Boring.  The word strikes terror into marketing executives, television news directors, and most parents of small children.  Activities that are tiresome, repetitive, and annoying, that slow down oneÕs sense of time, are derided and avoided, often through intense effort.  Infants play tailored computer games, and cell phones can play Paris Hilton videos virtually anywhere in the US. Billions are spent daily to avoid boredom.

         Yet boredom has its uses.  The brain cannot be constantly at a high pitch of attention Ð it needs to rest.  Rest is restoration, and boredom, particularly in situations where one has some personal control of what you do, can be used profitably.

         The trick is to engage psychologist Mih‡ly CsikszentmihalyiÕs concept of flow, the state of consciousness where mind and body forget the self, forget time, and engage focused concentration.  Great sports and musical performances often involve flow, as do creative work in all media, even the simple act of reading (including this sentence.)  Yet how does one obtain a sense of flow when utterly bored?

          Csikszentmihalyi, formerly chair of Psychology at the University of Chicago, showed that Detroit autoworkers Òbored out of their mindsÓ by endlessly repetitive tasks still found a way to achieve flow.  They did it by performing a game with themselves Ð could they tighten all the axle screws in fourteen rather than fifteen seconds; could they do it backwards, or in alternating movements; could they work rhythmically to the music in their head.

         Dealing with boredom generally requires mental effort.  When stuck in a lecture where you know most of the material and are waiting for a few nuggets of interest, you cannot get up and walk around the lecture hall or do yoga practice in the aisles.  Fortunately there are plenty of tasks you can set yourself that may increase analytic skills, support creativity, and give your body and mind useful rest. Here are a few:

         1. Asking yourself why the situation is so boring.  Are you doing the same thing over and over, the same way? Does the person youÕre speaking to reply in a monotonous tone?  What is it about them that make you want to escape?

         Answer these questions and you may learn a lot about yourself, including what subjects you find interesting, what types of performance maintain your curiosity, and what you might do to prevent appearing dull to others.  If all the worldÕs a stage, try to understand what makes for an enthralling performance.

         2.  Notice whatÕs going on around you.  Do you think other people are also bored?  What are those who do not look bored doing?  Are there social, political and financial undercurrents that make the situation more engaging than it first looks? (For example, is the new hire in the department desperately trying to look fascinated on hearing the accounting report?)

         3. Create your own fictional story.  If the events taking place around you leave your brain in default mode, musing on past, future, and every possibility, start using your daydreaming abilities.  Imagine you are writing up what you see as an entertaining short story.  WhatÕs needed to make it funny?  Tragic? A thriller?  Is it possible to imagine your angry, bootlicking supervisor a spy for a foreign power?  Is the bossÕ attention-seeking secretary secretly in love with cubic zirconium rings, which she will do anything to obtain?

         4.  Learn patience.  Much of American work and non-work life frantically attempts to attain Òboredom avoidance.Ó  Do you really have to work so hard to not be bored?  DonÕt you find some aspects of your own mind interesting?  For example, why do you like what you like?  What are you good at?  Can you amuse yourself by rummaging through your past, comparing the present situation with others youÕve experienced while noting the sometimes hilarious parallels?  Do you have the mental means to create an epic poem or even just a short limerick to describe what you feel right now?

         5. Engage social solidarity.  Look at the people around you Ð are they sensing the same boredom you are?  Are they broadcasting their annoyance?  Can you exchange sly smiles, or just a raised eyebrow; to give that sense that you too, are in on whatÕs going on, creating the first foundation for a community response?

         6. Doodle.  Let hand engage mind without much filtering. Can you take a single black line and make it express the essence of your emotions?  Or is it more fun to model the back of your friendÕs head?  Consider how much you might improve your cartooning skills at such moments.

         7. Meditate.  Find a word, a place, an image, and focus on it.  Relax and concentrate, seeing nothing else before you.

        Learning to self-amuse, to become self-aware, to create something in your head out of ÒnothingÓ might bring out your best traits.  And your creativity.

         Boredom does not have to be boring.  Sometimes it can even be fun.

Dr. Matthew Edlund practices sleep medicine and psychiatry in Sarasota.  His new book, Designed To Last, is available online. He can be reached at 365-4308 and via his Web site at doctoredlund.com.