Boredom

Did you ever do the “boredom whine” when you were a kid? You know. “I’m so bored. There’s nothing to do-o-o.” Did your mom offer to help you find a chore to ease your boredom? That used to get me outside pretty quickly! When I was growing up, we dealt with lack of stimulation by going outside to look for other kids to play with. We also read books, or daydreamed, or used our imagination to create art, games, and endless activities. I don’t recall that we ever put on the circus we were forever planning, but I spent at least one whole summer with the Smith girls ransacking their basement for props and practicing our acts. Boredom — an unsatisfied search for mental stimulation — is a great impetus for daydreaming and creativity.

I’ve been hearing from some that boredom has become a challenge lately. That’s not a surprise, given that we are living lives not of our own choosing. The lack of daily structure, the sameness of the days, and the loss of autonomy — from where we can go, to how close we can be to others, to what we need to wear on our face — can all contribute to a pervasive loss of interest in activities and an inability to concentrate on them. Aimlessness, emptiness, low energy, sluggishness, apathy, indecisiveness, passivity: these are some of the other descriptions I’ve heard. All suggest boredom, but all are also signs of low mood, which is certainly understandable now. “Boredom” may simply be the familiar word we choose when we’re beset by low mood, loneliness, or the heightened stress of these times.

Whatever the case, in these challenging times, any of us may find that we struggle with a lack of interest or enthusiasm, an inability to think of what we want to do, or a shortage of curiosity, creativity, and imagination. We may feel stuck.

If you’ve felt stuck in this way, here are some suggestions:
  • Get outside. Fresh air and new surroundings can help clear the mind, while deeper breathing will increase oxygen to the brain and can help slow racing thoughts. Just taking a leisurely walk can allow us to do the free associating and daydreaming that can bring new options to us. Creativity needs an opportunity to unwind in its own time, and unstructured time outdoors can be a good vehicle for that.
  • Stop, look, and listen. Remember what you were taught about crossing a street? It’s a good tool all the time. Especially when you’re feeling disoriented or bored. Just stay still. Look around you intently. And listen for the layers of sound that you will hear. How long has it been since you’ve studied the shapes of clouds to see what animals are there? Or really watched bees, birds, or squirrels at work? Or bent down to examine a rock, a flower, or a beetle lumbering along?
  • Vary your routine. Even if it’s something small. Brush your teeth with the other hand, comb your hair a new way (as most of us are having to do these days!), sleep on the other side of your bed, eat your morning meal for dinner, or take your usual walk in the reverse direction. Just making change can spark some curiosity.
  • Try something new. Again, this can be small. Slip into an online exercise class you’ve not tried before. Make a new recipe, or make a familiar food in a new way, even if it’s just with different spices. Are you a coffee drinker? Try putting a bit of salt in the coffee grounds before you brew it. We did that yesterday, and the surprising result was as promised (thanks again, Joel!).
  • Learn something new. There are so many options now for free online and televised classes. A single class is all you need. OPB is offering K-12 educational programming from 7am to 7pm every weekday, along with all its usual shows about nature, travel, arts, culture, history, and more. OMSI is still hosting online Science Pubs on all sorts of interesting topics: Science Pub Calendar  If you’re able to concentrate on reading, pick up a magazine or book. You may only have to read a page or two to learn at least one new thing.
  • Connect with others. There is some evidence now that too much video-conferencing can be stress inducing. And if your work has switched to that format, you may have had that experience yourself. But regular telephone calls with friends and loved ones can help us to feel more engaged. Would it help you to have some calls scheduled in advance? That could lend some structure to your day and give you something pleasant to anticipate. Don’t forget the value of other forms of connecting, too. Greeting strangers from a safe distance or talking with neighbors across the driveway remind us that we are not alone, and give our mood a lift.
  • Give yourself permission to take a mental break. You’ve heard of "guilty pleasures"? What does that even mean? “Guilt” implies some kind of misbehavior. Who’s to say that reading a movie magazine instead of a classic novel, or watching old sit-coms, or soaking in a bath in the middle of the day isn’t okay? Give yourself permission to do the seemingly trivial things that make you feel better. We all have narrower bandwidth these days, and concentration is harder for most people right now. Taking mental health time for yourself — whatever that looks like— is not only okay, it’s a healthy choice.
  • Exercise. Getting into our body gets us out of our head. And here again, try something new. If you’re a runner, try taking a relaxed walk. If you’re a bicyclist, maybe you can hike somewhere, or try an online yoga class. Have you done any You Tube dance classes yet? Here’s one I did yesterday instead of my usual walk, and it was a lot of fun. Bafana Matea I couldn’t do every move with my artificial knees, but it’s easy to improvise something else here and there. And that’s a two-fer on its own, because the improvising requires spontaneous creativity that you don’t even have to think about.
  • Use a personal menu. This one takes a little advance work. When you’re feeling pretty calm and comfortable, make a list of things that you like to do for pleasure (such as playing with a pet, talking with friends, gardening, crafts, drinking tea, doing a puzzle, whatever). Make the list as long and varied as you can, and keep it handy. When you feel bored, choose something from the list and do it. Don’t have enough energy to choose? Close your eyes and let your finger drop onto the list to make your choice.
          (Photo credit: Susan Keyser)

Until tomorrow, take good care and stay healthy. And remember that a bit of boredom can be a good thing; take the chance to daydream. Happy May Day!

Love,
Nancie/Mom/Mimi/Grandma

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