Yawning While Reading Contracts? It’s Not Boredom — It’s Biology
Reading boring contracts require a lot of energy which sometimes get drained and cause yawning in the midway.
CONSTRUCTION BLOGS
Yawning? Is it really boring?
You know, I am in a profession where reading is a mandatory requirement. If I don’t read, I can’t connect the missing links or develop case studies to find solutions. For some people, it may sound easy, but those who have practiced it know how many yawns it takes to completely read a document.
Let me first tell you about myself. I am Minhal Haider, a professional civil engineer putting in serious effort to succeed in contract management. I chose this profession despite previously experiencing the harsh realities of site management, where I physically built structures. Later, I prayed and searched for a more comfortable life and was fortunate enough to get an opportunity in this field.
Because I understood construction in depth, I quickly grasped the basic requirements of this profession and worked earnestly to learn contract fundamentals. However, the more effort I put into learning new aspects of construction contracts, the more I encountered the biggest enemy of this profession: yawning.
Press enter or click to view image in full size
Yawning is natural!
Sometimes I wonder whether it’s just me or if everyone in this profession experiences it. But how could I confirm it? I can’t exactly ask fellow contract managers whether they yawn while reading contracts. Still, my curiosity didn’t end there.
I decided to conduct an experiment to find the reason, and guess who the test subject was? It was me.
I began reading contracts while closely observing what was happening inside my body and mind. What I discovered was fascinating. Whenever I tried to learn something randomly, without urgency or a problem to solve, my brain treated it as a boring book with no objective, and I began to yawn.
Secondly, contract books are not like stories filled with engaging visuals or narratives. They are books of rules, regulations, procedures, responsibilities, and penalties, things that may happen or may not happen. Reading such dry material is naturally boring. My brain seemed to question why I was putting so much effort into something that hadn’t happened yet and might not even happen in the future.
Contract documents are boring
At one point, I developed the belief that contract management is indeed one of the most boring professions in the construction sector. However, due to its relatively comfortable nature, mostly office or site-office based, people still dare to adopt it. My intention was never comfort alone; I genuinely wanted to grow and make a name in this field.
So, I started studying experiences and books to find a solution to this enemy that shut my eyes every time I committed to reading a 300-page contract in a single day. Most of the time, I failed or ended up with headaches. My quest to grow continued, but I had no clear answers.
One day, while watching a cricket match, a slow-moving Test match, the cameraman focused on a fielder standing at the boundary. He was yawning. The camera moved away, but my mind stayed there.
Even the sportsman yawns at the field!
I thought: this man is standing on the field while the game is live. He doesn’t know when the ball will come to him, yet even that uncertainty and urgency couldn’t stop him from yawning. How was that possible?
I replayed the scene repeatedly in my mind and tried to relate it to my own situation. Eventually, I arrived at a possible answer. The fielder had been standing there for a long time, watching repetitive actions. Fortunately, or unfortunately, the batsman wasn’t hitting much, so the fielder didn’t need to move. His brain couldn’t find a purpose in standing there anymore, so it slowed down and signaled boredom.
I applied this theory to my profession.
Why do I yawn when reading contracts?
The answer was the same.
Just like the fielder, contract professionals are always “standing ready,” holding books to protect their organizations from contractual setbacks. Like a fielder waiting for the ball, a contract manager must always stay prepared for any situation. They must read documents repeatedly to achieve maximum understanding.
However, when real cases don’t come and the professional is only reading and waiting, boredom sets in. The brain signals the lack of action by slowing down, resulting in yawning. It’s the brain’s way of saying: “I need action.”
I need action!
This explanation seemed logical and universal. Just ask lawyers why they actively seek cases. They know that sitting and reading alone won’t keep their brains functioning at full capacity. Real cases create urgency, forcing them to read legal books with wide-open eyes in search of solutions.
I have seen many posts on how to read contract documents, and they are useful in their own way. But very few address the biological and psychological factors behind reading fatigue. Yawning is not misbehavior; it’s a natural signal from the brain that it needs action to stay active.
If you ignore this signal and keep forcing yourself, your brain won’t function effectively and may even cause mental strain or inflammation. The brain is like a machine; when there is friction, you add oil. If you don’t, it overheats. Similarly, when your brain signals boredom through yawning, don’t force it. Introduce purposeful action.
Our brain is not made for stagnation. It is designed to absorb new ideas, environments, and people. It needs logic, movement, and purpose. Ignoring this need may lead to long-term mental fatigue or trouble.
The brain needs new experiences to function properly
So, for contract professionals, here is what I have learned to overcome this issue. Since cases don’t come daily, boredom and frustration are natural. The best solution is to diversify your mental activity.
Along with reading contracts:
Read financial or economic news, it gives your brain numbers and logic.
Read professional development books to introduce new ideas.
Play sports that require quick decision-making.
Engage in creative activities like YouTube, blogging, or e-commerce.
Always balance contract reading with some form of action.
You will notice a drastic difference within a few days.
Contracts may be boring, but they carry immense responsibility. Without a proper strategy to work in this field, you will always feel stuck or drained. So keep yourself in motion, and avoid the next inevitable moment of “yawning.”