Overcoming The Pangs Of BOREDOM

Have you ever lost interest over something and wished something more interesting and exciting comes to your rescue there and then?  That is exactly how one feels when trapped  in the bowels of boredom. 

It is not unusual to see someone wearing a look devoid of a pleasant expression attributing the cause of his/her displeasure to boredom.  ‘I AM BORED” has become a popular statement people use in evincing frustration when they feel they’ve got nothing tangible doing in such moment.

Subsequent researches have postulated that boredom is often time associated with attention lapses, depression and loneliness that can be linked to a diverse range of psychological problems and distress.

 It is a condition when the environment is perceived to be dull, tedious  and bereft of interesting activities. This can be as a result of too much leisure, engaging in monotonous/strenuous activities and lack of aesthetic interest. 

Blaise Pascal, a French inventor and catholic Philosopher discusses the human condition of boredom when he stated thus “we seek rest in a struggle against some obstacles and when we overcome them, rest proves unbearable because of   boredom it produces”.

  

Walter Benjamin, a German Author describes boredom as “the feeling that everything is a waste of time”. Although, boredom has not been extensively studied, various researchers suggest that it is one of the major factors that affect a person psychologically. Whenever you find yourself in a boring situation, it is of no use brooding over it as that can easily cause depression. There are better ways it can be managed and controlled effectively:

    Avoid procrastination- Boredom is easily caused by lack of direction/purpose and postponement of activities. It is advisable to plan one’s daily routine promptly and be time conscious. One should also be self disciplined in time management. With that, you become the boss of your time and have something relevant doing every hour of the day.

 Socialisation- Loneliness and lack of social activities are common factors that also lead to boredom. When in such situations, it is expedient to visit friends and places of interest. You can also surf the  internet and interact with people online who share your interests and are also able to expand your knowledge range and ideas.

    Learn something new- Sometimes, all you need is mental stimulation. You might be tired of doing the same monotonous activities  daily. Try doing something different for a change. It could be reading books, watching movies, practicing new artistic skills you think you might enjoy, writing etc. make sure it’s something that would get your  mind enlightened and able to divert your attention from thoughts of boredom.

    Take a walk- To avoid being in a prolonged state of boredom, taking a walk could just be the perfect solution. It is a good way of enriching the mind. It can also be made more interesting when done with a companion or more.

   Get enough rest and exercise-Regular exercise and proper rest relieves the body of stress and refreshes the mind. Taking a nap is also a good way of preventing boredom.

     MEDITATION- This implies reflecting deeply and thinking thoroughly  about something. It helps in arriving at a solution to problems and arriving at good decisions. Meditating is a good way of getting the mind busy and is useful in controlling boredom.

  Life is full of so many interesting things and every moment of it can be made interesting and relevant if we choose to. There is no use doing nothing when much can be done. Make good use of every moment in a personally fulfilling way and you will always be glad for it.