How To Overcome Chronic Boredom

Do you often feel like you’re just not sure what to do with yourself? Like you’ve got all this time and energy but don’t know how to use it? It’s a frustrating feeling to have the freedom to choose what we want to do yet be uninterested in any of our options. It can be especially upsetting when we feel like we should be doing something productive with our time.

Boredom is a common feeling frequently experienced by children and adolescents who either lack control of their daily choices or are starting to learn how to make their own. Even adults experience boredom, which makes sense considering life is an ongoing journey of learning about ourselves and our interests.

Still, boredom that lasts for long periods – or chronic boredom – could signify depression or serious underlying factors. In this case, it’s important to understand why you are avoiding opportunities to engage in tasks or why you have trouble staying focused on them.

But no matter where your boredom stems from, it can contribute to a sense of emptiness and restlessness. If you find yourself feeling persistently bored, along with jittery, tired, or apathetic, it’s important to find healthier ways to spend the precious time on your hands.

Here are some tips for overcoming and preventing chronic boredom:

Modify your current routine tasks. Make the tasks and activities you’re currently doing more exciting or interesting by adding a new element to them. For example, listening to music as you work or cleaning the house.

A struggle to find motivation may or may not be at the roof of your chronic boredom. Still, adding more stimulation to your day can ultimately invigorate your mind. This may help you feel more excitement toward life in general, sparking some curiosity to see what else is out there or could be made more enjoyable.

Try habit stacking. Overcoming chronic boredom isn’t necessarily about building habits or achieving goals. Still, not doing anything will keep you from accomplishing what you’d like to deep down, even if you don’t always feel it.

Boredom is a state of disinterest in your surroundings, and habit stacking is one thing that can help you find a sense of amusement when life feels dull.

Habit stacking can help you gain and find more momentum throughout your day. All it requires is that you start with something simple, such as taking your daily lunch break. From there, you can add something encouraging, energizing, or simply enjoyable on top of it, such as going for a walk outside after you eat.

Maybe you start to enjoy walking so much that it leads to interest in exploring more natural surroundings, such as trails or gardens.

You never know when any of these activities you add on will catch on and help you discover something you’re interested in. Something that makes you want to move when you feel stuck.

Have a list of go-to activities. The next time you feel particularly lost on what to do or unmotivated to choose anything, you can refer to your ready-made list.

It doesn’t have to be anything overly challenging or stimulating, but it should be something that helps pull you out of a slump.

A few things you might put on this list include:

-Coloring

-Putting together a puzzle

-Taking a yoga break

-Going outside for a few breaths of fresh air

-Putting on headphones and listening to music or a podcast

If you’re not feeling capable of achieving or finishing anything, that’s okay! Set yourself a timer for these activities, and challenge yourself to do just that. You may feel disinterested in any or all of your choices now, but if you give it time, you might start to enjoy one or several more and more.

Try not to be frustrated with yourself if this all feels forced for a while. Everyone struggles to find the will or motivation to do things in life. They have their process, and right now, this is yours. The most important thing is to start because you can’t break free from boredom by staying where you are.

Meet yourself where you are. Chronic boredom is a persistent state where other emotions and feelings likely fuel your boredom. As you consider some of the above options for overcoming chronic boredom, remember that what you ultimately decide to do will often depend on how you feel at a given moment.

It’s okay to accept that you are not only confused about what to do but why you feel this way. Ruminating over being in a state of boredom and compounding it with feelings of guilt or self-blame will only make things worse. If you get caught in this cycle, try to practice some self-compassion.

Remember that Rome wasn’t built in a day – and it also wasn’t built singlehandedly. Be patient with yourself as you start making changes, and reach out for professional help if you’re struggling to start altogether.