Everyone’s glued to their phone these days. It doesn’t matter how old you are; while you’re waiting at a red light, standing in line, or sitting on the toilet, you probably reach for it automatically.
But lately, a new trend is emerging where some young people have started to push back. Not with a full digital detox or some expensive wellness retreat, but by just sitting while doing nothing.
What Is ‘Raw Dogging Boredom’?
TikTok creator Kate (@katend06) recently documented her first attempt at something called “raw dogging boredom.”
In the clip, she sits on the floor, staring into space, as a 15-minute time-lapse plays out.
“Rules: No tv, no music, no food, no phone,” Kate wrote on the video’s text overlay.
“Raw dogging boredom for 15 minutes day one,” she added.
She says she got the idea from someone else doing it and decided to give it a try. Her version went viral, racking up over 9.1 million views. There are several creators who are following suit. One said in their video that they hope partaking in the trend “fixes” their short attention span.
Why Embracing Boredom Is Actually Really Good For You
According to science, it’s actually a good idea.
Harvard professor Arthur Brooks explained in a video for Harvard Business Publishing that boredom helps activate a part of the brain called the “default mode network.” This network switches on when we’re not focused on anything, like when we forget our phones and get stuck at a red light.
However, most people don’t like how that feels. Brooks cites research by his colleague Dan Gilbert, who put people alone in a room for 15 minutes with nothing to do. The only option was a button that delivered a painful electric shock. The majority chose the shock over being bored.
But according to Brooks, that discomfort serves a purpose. It forces us to reflect on important things like meaning, purpose, and life. And that’s something most of us avoid.
“We figured out how to eliminate boredom,” Brooks said. “That thing in your pocket with the screen… You’re killing yourself with this stuff.”
Brooks warns that constantly avoiding boredom can lead to what he calls a “doom loop of meaning,” where people stop asking the big questions entirely and start feeling hollow.
He encourages people to lean into silence. Go to the gym without your phone, eat dinner without scrolling, and commute without a podcast.
“I have a no-device policy after 7 p.m.,” Brooks said. “We don’t use phones at meals. I do regular social media fasts. At first, it feels like screaming in my head. But then it gets better.”
Commenters Share Their Thoughts
The comments section on Kate’s video had a mix of reactions.
“Gen Z re-inventing meditation,” one person wrote.
Another joked, “Did you just put yourself in timeout?”
@katend06 I saw someone else do this and wanted to try.
“This will be the most beneficial trend for all of humanity,” someone else said.
Others related on a different level. “Unfortunately I have a huge problem with maladaptive daydreaming and can do this all day,” one commenter added.
And then there were those who already know what it feels like. “I do this for 7 hours every weekday at school,” a student quipped.
BroBible has reached out to Kate for comment via TikTok messages.