Seven Steps To Cure Boredom

Boredom has a function! It reveals that you feel you have consumed all that is interesting, rewarding and pleasurable around you.  It also invites you to seek novelty. Here are some strategies that can help you cope with boredom:

If you’re unsure if you are bored, or how bored you are there is a link at the bottom for a questionnaire measuring your relationship with boredom.

Coping With Boredom

A common way for people to cope with boredom is to turn to addictive behaviors. They take a drink, smoke a cigarette, or seek thrills such as watching salacious materials on T.V. or the Internet.All know addictions involve a sense of being out of control. We think we are wasting our lives and damaging valued relationships. The great news is turning boredom into deeper self knowledge is a skill you can learn and develop with practice. You will notice that self observation and awareness play important role:

1) Make three lists, one about the things you enjoyed doing in the past, one about what you enjoy now in the present and a third about what you might enjoy in the future.  Review these each day and record how your reactions to them change. Choose three items from these lists everyday and do.

2) Make another list.  This time it is going to be about the topics of interest you would want to ponder about in your mind. When you are bored switch voluntarily to daydreaming; so you take a planned “time out” from a boring activity by engaging in a short period of reverie before returning to the task. You might daydream about winning an Olympic medal or becoming a Hollywood star (if you are not already one of course:), a trip around the world, or skills you want to acquire in your lifetime.

3) Take steps to implement some of the items in this list, but once again record how your reactions to items change.

4) Get out and meet with people in real life. Of course, if you’re living in a cave or on an oil rig this may not be possible. Limit the amount of time you spend on Internet. Although in can help in the short run, using social media can be addictive and is no substitute for genuine friendships.

5) Engage in the practice of sports or being fan of sports. Focus on hobbies you feel attracted to, such as skating, drawing, pottery, photography, puzzles or watching movies. Spend time in appreciating nature for inspiration.

6) Read for fun.

7) Keep a diary in which you write your dreams, ideas, the events of your days even the boring ones. Record your aspirations and emotions. If you like, create a blog, or vlog, and share yourself with the world.

Take The Questionnaire To See How Bored You Are

Check out how prone you are to being bored? Take the questionnaire here.