How to Beat Boredom?

Question

When I come home after work, it usually happens: I get bored. I keep asking myself "What should I do next?". It's hard to think that this is a "privilege of a free mind" and I know this is a first-world problem, but it doesn't help with the fact that feel bored. I'm not really satisfied with the situation. I'm not stressed, nor depressed &mdash; just bored. Any help?Thanks, fellows!!!

muzani · Accepted Answer

I think it's really about being passive. If you're passive, nothing can hook you. Everything (anything?) is enjoyable when it's an active activity.
Books should not be downloading content to your brain. They should be more of a conversation. TV is only fun when you're asking questions back - that's why things like anime, drama, and Marvel movies have such dedicated fandoms.
There's the Pirsig's brick principle. To quote a site: https://www.thestrategyexchange.co.uk/2014/05/pirsigs-brick/
"There’s a point in Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance where the author, Robert Pirsig, is describing semi-autobiographically his experience teaching English ('Rhetoric') at a college in Bozeman, Montana. One of his students, a clever but unimaginative girl, has set herself the task of writing an essay on the US. Pirsig gently suggests that she try narrowing her focus a little, perhaps to an essay about Bozeman.
A few days later the girl is back, quite upset this time, because she’s struggling to get started, and she can’t understand why she should be able to write about a small and incidental town like Bozeman when she’d wanted to write about the US.
Pirsig, angered, tells her to write about a street in Bozeman, about one building there – the opera house – and to start with the upper left hand brick.
Puzzled she goes away, and a few days later turns in a lengthy and outstanding piece of work. She had sat herself in a coffee shop across the street, started writing about the brick, and it was like taking a cork out of a bottle. She couldn't stop writing."

antoineMoPa · Answer

Some suggestions that can add up to fill every minute of the day:
- Learn to play an instrument.
- Make a side project.
- Read a book a month.
- Plan a trip to somewhere.
- Hang out with friends/family.
- Go run outside.
- Work out.
- Cook some really nice food.
- Imagine what you could achieve for the world in 10 years and try to work towards that slowly.
Most importantly, don't get stuck in you cellphone screen for any time at all.

trumbitta2 · Answer

Have a kid, forget what boredom is

hyperman1 · Answer

I get bored when I have too much to do, and none of it seems fun. Procrastination boredom if you want. My solution is to do anything small on my to list just to get started. Hardes thing for me was noticing this.

ethnologica · Answer

I love this question! I especially like that you point out to not being stressed or depressed.How cool is it at a time where no one seems to have time and is depressed and stressed to experience boredom? Boredom sounds 90s, a time in which people practiced humanity! The world lays at your feet. Be active - draw, read books, go out, taste red wine, be creative, do photography, learn photoshop, play an instrument, get involved in an intense relationship with a friend, listen to classic music really loud, go an adventures and enjoy it. And enjoy boredom!

downerending · Answer

Can't really recommend it, but I never feel bored when I drink.Some philosopher(s) noted that boredom and terror are the two basic states of consciousness. I try to find useful distractions.

collyw · Answer

Do a ten day Vipassana meditation retreat. You will want to meditate any time you are bored afterwards.
https://www.dhamma.org/en/index
It was actually a post on HN that inspired me to do one: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16842040

brador · Answer

Social or physical are the only things that will help. Home shower eat then straight out the door for sport, gym, run, meet-up, funtimes, discussion groups, board game night, whatever.
Your body and mind want to stretch and flex. Not sit in another box.
Get outside.

yashvanth · Answer

Ah, boredom! This sure is a first world problem, I was there until a couple of weeks ago. Until I got into reading and meditation which has kept me busy for now. Give it a try!Hope this helps, let me know what else you try, might help me too!

raveenb · Answer

Build a small aquarium and learn to care for the fish. No more than 10 fish. It's almost a zen exercise.
Boredom is good, its very hard to get bored these days with so many things needlessly wanting our attention.
But definitely try the aquarium.

romain_o · Answer

Boredom is usually a good thing. You can use this time to meditate and just let your mind wonder. I love it. Doing nothing is much harder than doing something actually.

quickthrower2 · Answer

Maybe try some meetups? Do a new one each week. Some techie, some social, some fitness oriented.

totaldude87 · Answer

Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time - Marthe Troly-Curtin

mousadafousa · Answer

I highly suggest listening to Sam Harris's take on this subject.Here's an (entertaining) 2-minute video summarizing his cure for boredom: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-175C95uGE

kleer001 · Answer

Get a hobby.

cvaidya1986 · Answer

make something

How to Beat Boredom?

Have a kid, forget what boredom is

I get bored when I have too much to do, and none of it seems fun. Procrastination boredom if you want. My solution is to do anything small on my to list just to get started. Hardes thing for me was noticing this.

Can't really recommend it, but I never feel bored when I drink.
Some philosopher(s) noted that boredom and terror are the two basic states of consciousness. I try to find useful distractions.

Do a ten day Vipassana meditation retreat. You will want to meditate any time you are bored afterwards.
https://www.dhamma.org/en/index
It was actually a post on HN that inspired me to do one: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16842040

Social or physical are the only things that will help. Home shower eat then straight out the door for sport, gym, run, meet-up, funtimes, discussion groups, board game night, whatever.
Your body and mind want to stretch and flex. Not sit in another box.
Get outside.

Ah, boredom! This sure is a first world problem, I was there until a couple of weeks ago. Until I got into reading and meditation which has kept me busy for now. Give it a try!
Hope this helps, let me know what else you try, might help me too!

Build a small aquarium and learn to care for the fish. No more than 10 fish. It's almost a zen exercise.
Boredom is good, its very hard to get bored these days with so many things needlessly wanting our attention.
But definitely try the aquarium.

Boredom is usually a good thing. You can use this time to meditate and just let your mind wonder. I love it. Doing nothing is much harder than doing something actually.

Maybe try some meetups? Do a new one each week. Some techie, some social, some fitness oriented.

Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time - Marthe Troly-Curtin

I highly suggest listening to Sam Harris's take on this subject.
Here's an (entertaining) 2-minute video summarizing his cure for boredom: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-175C95uGE

Get a hobby.

make something

How to Beat Boredom?

Have a kid, forget what boredom is

I get bored when I have too much to do, and none of it seems fun. Procrastination boredom if you want. My solution is to do anything small on my to list just to get started. Hardes thing for me was noticing this.

Can't really recommend it, but I never feel bored when I drink.Some philosopher(s) noted that boredom and terror are the two basic states of consciousness. I try to find useful distractions.

Do a ten day Vipassana meditation retreat. You will want to meditate any time you are bored afterwards.https://www.dhamma.org/en/indexIt was actually a post on HN that inspired me to do one: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16842040

Social or physical are the only things that will help. Home shower eat then straight out the door for sport, gym, run, meet-up, funtimes, discussion groups, board game night, whatever.Your body and mind want to stretch and flex. Not sit in another box.Get outside.

Ah, boredom! This sure is a first world problem, I was there until a couple of weeks ago. Until I got into reading and meditation which has kept me busy for now. Give it a try!Hope this helps, let me know what else you try, might help me too!

Build a small aquarium and learn to care for the fish. No more than 10 fish. It's almost a zen exercise.Boredom is good, its very hard to get bored these days with so many things needlessly wanting our attention.But definitely try the aquarium.

Boredom is usually a good thing. You can use this time to meditate and just let your mind wonder. I love it. Doing nothing is much harder than doing something actually.

Maybe try some meetups? Do a new one each week. Some techie, some social, some fitness oriented.

Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time - Marthe Troly-Curtin

I highly suggest listening to Sam Harris's take on this subject.Here's an (entertaining) 2-minute video summarizing his cure for boredom: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-175C95uGE

Get a hobby.

make something

Can't really recommend it, but I never feel bored when I drink.
Some philosopher(s) noted that boredom and terror are the two basic states of consciousness. I try to find useful distractions.

Do a ten day Vipassana meditation retreat. You will want to meditate any time you are bored afterwards.
https://www.dhamma.org/en/index
It was actually a post on HN that inspired me to do one: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16842040

Social or physical are the only things that will help. Home shower eat then straight out the door for sport, gym, run, meet-up, funtimes, discussion groups, board game night, whatever.
Your body and mind want to stretch and flex. Not sit in another box.
Get outside.

Ah, boredom! This sure is a first world problem, I was there until a couple of weeks ago. Until I got into reading and meditation which has kept me busy for now. Give it a try!
Hope this helps, let me know what else you try, might help me too!

Build a small aquarium and learn to care for the fish. No more than 10 fish. It's almost a zen exercise.
Boredom is good, its very hard to get bored these days with so many things needlessly wanting our attention.
But definitely try the aquarium.

I highly suggest listening to Sam Harris's take on this subject.
Here's an (entertaining) 2-minute video summarizing his cure for boredom: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-175C95uGE