SO YOU’RE BORED?

I had originally planned to write this post quite a few months ago, back in May when everyone was under lockdown, and our lives were turned upside down. However, I instead decided to write a post called “Coping with COVID-19”. It included tips on how to deal with isolation and find gratitude in the mundaneness. At the time, I think the fact that our lives were so unpredictable was what made this post unnecessary. Everyone was wallowing in the fact that we could sleep-in, watch movies, and just chill. It was nice, quiet.

It is now December, eight months later, and it seems as though that “quiet” is starting to drive some of us crazy. For me, it’s so easy to be bored and unmotivated when school is on my computer, and everyone else seems to be caught-up in their own lives. Truthfully, I’m not sure if anyone else feels like they are climbing up the walls, but if you can relate, I figured this would be a great time to share some “boredom killers” from myself and some from my friends who I polled on Instagram.

1. Go to a coffee shop (indoor or outdoor), order your favorite drink, do some studying (or people watching)
2. Take an online course to learn something new (Skillshare is a great place to start)
3. Bike/walk/drive to a nearby beach or park and treat yourself to a picnic and/or go exploring!
4. Research and attend a COVID-friendly pop-up event or museum in your area
5. Go street combing in your neighborhood
6. Have a self-care/spa day and watch a funny movie
7. Get dressed for absolutely no reason and have a self-timer photoshoot
8. Try your hand at something creative (painting, photography, songwriting)
9. Go cloud watching or stargazing in your backyard
10. Go thrifting or to a local garage sale/flee market
11. Get moving (go for a swim, bike ride, walk, or do some yoga/stretching)
12. Go for a drive and listen to new music
13. Do some baking/try a new recipe
14. Organize (or decorate) your closet, room, house
15. Volunteer for a cause you are passionate about
16. Blast music and let yourself dance throughout the house
17. Go to a farmers market and buy yourself flowers
18. Wake up early to watch the sunrise
19. Write letters to people mail them
20. Write a letter to your past/future/current self
21. Spend a day unplugged (except to read this blog of course)
22. Go for a drive in a festive neighborhood to see Christmas lights
23. Sit by the fireplace and read a good book (here are some to start with)
24. Watch Sunday morning cartoons and eat breakfast
25. Sit with your own thoughts and journal
26. Watch a new movie or show on Netflix (Selena is next on my list)
27. Play video games with friends (or alone)
28. Facetime/call/text someone you haven’t spoken to in a while
29. Play games with your pet (if you have one)

I hope these ideas inspire you to get out of your rut and find new ways to beat boredom. At the end of the day, this too shall pass. There is going to come a day when we will all return to busy life as normal, so maybe we should take this time to appreciate having nothing to do. And, if you still find yourself wondering how to spend your free time, remember that you can always:

1. Learn tik tok dances
2. Take naps
3. Mindlessly scroll on social media (since we all do it anyways)
4. Do your chores (take out the trash, set the table, walk the dog, etc.)
5. Do your (home) work
6. Eat food!
7. Read Chocolate and Politics

Please leave me any more ideas you have to pass the time! I hope you enjoyed this silly little post and that you continue to have a great holiday season.

“The cure for boredom is curiosity” -Dorothy Parker

Happy Living!

Featured image by @tonny_tran on Unsplash.com