Being Bored is CRAZY: 3 Effective Ways to Stop It


Boredom is common, and yet unnatural. Boredom comes from feeling that you should, or could, be doing something other than what you are doing right now. In other words, boredom is a resistance to engage in what is around you for the sake of a fantasy. If you think about it, that’s crazy. So, stop being bored, and stop acting crazy. Here are 3 ways to do it.

Pay attention to what is going on around you

Anywhere that you are, at any time, there are things happening around you. They may not be the things that you would like to be happening, but they are there. Even if you are in the middle of a desert, there are things that are happening —that perhaps you SHOULD be paying attention to— like snakes and scorpions trying to crawl up your a…. Would you be bored in this situation? Doubtful. Guess what, neither will you be bored if you are paying attention to what’s going on around you wherever you are. Even if its not as urgent, the environment around you is full of stimulating things —colors, people, shapes, traffic, storefronts…— if you are open to see them; if you choose to be where you are, instead of wishing to be somewhere else, doing something else.

Move

Instead of sitting around THINKING about how bored you are, why don’t you get up and do something? Anything. Open your door, step out, and start walking, get in your car and start driving, get on your bike and start riding. That’s right, without any specific plan, without an appointment, just go. Something will grab your attention. It’s impossible to be bored while you are engaged in movement, why? Because you have to pay attention to what you are doing, and that paying attention will take you away from boredom. So if you are bored, start moving and let your mind get engaged in something other than ruminating.

Call Somebody

Dig into your contacts. Read through your contacts —literally read them one by one. You will come across contacts for people that you haven’t been in touch with for a while. Call them. Ask them what they have been up to. Ask them to get together and catch up. You never know where the conversations can go from there. At best you may renew friendships that lead to new social activities, in the worst case, you had a nice chat with old friends that took you out of your boredom.

These are 3 simple ways to not be bored. Of course, for some people being bored —and complaining about it— is a kind of hobby, and a way to make others responsible for entertaining them. If that is your thing, disregard this article. I really believe that people have a right to their favorite amusement, even if it’s crazy.