Is it raining or snowing? Or do you feel like you've already done everything there is to do, at home and away? Boredom, sooner or later, affects everyone. In some cases it is better to accept it, while on other occasions it is an opportunity to have fun or to complete some task. Either way, the secret to beating it is to change things up with something new.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Be Productive
Step 1. Run errands
Even when there is no urgency, a short visit to the supermarket can greatly alleviate your boredom. Studies show that the time you spend walking is more exciting than the time wasted waiting for something. If you could do something productive by going out, so much the better, but either way it will be more fun than staying at home doing nothing.
Step 2. Make work a game
Try turning errands and other household chores into games. Award yourself points for each completed task and reward yourself with a night out or a new toy when you've earned enough points. Try to set a kitchen cleaning speed record. Record your best times and try to beat your own record!
Step 3. Write a blog
Sharing your thoughts with the world today is easier than ever. Spend your free time writing and processing your thoughts. If people like what you write, you can even start selling advertising space to make some extra cash, or make your name known as an expert on a topic.
- If you have strong opinions on politics, food or culture, try writing articles on these topics. Otherwise, you can post stories or just express your feelings.
- There are websites that offer compensation for writing short articles.
Step 4. Make your opinion known
Many websites allow you to earn money (often small amounts) by answering questions. Examples include SurveyMonkey, SurveySpot, My Survey, Lightspeed Consumer Panel, Pinecone Research, Opinion OutPost, MyPoints, Springboard America, and Toluna. This is a way to spend your free time and earn some extra cash.
Step 5. Test the apps
Computer programs contain bugs. To find all the bugs and flaws in applications, developers are often willing to pay people to use them. Websites such as User Testing, WatusersDo, Enroll and YouEye offer compensation to those who use the programs to be tested. This isn't big, but it's one of the easiest ways to make money if you have some free time.
Step 6. Free your mind
Meditation may not seem like the most exciting activity, but it can improve concentration by alleviating the anxiety that often accompanies boredom. Try meditating for at least 20 minutes a day to increase focus and clarity.
To meditate, close your eyes and clear your mind. Focus on an image, word or phrase. Think about that thing and whenever your mind starts wandering, bring your attention back to the item you have chosen
Method 2 of 3: Wasting Time
Step 1. Scribble
Drawing can be fun, even when you don't do it with a lot of effort. Also, contrary to what one might think, scribbling helps us focus on the other activities we are doing. This heightened state of focus makes everything we do more interesting, whether it's at work or watching television.
Step 2. Listen to some music you don't know
Focusing on something artistic is a good way to keep boredom away. In general, all the novelties help to have fun. So, try an internet radio show that plays songs you've never heard of. Alternatively, look for classical music pieces you've heard of but have never heard.
Step 3. Get your hands dirty in the kitchen
Try making a cake or other complex recipe you've never cooked before. This is a great opportunity to learn a new skill and occupy your time. If that's not enough, at the end of your efforts you'll have a good treat to try - or at least a fun story to tell.
Step 4. Treat yourself to an ultra-luxurious bath
Especially when it's cold outside, a hot bath can turn a moment of relaxation into an occasion for fun. Try to heat the water up to about 33 ° C. Turn off the lights and light some candles to create a nice atmosphere. Put some music on and pour some oils into the tub to give the water a pleasant aroma.
Step 5. Browse the internet
Today it is very easy to fight boredom, because on the internet you can find endless activities to do. Read news sites, visit social networks, or find fun apps and games. Be careful, though: prolonged use of the internet reduces your attention span, making the whole world around you less interesting.
Step 6. Read a book
At one time, reading was one of the few pastimes our ancestors had available. Even today it is a fun activity; it requires more attention than using the internet and therefore helps you stay more focused. You will meet interesting characters and eventually you may learn something about people, stories and languages.
Consider practicing what you learn by writing. As you read, take breaks to take notes, write short stories, or think about the text. This allows you to read with more active participation
Method 3 of 3: Think of Boredom from a Different Perspective
Step 1. Try something new
When faced with the choice between eating candy and receiving an electric shock, bored people have been shown to prefer electrocution. Regardless of whether a feeling is positive or negative, a new experience better fights the boredom of something we are used to. In other words, you should be adventurous: do something you wouldn't normally do or visit a place you don't know, even if it's activities you don't like.
To take a decisive step in this direction, surround yourself with interesting people. You can choose adventure companions who are fun, or who like to try new things and invite you to join them
Step 2. Give up your dreams
One of the most common solutions to boredom is daydreaming. Scientific evidence, however, suggests that this activity only makes things worse. As our minds begin to wander to exotic places, we begin to think that what we have in real life isn't quite as satisfying, even when things aren't that bad.
Step 3. Eliminate disturbing sounds
Studies have shown that background noises that we can barely hear have a major effect on the subconscious. Without us noticing, they distract us from our core activities, making them seem more boring than they are. Turn off distant televisions or radios that may be distracting. If the problem is more difficult to correct - if the wind or a leaking faucet is making noise, for example - try moving.
Step 4. Accept boredom
In our high-tech world, we are often over-stimulated and boredom is a rare phenomenon. Some people feel it should be seen as an opportunity to think deeper than we normally do. That said, we all experience this condition differently and some people experience boredom episodes that are much more annoying than others. You should decide for yourself whether you can use boredom to escape the distractions of the internet age.
