Youtube Exercise » English Grammar Homework

You Need to Be Bored. Here's Why.

Harvard Business Review

14.6M views 9 months ago

Warm-up Questions

When do you usually feel bored in daily life (for example: commuting, waiting, or exercising)?
Do you think boredom is mostly negative or can it be helpful? Why?
What do you usually do to avoid boredom?

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You Need to Be Bored. Here's Why.

Why boredom matters (default mode network + the shock experiment) (00:00 – 01:52)

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1. What does the speaker say will happen if you are never bored?

You will become more productive and satisfied
You will have less meaning and feel more depressed
You will become more social and less anxious
You will sleep better and feel more relaxed

2. According to the speaker, what happens when you have nothing else to think about?

The default mode network switches on
Your brain fully shuts down to save energy
Your attention becomes permanently stronger
Your memory stops working for a short time

3. In the experiment described, what did many participants choose to do instead of sitting bored?

Read a book in the room
Leave the room immediately
Give themselves an electric shock
Talk to another participant

You Need to Be Bored. Here's Why.

Phones, the “doom loop,” and practicing boredom (01:52 – 03:41)

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1. What does the speaker say people use to eliminate boredom?

Coffee and energy drinks
The thing in your pocket with the screen
Meditation retreats
More work and overtime

2. What does the speaker call the cycle where you pull out your phone whenever you’re bored?

A creativity spiral
A productivity hack
A growth mindset
A doom loop of meaning

3. Which activity does the speaker recommend doing without your phone?

Cooking with friends
Working out at the gym
Watching a movie
Shopping for groceries

You Need to Be Bored. Here's Why.

Device rules, screen cleanses, and what is (not) an emergency (03:41 – 05:50)

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1. What is one rule the speaker follows after 7 in the afternoon?

Keep the phone in airplane mode
Only check social media once an hour
No device policy
Only answer calls, never texts

2. How does the speaker describe the first feeling during a screen cleanse?

Like I suddenly have more time
Like being sleepy and calm
Like children screaming in my head
Like I can focus perfectly

3. According to the speaker, which of these is NOT an emergency?

A true emergency that requires immediate contact
An urgent situation where someone must reach you
A call from one of a few allowed numbers
Checking what’s going on on Twitter

You Need to Be Bored. Here's Why.

Transcript will load here…

1. What is the main message of the video?

Depression is caused only by brain chemistry
Boredom can help you find meaning and may support mental health
Phones are bad and should never be used
Boredom is always harmful and should be avoided

2. Why do people often try to avoid boredom, according to the speaker?

Because boredom lowers intelligence permanently
Because boredom brings uncomfortable thoughts and big questions
Because boredom makes the body physically weak
Because boredom makes people forget important memories

3. Which strategy best fits the speaker’s recommendations?

Only avoid boredom at work, not in your free time
Use more apps to manage mental health
Replace phones with TV so you are never alone with your thoughts
Schedule regular periods with no devices to practice being bored

Discussion Questions

Discuss the ideas from this video

You Need to Be Bored. Here's Why.

Do you agree that boredom can be “incredibly important, incredibly good”? Why or why not?
Which moments in your day could you realistically spend without your phone (15 minutes or more)?
The speaker says avoiding boredom can make it harder to find meaning. Have you ever experienced something similar?
Which “protocol” (no phone after a certain time, no phones during meals, social media fasts, emergency-only calls) would be hardest for you? Why?