When was the last time you were the only person in the room not using your phone?

You’re not as busy as you think. If you feel busy, it’s because you’re running away from feeling bored.

While boredom feels really bad at first, it comes with a lot of benefits. For starters, it frees your brain up. Sometimes, it’ll feel like, without the noise, your brain finally has a moment to remind me of something you needed to remember. This may be an important memory, or a simple errand.

It also opens up your senses. If you don’t watch videos while you eat your food, you’ll taste the food more clearly. You’ll notice when you’re getting full. If you’re walking on the street, you’ll pay attention to what you’re seeing and hearing.

The next time you’re in transit—take your headphones and look up. Let yourself get bored, and then let the magic happen.