When I was young I was never allowed to say “I’m bored”. My Mum would tell me there was plenty of chores for me to do! I grew up in a quiet area, but learned to never be bored. There is always something to engage or immerse yourself in, no matter how mundane life can seem. Today we are looking at what to do when you’re bored.
Watch a movie or TV show
Nowadays with access to streaming movies and TV sites, it’s easier than ever to watch really high quality movies and TV shows. I would recommend only a few hours a day though. Watching something passively with temporarily relieve your boredom, however it’s not really going to solve the problem. What you really want is some task that requires concentration and perhaps learning.
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What to do when you’re bored - practice something
A feeling of boredom could be interpreted as a feeling of unfulfilled potential. It’s a feeling that you should be getting more out of life, that things are happening too slowly. This can easily happen if you have a lot of spare time to idle away.
What you ought to do is fill in your free time with stimulating and challenging activities, that test yourself and help you grow as a person.
Something simple like learning to draw or play the piano can alleviate boredom. Make sure to approach the task seriously, and dedicate some time to it each day. This way it will be more fulfilling for you. Set yourself goals and watch as you improve to really beat boredom.
What to do when you’re bored - volunteering
If you are feeling bored and listless, perhaps you need to get out of the house more during your free time. Volunteering can be a fantastic way to meet people with a common interest. You are all there for a good cause, so you will find nice friendly vibes all around. Meeting people can then open whole new avenues for you in your life, and you might find that you become bored less and less.
Join a local club or society.
This doesn’t have to be sports related. It could be anything from a photography group, to a drama society or an art class. A regular meet up will help you meet people. It will also help you focus on something, so you can develop your interest in a structured manner. You may find you dedicate your free time outside the meeting or club to things like organizing or preparing for it. This will help you to get rid of that boredom you are feeling, and fill your life with activity and purpose.
What to do when you’re bored - exercise
Some running, swimming or cycling can be an amazing cure for the boredom blues. Try to fit some exercise in to your daily routine and see how it helps.
Exercise releases endorphin chemicals that help you feel good. After a good run, often the world seems like a better place, and you are motivated to have a good day.
Not only will exercise improve your outlook, but it also gives you something to focus on and improve. Watch as your abilities improve with daily practice. This is really rewarding and totally drives away the boredom. Plus you are doing your body a huge favor.
Be careful with high impact exercise like running however. Start off with small runs, until your body gets used to it. Also make sure you have the right footwear and very importantly have your feet checked out to see if your need any arch support before you begin. This can help you to avoid debilitating injuries.
Learn coding
Do your days seem to stretch out in front of you? A really great and rewarding way to fill in the time is to try a bit of coding. This is way more fun and satisfying than it sounds!
Nowadays there are countless online resources that can teach you to code. However, you want to find the ones that include real projects. Building something like a website or game with your computer is incredibly satisfying and fun.
I recommend trying MIT 6.00.1 X to learn Python, or CodeCamp to learn HTML5 and Javascript. After this you can find projects to do on GitHub.
Once you learn how to code, the possibilities for what you can do with your PC become endless. It really unlocks the power of the computer in front of you. And when your project works as you want it to, you’ll feel like a rock star!
Come up with a creative project
Pinterest is a great website to check out if you want to get inspired for a creative project such as painting, stitching, sewing etc. Making something of your own can be one of the most rewarding experiences in life. It’s sure to focus your attention and get rid of that dreaded ennui.
What to do when you’re bored - read!
Personally, this is how I love to fill in my free time. Reading opens whole new worlds to you. When I read a book, I’m looking for a writer that speaks to me, who has shared an experience or thought or feeling I have had. Often this is something I’ve never heard expressed in day to day life.
Reading can take persistence at first. It isn’t easy for all of us, and sometimes it may seem easier to just watch TV or browse the net.
However, the benefits of reading an excellent book far outweighs the initial effort in my opinion.
Reading is a habit like everything else, and if you dedicate a small amount of time to it each day, you will find that it soon becomes easy to read. Later it might become a compulsion. Reading is so relaxing and rewarding - I recommend it for anyone who is really bored.
Summary
Overall my advice if you are bored is to plan out your free time. Schedule regular time for a hobby or activity. Meet people through a common interest. Try to live a full life, and meet the potential you have. Boredom is a sign that there is more you can give and be, so use this feeling to spur you to do something amazing. I hope this helps.
Boredom won’t go away immediately, but once you begin to become immersed in your hobbies or pursuits, you will slowly forget this feeling.
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