In a world of constant stimulation through TikTok videos, instant notifications and endless scrolling. Boredom has become something we actively avoid. But what if boredom was actually good for learning? What if, instead of filling every silent moment, tutors should embrace those pauses?

One of the biggest challenges students face today is the inability to sit with difficult problems. When something doesn’t make sense immediately, the instinct is often to give up or Google the answer. But deep learning happens in those moments of struggle, when the brain has time to process, connect ideas and problem-solve without an instant solution.

Tutoring provides a rare opportunity to reintroduce constructive boredom into education. When a tutor resists the urge to fill in the gaps too quickly and instead lets a student wrestle with a concept, something powerful happens, they start thinking for themselves. That slight discomfort of not knowing forces the brain to engage at a deeper level.

Neuroscience backs this up. Studies show that when the brain is given space, without constant input it starts forming stronger neural connections. This is why students often come up with solutions after a lesson ends, when they’re walking home or lying in bed. Their brain has finally had time to catch up.

So, how can tutors use boredom as a strategy? By introducing deliberate pauses, asking open-ended questions and resisting the urge to over-explain. A tutor’s role isn’t to provide all the answers but to create an environment where curiosity thrives.

In a world that moves too fast, maybe the greatest gift a tutor can give is the ability to slow down, sit with uncertainty and discover the joy of thinking for oneself.

Isabella Naumovski