{"id":259165,"date":"2026-01-15T05:02:25","date_gmt":"2026-01-15T10:02:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/?p=259165"},"modified":"2026-01-15T18:48:06","modified_gmt":"2026-01-15T23:48:06","slug":"make-space-for-productive-boredom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/2026\/01\/15\/make-space-for-productive-boredom\/","title":{"rendered":"Make Space for Productive Boredom"},"content":{"rendered":"

In\u00a0today\u2019s\u00a0frantic\u00a0world,\u00a0with its many\u00a0distractions, we\u00a0have\u00a0developed a\u00a0strong\u00a0aversion to\u00a0boredom. The moment our minds begin to wander, we reach for our phones, check email, or find some other diversion. Yet in doing so, we\u00a0are\u00a0systematically destroying one of the most powerful\u00a0stimuli\u00a0for unexpected solutions: unstructured mental downtime.<\/p>\n

When\u00a0we’re\u00a0not actively focused on a task, our brains do\u00a0not\u00a0simply shut down. Instead, they enter what researchers call the “default mode network”.\u00a0\u00a0This is a\u00a0state where different regions of the brain begin\u00a0working\u00a0in ways that do not happen\u00a0during focused attention. This is when disparate memories, experiences, and knowledge fragments start making unexpected connections. It\u00a0is\u00a0during these moments of\u00a0apparent\u00a0mental idleness that our most creative insights often\u00a0emerge.<\/p>\n

The Paradox of Productive Procrastination\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Adam Grant, the organizational psychologist, talks about\u00a0the power of “productive procrastination”.\u00a0\u00a0In his\u00a0research Grant\u00a0found\u00a0that his most original ideas came not when he rushed to complete projects, but when he allowed himself to sit with problems for extended periods. He would start thinking about a research question, then deliberately delay diving into the work, letting his mind wander and explore tangential connections.<\/p>\n

This approach led to some of his most\u00a0useful\u00a0insights. His research on “giver” versus “taker” personalities in organizations\u00a0emerged\u00a0during a period when he was supposed to be working on an entirely different project. By allowing his mind to procrastinate productively, he stumbled upon connections between generosity and professional success that had eluded other researchers.<\/p>\n

The key distinction Grant discovered was between active procrastination,\u00a0where you consciously delay while your mind continues to work on the\u00a0problem, and\u00a0passive procrastination, where you simply avoid the work altogether. Active procrastination creates the conditions for serendipity by keeping the problem alive in your subconscious while your conscious mind explores related territories.<\/p>\n

The Default Mode Advantage\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s creation of the musical Hamilton illustrates how boredom can\u00a0stimulate\u00a0unexpected solutions. The idea struck him while he was reading Ron Chernow’s biography of Alexander Hamilton during a\u00a0holiday. He\u00a0wasn’t\u00a0trying to write a\u00a0musical,\u00a0he was simply allowing his mind to wander while absorbing the story. The unexpected connection between Hamilton’s life and modern hip-hop culture\u00a0emerged\u00a0precisely because Miranda’s mind was in a relaxed, receptive state.<\/p>\n

This phenomenon occurs because the default mode network excels at making remote associations,\u00a0connections between\u00a0seemingly unrelated\u00a0concepts that our focused attention would never pursue. When\u00a0we’re\u00a0actively concentrating on a problem, our brains tend to follow predictable, logical pathways. But when we\u00a0are daydreaming, our minds become more likely to make those unexpected leaps that lead to breakthrough insights.<\/p>\n

Ways to Find Space for\u00a0Productive Boredom\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

The challenge is that genuine boredom has become increasingly rare.\u00a0We’ve\u00a0filled every\u00a0possible\u00a0moment\u00a0of downtime with\u00a0activity. Yet creating space for productive boredom\u00a0doesn’t\u00a0require dramatic lifestyle changes.\u00a0\u00a0It needs you to\u00a0deliberately create some space.<\/p>\n

The most successful practitioners of productive boredom\u00a0don’t\u00a0wait for it to happen\u00a0accidentally;\u00a0they deliberately design it into their routines. This requires a fundamental shift in how we think about productivity and time management.<\/p>\n

Steve Jobs was famous for his walking meetings, but equally important were his solitary walks. Research shows that walking, particularly in natural settings, activates the brain networks associated with creative insight. The rhythmic, automatic nature of walking frees up cognitive resources for making unexpected connections.\u00a0\u00a0I\u00a0like to walk\u00a0with earphones\u00a0and\u00a0listen to\u00a0podcasts.\u00a0\u00a0But I get my best ideas when I leave the podcast alone and just\u00a0wander.<\/p>\n

Before smartphones, commutes were natural incubators for unexpected ideas. The combination of routine activity (driving or riding public transport) and mental freedom created ideal conditions for serendipitous thinking.\u00a0Nowadays\u00a0everyone on the train is glued to their device.\u00a0\u00a0Try reclaiming\u00a0at least\u00a0part of your commute from digital distraction\u00a0to let your mind wander.<\/p>\n

Similarly, dedicate\u00a0one hour\u00a0each week to completely unstructured time. No agenda, no goals, no devices,\u00a0just mental freedom to explore wherever your thoughts lead. This\u00a0isn’t\u00a0leisure time; it\u00a0is strategic boredom designed to generate unexpected connections.<\/p>\n

What Should Leaders Do?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Should you tell your\u00a0people to spend time each day daydreaming and\u00a0being productively bored?\u00a0\u00a0I would advise not.\u00a0It is likely to be misunderstood.\u00a0\u00a0Instead do these four things.<\/p>\n

First\u00a0share some of the big\u00a0challenges\u00a0facing the business as \u2018How can we\u2026?\u2019 questions.\u00a0\u00a0Such as,\u00a0how can we\u00a0delight our customers, or attract the best engineers, or speed up development or reduce costs?<\/p>\n

Secondly ask people for their best ideas.\u00a0\u00a0Delivering on\u00a0objectives\u00a0is good but so is contributing creative ideas.<\/p>\n

Third, create an atmosphere of psychological safety where anyone can suggest anything no matter how unorthodox.\u00a0\u00a0Protect people and their ideas from early\u00a0criticism or\u00a0ridicule.<\/p>\n

Fourth, run well\u00a0facilitated\u00a0brainstorm meetings where\u00a0people share bizarre and radical ideas for the big challenges<\/p>\n

Finally, select and implement the best ideas.\u00a0\u00a0Once your\u00a0best people understand that their\u00a0creative\u00a0ideas are respected and sometimes acted on then they will start thinking about the issues\u00a0during their own productive boredom periods.<\/p>\n

Summary\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Productive boredom\u00a0is\u00a0different from\u00a0idleness or\u00a0restlessness. It\u00a0involves\u00a0a sense of receptive alertness.\u00a0\u00a0You\u00a0are not seeking specific stimulation, but you\u00a0are open to whatever\u00a0emerges. Your\u00a0mind might feel like it\u00a0is\u00a0gently floating between different thoughts and memories, making connections you\u00a0wouldn’t\u00a0normally notice.<\/p>\n

The key is learning to distinguish between this fertile mental state and the anxiety-driven boredom that makes us reach for distractions. Productive boredom feels spacious and open; destructive boredom feels tight and urgent.<\/p>\n

The benefits of embracing productive boredom compound over time. As you become more comfortable with unstructured mental time, your brain develops stronger default mode network connections. You become more skilled at recognizing when insights are\u00a0emerging\u00a0and\u00a0less impatient in looking for immediate solutions.<\/p>\n

Perhaps most\u00a0importantly, you begin to trust the process. Instead of feeling guilty about moments of\u00a0apparent\u00a0mental idleness, you recognize them as essential components of your creative toolkit. This shift in perspective transforms “wasted” time into strategic investment in unexpected solutions.<\/p>\n

In a world that increasingly\u00a0encourages\u00a0speed and constant activity, the ability to be productively bored becomes a significant competitive advantage. It\u00a0is not about doing\u00a0less;\u00a0it\u00a0is about creating the mental conditions where your most unexpected and valuable ideas can\u00a0emerge.<\/p>\n

\n

Written by Paul Sloane<\/strong><\/a>, author of The Art of Unexpected Solutions: Using Lateral Thinking to Find Breakthroughs<\/a>, published by Kogan Page, priced \u00a314.99
\nHave you read?
\nWhy Your Personal Brand Is a Promise, Not a Performance<\/a>.
\nWhat S\u00e3o Paulo, Ho Chi Minh City, and Cairo Reveal About the Rise of Global Megacities<\/a>.
\nThe Succession Blind Spot: How Founder Dependence Hurts Valuation and M&A Deal Speed<\/a>.
\nStrategy and Sports: Using Athletic Metaphors to Drive Strategic Business Growth<\/a>.
\nSkip Resolutions and Audit Your Values: A Smarter Approach to Personal Growth<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In\u00a0today\u2019s\u00a0frantic\u00a0world,\u00a0with its many\u00a0distractions, we\u00a0have\u00a0developed a\u00a0strong\u00a0aversion to\u00a0boredom. The moment our minds begin to wander, we reach for our phones, check email, or find some other diversion. Yet in doing so, we\u00a0are\u00a0systematically destroying one of the most powerful\u00a0stimuli\u00a0for unexpected solutions: unstructured mental downtime. When\u00a0we’re\u00a0not actively focused on a task, our brains do\u00a0not\u00a0simply shut down. Instead, they enter […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6182,"featured_media":259164,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36082],"tags":[36203,36204,36205,36244,36301,37224,37225,37227,37231,37242,37248,37260],"class_list":["post-259165","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ceo-forum","tag-chief-experience-officer-insider","tag-chief-human-resources-officer-insider","tag-chief-government-relations-officer-insider","tag-chief-financial-officer-insider","tag-chief-everything-officer-insider","tag-chief-happiness-officer-insider","tag-chief-green-officer-insider","tag-chief-growth-officer-insider","tag-chief-inclusion-officer-insider","tag-chief-information-governance-officer-insider","tag-chief-fiduciary-officer-insider","tag-chief-health-officer-insider"],"yoast_head":"\nMake Space for Productive Boredom - CEOWORLD magazine<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/2026\/01\/15\/make-space-for-productive-boredom\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Make Space for Productive Boredom - CEOWORLD magazine\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"In\u00a0today\u2019s\u00a0frantic\u00a0world,\u00a0with its many\u00a0distractions, we\u00a0have\u00a0developed a\u00a0strong\u00a0aversion to\u00a0boredom. The moment our minds begin to wander, we reach for our phones, check email, or find some other diversion. Yet in doing so, we\u00a0are\u00a0systematically destroying one of the most powerful\u00a0stimuli\u00a0for unexpected solutions: unstructured mental downtime. When\u00a0we’re\u00a0not actively focused on a task, our brains do\u00a0not\u00a0simply shut down. Instead, they enter […]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/2026\/01\/15\/make-space-for-productive-boredom\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"CEOWORLD magazine\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ceoworldmag\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-01-15T10:02:25+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-01-15T23:48:06+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/paul-sloane.jpg?wsr\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1024\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1024\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Paul Sloane\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@ceoworld\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@ceoworld\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Paul Sloane\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/2026\/01\/15\/make-space-for-productive-boredom\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/2026\/01\/15\/make-space-for-productive-boredom\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Paul Sloane\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/#\/schema\/person\/732f07804713e2511b1baf1cbc67be3b\"},\"headline\":\"Make Space for Productive Boredom\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-01-15T10:02:25+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-01-15T23:48:06+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/2026\/01\/15\/make-space-for-productive-boredom\/\"},\"wordCount\":1172,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/2026\/01\/15\/make-space-for-productive-boredom\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/paul-sloane.jpg?wsr\",\"keywords\":[\"Chief Experience Officer Insider\",\"Chief Human Resources Officer Insider\",\"Chief Government Relations Officer Insider\",\"Chief Financial Officer Insider\",\"Chief Everything Officer Insider\",\"Chief Happiness Officer Insider\",\"Chief Green Officer Insider\",\"Chief Growth Officer Insider\",\"Chief Inclusion Officer Insider\",\"Chief Information Governance Officer Insider\",\"Chief Fiduciary Officer Insider\",\"Chief Health Officer Insider\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Global CEO Forum\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"copyrightYear\":\"2026\",\"copyrightHolder\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/#organization\"}},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/2026\/01\/15\/make-space-for-productive-boredom\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/2026\/01\/15\/make-space-for-productive-boredom\/\",\"name\":\"Make Space for Productive Boredom - CEOWORLD magazine\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/2026\/01\/15\/make-space-for-productive-boredom\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/2026\/01\/15\/make-space-for-productive-boredom\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/paul-sloane.jpg?wsr\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-01-15T10:02:25+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-01-15T23:48:06+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/2026\/01\/15\/make-space-for-productive-boredom\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/2026\/01\/15\/make-space-for-productive-boredom\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/2026\/01\/15\/make-space-for-productive-boredom\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/paul-sloane.jpg?wsr\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/paul-sloane.jpg?wsr\",\"width\":1024,\"height\":1024,\"caption\":\"Paul Sloane\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/2026\/01\/15\/make-space-for-productive-boredom\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Global CEO Forum\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/ceo-forum\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Make Space for Productive Boredom\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/\",\"name\":\"CEOWORLD magazine\",\"description\":\"The premier global business magazine providing expert insights, analysis, and news for CEOs, executives, industry leaders, and affluent individuals.\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/#organization\",\"name\":\"CEOWORLD magazine\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/CEOWORLD-magazine.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/CEOWORLD-magazine.png\",\"width\":1024,\"height\":1024,\"caption\":\"CEOWORLD magazine\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ceoworldmag\",\"https:\/\/x.com\/ceoworld\"],\"description\":\"CEOWORLD Magazine is a leading global business publication providing expert insights, analysis, and rankings for executives and professionals in leadership, finance, strategy, and innovation across industries worldwide.\",\"email\":\"info@ceoworld.biz\",\"telephone\":\"+1 (646) 466-6530\",\"legalName\":\"CEOWORLD Magazine\",\"foundingDate\":\"2008-07-09\",\"duns\":\"221329499\",\"numberOfEmployees\":{\"@type\":\"QuantitativeValue\",\"minValue\":\"51\",\"maxValue\":\"200\"},\"publishingPrinciples\":\"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/publishing-principles\/\",\"actionableFeedbackPolicy\":\"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/actionable-feedback-policy\/\",\"correctionsPolicy\":\"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/corrections-policy\/\",\"ethicsPolicy\":\"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/ethics-and-compliance\/\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/#\/schema\/person\/732f07804713e2511b1baf1cbc67be3b\",\"name\":\"Paul Sloane\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/paul-sloane-150x150.jpg?wsr\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/paul-sloane-150x150.jpg?wsr\",\"caption\":\"Paul Sloane\"},\"description\":\"Paul Sloane writes and speaks on lateral thinking and the leadership of innovation. His career encompassed roles as Marketing Director, Managing Director, VP International, and CEO of software companies, giving him an enormous source of experience and wisdom in management and leadership. He is a recognized expert in lateral thinking and innovation and has written over 20 books \u2013 titles include The Leader\u2019s Guide to Lateral Thinking Skills, The Innovative Leader and Lateral Thinking for Every Day. He speaks at conferences and facilitates workshops for corporate clients. He has over 25,000 students for his online courses on Udemy. He is a visiting lecturer at Cambridge University, Lancaster Business School, Henley Business School, and the Mumbai Institute of Technology. He is a recognized thought leader on innovation topics and has 38,000 followers on X. Corporate clients include: Airbus, AKQA, Bayer, Bertelsmann, Liverpool University Business School, Microsoft, Reckitt Benckiser, Glaxo Smith Kline, Nike, Novartis, Swarovski, and Unilever. His Tedx talk titled, \u201cAre You Open-Minded?\u201d on YouTube has over 180,000 views. Paul Sloane is a distinguished member of the CEOWORLD Magazine Executive Council. You may connect with him through LinkedIn or official website.\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/author\/paul-sloane\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Make Space for Productive Boredom - CEOWORLD magazine","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/2026\/01\/15\/make-space-for-productive-boredom\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Make Space for Productive Boredom - CEOWORLD magazine","og_description":"In\u00a0today\u2019s\u00a0frantic\u00a0world,\u00a0with its many\u00a0distractions, we\u00a0have\u00a0developed a\u00a0strong\u00a0aversion to\u00a0boredom. The moment our minds begin to wander, we reach for our phones, check email, or find some other diversion. Yet in doing so, we\u00a0are\u00a0systematically destroying one of the most powerful\u00a0stimuli\u00a0for unexpected solutions: unstructured mental downtime. When\u00a0we’re\u00a0not actively focused on a task, our brains do\u00a0not\u00a0simply shut down. Instead, they enter […]","og_url":"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/2026\/01\/15\/make-space-for-productive-boredom\/","og_site_name":"CEOWORLD magazine","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ceoworldmag","article_published_time":"2026-01-15T10:02:25+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-01-15T23:48:06+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1024,"height":1024,"url":"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/paul-sloane.jpg?wsr","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Paul Sloane","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@ceoworld","twitter_site":"@ceoworld","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Paul Sloane","Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/2026\/01\/15\/make-space-for-productive-boredom\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/2026\/01\/15\/make-space-for-productive-boredom\/"},"author":{"name":"Paul Sloane","@id":"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/#\/schema\/person\/732f07804713e2511b1baf1cbc67be3b"},"headline":"Make Space for Productive Boredom","datePublished":"2026-01-15T10:02:25+00:00","dateModified":"2026-01-15T23:48:06+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/2026\/01\/15\/make-space-for-productive-boredom\/"},"wordCount":1172,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/2026\/01\/15\/make-space-for-productive-boredom\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/paul-sloane.jpg?wsr","keywords":["Chief Experience Officer Insider","Chief Human Resources Officer Insider","Chief Government Relations Officer Insider","Chief Financial Officer Insider","Chief Everything Officer Insider","Chief Happiness Officer Insider","Chief Green Officer Insider","Chief Growth Officer Insider","Chief Inclusion Officer Insider","Chief Information Governance Officer Insider","Chief Fiduciary Officer Insider","Chief Health Officer Insider"],"articleSection":["Global CEO Forum"],"inLanguage":"en-US","copyrightYear":"2026","copyrightHolder":{"@id":"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/#organization"}},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/2026\/01\/15\/make-space-for-productive-boredom\/","url":"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/2026\/01\/15\/make-space-for-productive-boredom\/","name":"Make Space for Productive Boredom - CEOWORLD magazine","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/2026\/01\/15\/make-space-for-productive-boredom\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/2026\/01\/15\/make-space-for-productive-boredom\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/paul-sloane.jpg?wsr","datePublished":"2026-01-15T10:02:25+00:00","dateModified":"2026-01-15T23:48:06+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/2026\/01\/15\/make-space-for-productive-boredom\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/2026\/01\/15\/make-space-for-productive-boredom\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/2026\/01\/15\/make-space-for-productive-boredom\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/paul-sloane.jpg?wsr","contentUrl":"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/paul-sloane.jpg?wsr","width":1024,"height":1024,"caption":"Paul Sloane"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/2026\/01\/15\/make-space-for-productive-boredom\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Global CEO Forum","item":"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/ceo-forum\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Make Space for Productive Boredom"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/#website","url":"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/","name":"CEOWORLD magazine","description":"The premier global business magazine providing expert insights, analysis, and news for CEOs, executives, industry leaders, and affluent individuals.","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/#organization","name":"CEOWORLD magazine","url":"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/CEOWORLD-magazine.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/CEOWORLD-magazine.png","width":1024,"height":1024,"caption":"CEOWORLD magazine"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ceoworldmag","https:\/\/x.com\/ceoworld"],"description":"CEOWORLD Magazine is a leading global business publication providing expert insights, analysis, and rankings for executives and professionals in leadership, finance, strategy, and innovation across industries worldwide.","email":"info@ceoworld.biz","telephone":"+1 (646) 466-6530","legalName":"CEOWORLD Magazine","foundingDate":"2008-07-09","duns":"221329499","numberOfEmployees":{"@type":"QuantitativeValue","minValue":"51","maxValue":"200"},"publishingPrinciples":"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/publishing-principles\/","actionableFeedbackPolicy":"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/actionable-feedback-policy\/","correctionsPolicy":"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/corrections-policy\/","ethicsPolicy":"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/ethics-and-compliance\/"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/#\/schema\/person\/732f07804713e2511b1baf1cbc67be3b","name":"Paul Sloane","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/paul-sloane-150x150.jpg?wsr","contentUrl":"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/paul-sloane-150x150.jpg?wsr","caption":"Paul Sloane"},"description":"Paul Sloane writes and speaks on lateral thinking and the leadership of innovation. His career encompassed roles as Marketing Director, Managing Director, VP International, and CEO of software companies, giving him an enormous source of experience and wisdom in management and leadership. He is a recognized expert in lateral thinking and innovation and has written over 20 books \u2013 titles include The Leader\u2019s Guide to Lateral Thinking Skills, The Innovative Leader and Lateral Thinking for Every Day. He speaks at conferences and facilitates workshops for corporate clients. He has over 25,000 students for his online courses on Udemy. He is a visiting lecturer at Cambridge University, Lancaster Business School, Henley Business School, and the Mumbai Institute of Technology. He is a recognized thought leader on innovation topics and has 38,000 followers on X. Corporate clients include: Airbus, AKQA, Bayer, Bertelsmann, Liverpool University Business School, Microsoft, Reckitt Benckiser, Glaxo Smith Kline, Nike, Novartis, Swarovski, and Unilever. His Tedx talk titled, \u201cAre You Open-Minded?\u201d on YouTube has over 180,000 views. Paul Sloane is a distinguished member of the CEOWORLD Magazine Executive Council. You may connect with him through LinkedIn or official website.","url":"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/author\/paul-sloane\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/259165","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6182"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=259165"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/259165\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":259185,"href":"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/259165\/revisions\/259185"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/259164"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=259165"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=259165"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ceoworld.biz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=259165"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}