A Small Selection of Memes to Stave Off the Boredom

Ally Perry • Writer and Editor

Aug 30, 2026 7:45 PM EDT

In the world we live in today, boredom is very much a choice.

Once upon a time, people didn't have a choice but to be bored every so often, left alone with nothing but the annoyance of their own thoughts and the vain hope that something might come along and entertain them for just a few moments. Drudgery was the default, and any old silly thing could be capable of adding back the fun that was sorely missing from their existence.

Nowadays, of course, things could not be more different. We are not simply surrounded by constant novelty, but we also expect to be constantly entertained by the little court jester in our pockets that is the internet as experienced through our phones. Perhaps the only factor that has stayed the same is that we are still capable of finding stupid, substance-less distractions funny, but arguably, even the bar for that has been raised for those who have spent long enough enjoying the world of memes. We know we can try to demand better, but it isn't necessarily going to be promised to us.

There are some upsides to boredom, as most people's parents probably told them at some point when they were growing up. You can emerge with some pretty great or at least practical ideas when left to your own devices. However, you can also do that while enjoying a barrage of ridiculous content that is designed to capture your attention span for as long as possible. It is simply an opportunity that feels impossible to pass up, being so readily available and amusing.