Boredom Explored
Someone I know recently made the statement that they were bored. At first I thought, what? Why? Then I started by looking internally, externally, and without judging I tried wrapping my head around the boredom issue.
First I thought, does daydreaming qualify as boredom? I came to the conclusion that it did. Daydreaming does tend to be a way of relieving boredom. Sort of like us fooling our mind into thinking that it is actually occupied at doing something. A quick internet search by me soon revealed that bored people also tend to overeat. Wow I thought, there must really be allot of bored people in America.
Earlier today it was hot, as it usually is this time of year in Baja. I got up, I walked to the nearby hotels infinity pool, I swam for some exercise, I got out of the water, dried off and now here I am. I think and I write. No contact with anyone else except maybe a waiter who tried to give me an early start at drinking. Drinking? A second way people tend to fool the mind into thinking its doing something. And while you’re having that drink then how about some chips and salsa. Eating? A third way.
Ones energy level has allot to do with it. The energy level we possess needs to go someplace.
Were you ever bored as a kid playing with toys? NO. For those that didn’t have those store bought wood, plastic or things with lots of pieces then you invented them. Isn’t it amazing how kids can DIY their own homemade toys?
A cardboard box can easily turn itself into a house, a spaceship, or a race car. A paper towel tube can be an explorer’s telescope or binoculars with toilet paper tubes and tape.
As an adult do you have toys now?
Ahhhhhahhhh! Maybe lack of toys = boredom. I blame it on the demise of the home workshop where tools, spare or broken things would go to get fixed.
Or, maybe you have the wrong toys or you are missing pieces to those toys or ? Maybe we have too many toys?
Boredom to me all originates with the moving parts; if we are moving, our bodies are happy. Happy bodies = not bored.
If you are reading and enjoying a book you keep reading till you get bored. If you are like me and on Kindle, you are probably reading more than one book at a time. If one book gets boring then you can easily switch to another book.
The problem I see is when you have internet problems. Boredom happens when you are unable to change the situation. You want to open, purchase, or even open that new book but, you can’t get it to upload. Am I now bored or frustrated?
What ever happened to shopping to relieve boredom? Say what; you’ve got no money to spend. Then go waste some gas. Take a car ride anywhere? Or be like Ethel and drop in on Lucy. Or visit or call a friend. Or join a group. Or going outside and look for something out-of-place in the yard, boat, car, motorcycle?
Change your environment and you change your boredom situation. That’s why travel is so popular. Are you now less or more bored? If less bored, then repeat the process.
Those that served time in the military can easily relate to the statement “hurry up and wait”. Today, we just reach down, grab that smart phone and quickly zone out. Back then? Maybe tell a joke or two, push, shove, play grab ass with one another or just engage in conversation about cars, girls, beer, or most anything mechanical.
Be productive. Be in the zone! If all else fails then take a nap. Nothing around you is happening so, go, get moving and make it happen.
Bored. Go for a walk or a run. Don’t think about it. Move.
Dog is never bored, dog is either taking a nap, eating, drinking or looking for an excuse to go out on a walk.
Too many toys and not enough time to play with them, may not yet be such a bad thing.
Finally, here is how i see it. Plan ahead. By planning ahead I mean try to keep looking to the future as to what new and exciting things you are going to do next.
Strive to be adventurous and develop a let’s try something new sort of attitude. Just don’t buy a boat, you’ll really never be bored.
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