have figured out, to sit with yourself, staring at the wall, and confronting whatever comes up.
Your life depends on it.
-Goncalo
Paths of Meaning