Killing Time – The Science of Boredom - Vincent Productions GmbH

In a world driven by productivity, speed and constant stimulation, there seems to be little space left for boredom. Our smartphones offer endless distraction — the perfect way to avoid that uncomfortable feeling. But what actually is boredom? And why do we feel it? Everyone knows it, but few take it seriously. Scientists around the globe are working to better understand boredom — because behind that nagging emptiness lies more than most people think.

This documentary entertainingly reveals why boredom isn’t just unpleasant, but can actually be useful. It pushes us to find ways out of dull situations and can foster creativity. In childhood, it plays a crucial role in learning how to deal with one’s own emotions. But researchers also warn against romanticizing boredom. When it becomes chronic, it can contribute to problems like alcoholism, internet or gambling addiction.

Everyone knows boredom — but everyone experiences it differently. Is it painful emptiness or the engine of creativity? Nerve-racking restlessness or peaceful calm? Psychologists, neuroscientists and philosophers are getting to the bottom of this mysterious feeling through fascinating experiments: Why is boredom more tolerable for some than for others? How much boredom is actually good for us — and what really happens in the brain when “nothing” happens? Spoiler: quite a lot.