How Constant Connectivity Affects Creativity in Photography

Issue 212 — Putting Down the Phone to Pick Up My Camera

Adobe Stock Image — At least they’re doomscrolling outside 🙄

I recently stumbled across a 2014 study from the University of Central Lancashire that really caught my attention. It found that being bored can actually boost creativity. In the experiment, people who first did a dull, mindless task (like copying numbers from a phone book for 15 minutes) ended up performing better on a follow-up creative challenge than those who hadn’t been bored first. The idea is that boredom gives our mind a chance to wander and daydream – and in that mental downtime, our brains can hatch fresh ideas.

One of the researchers, Dr. Sandi Mann, put it perfectly: “Boredom... has always been seen as something to be eliminated, but perhaps we should be embracing it in order to enhance our creativity.” That line really stuck with me. It made me realize how seldom I let myself be bored these days. Instead of daydreaming or simply observing the world, I tend to fill every idle moment with my phone.

For instance, more than once I’ve found myself sitting on the sofa, doomscrolling on my phone (mindlessly scrolling through endless news and social media feeds) on days when the light outside was absolutely perfect. In the past, a day like that would have had me out hiking to a scenic overlook or sitting by the lake with my camera, taking advantage of the beautiful golden-hour light. Lately, those spontaneous photo adventures have been hijacked by the endless scroll of online content. I’d get sucked into reading one bad news story after another, or comparing posts on Instagram, until the sun had long set and I’d missed that magic window for photography.

So what changed? Like many people, I fell into the doomscrolling habit. And it turns out this habit isn't just a harmless distraction – it can actively dampen our mood and motivation. Research is now confirming what I’ve felt in myself: consuming a constant stream of negative news and updates can make us feel more anxious and even depressed. In one recent study, people who consumed more negative content online ended up feeling worse, and then (in a vicious cycle) sought out even more negative news afterwards. That was a wake-up call. No wonder I often feel drained and uninspired after an hour of doomscrolling – it’s sapping the mental energy I could be using for creative pursuits, such as photography.

Reading about all this was a bit of an “aha” moment for me. I realized I have a choice: those perfect sunset moments and inspiring hikes will keep slipping away if I don’t make a change. Inspired by that reminder of how valuable a little boredom can be, I decided to break the cycle and be more intentional about unplugging. I want to reclaim some of that aimless, technology-free time – not just for my own mental well-being, but to get my creative spark back and start capturing photos the way I used to.

Making Time to Unplug

It’s easier said than done to put the phone down, but I’ve been taking a few concrete steps to carve out tech-free, creative time. Here are a few changes I’m trying, in case you’re feeling the same way:

• Schedule creative outings: I now block off time on my calendar for photography walks or hikes, treating them like important appointments. By setting aside, say, Saturday morning for a photo hike (and actually putting it on my schedule), I make sure a scrolling session doesn’t accidentally eat up that prime outdoor time.

• No-phone times: I’ve designated certain parts of the day as phone-free zones – for me, that’s early mornings and the hour before bed. During these periods, I let myself do anything but check my phone. Sometimes I just sit with a cup of coffee and let my mind wander (and often it wanders to new photo ideas). Other times, I might read a photography book or jot down creative notes. I find that giving my brain this break from constant input makes me feel more refreshed and imaginative.

• Leave the phone behind: When I head out specifically to shoot landscapes or sunsets, I’ve started leaving my phone at home or in the car. If I do need it for safety, I’ll keep it on airplane mode in my camera bag. Removing the temptation of notifications allows me to fully immerse myself in the experience of being outdoors and focus on photography. It’s amazing how much more I notice when I’m not periodically checking a screen.

• Swap in a different activity: I’m also trying to catch myself when I’m about to mindlessly scroll, and do something else instead. For example, if I come home from work and feel the urge to flop on the couch and thumb through my phone, I’ll grab my camera and take a few fun shots around the house or backyard instead. Or I’ll take a short walk without my phone. Even just a few minutes spent doing something active or creative beats ten minutes of doomscrolling for clearing my head.

None of these changes are easy at first (I’ll admit, I still slip up and get lost on TikTok or Instagram from time to time). But each time I successfully unplug, I notice the difference. My mind feels clearer, and I often return from my little phone-free ventures with a new idea or renewed enthusiasm to take photos. I’m slowly retraining myself to embrace a bit of boredom and quiet again, and it’s directly feeding my creativity, just like that study suggested.

In my opinion, our smartphones and endless feeds will always be there, aggressively vying for our attention. But the moments – that perfect sunrise, the mist over the lake, the way the light hits the trees in autumn – those won’t wait around. I don’t want to miss them because I was busy reading some outrage-inducing headlines or chasing the bottom of an infinite feed. So I’m making a promise to myself to put down the phone a little more often and be present. After all, a notification can wait, but the sunset won’t. And in that quiet moment when I’m watching the sun dip down, camera in hand, I remember exactly why it’s so important to unplug once in a while.

Sources

• ScienceDaily – "Being bored at work can make us more creative" (British Psychological Society, 2013)

• Edutopia – "Bored? Good, You’ll Be More Creative" (A. Ramirez, 2014)

• The Independent – "‘Doom scrolling’ on your phone makes you depressed, new study finds" (A. Stavrou, 2024)

• University Hospitals – "Doomscrolling: Breaking the Habit" (C. Batt, MD, 2024)

Thank you for reading. I hope you’re having a great week!