Re-Examining Boredom: Why Boredom Isn’t as Bad as You Think

Boredom is something that people tend to avoid like the plague. This is why people are always looking for ways to escape boredom, which is why millions of people tend to scroll through useless websites on the internet. However, what if we told you that we’ve just been approaching boredom the wrong way.

To get to the bottom of this, we have to go back and re-examine how we look at boredom and that is exactly what we’ll be doing today. If this is something you’re interested in, read on as we discuss why boredom isn’t as bad as you think.

What Is Boredom?

Considering how often we feel boredom, I doubt many of us have actually taken the time to question what it really is. So what is boredom? Well, Psychology Today highlights that there are a few conditions that need to be met for boredom to occur. 

First, people need to have a reasonable level of psychological energy to be bored. People that are at a heightened state of psychological energy are looking for something to engage in but can’t find anything to do.

Second, boredom occurs when people are in a situation where it is difficult to focus due to the environment. The best example of this is when you’re waiting at an airport. While there are a slew of different things you can do, the environment makes it too difficult to commit to one activity. 

Lastly, control also plays a vital role when it comes to boredom. Boredom occurs when you don’t have control of the situation. Think about the last time you were stuck listening to a talk or lecture that you weren’t interested in. While you would normally choose to tune out and do something else, your inability to change the situation is what causes you to feel bored.

Why Do People Think Boredom Is Bad?

Now that we’ve broken down boredom, let’s try to figure out why people think it’s bad. Well, just like our other feelings such as sadness, fear, and happiness, there are theories that boredom is a survival instinct. The theory is that our ancestors couldn’t stay in one place for too long as it would make them vulnerable to predators. 

How Do You Do Boredom the Right Way?

With a better understanding of what boredom is and why we feel the way we do, is there a way to use boredom to our advantage? Well, the answer is a little more complicated than you may think.

If you’re asking if there’s a way to never feel bored again, then you’re out of luck. Boredom is just something that people feel and is a natural human function. However, a better understanding of boredom can and will help you make better use of your time whenever you are bored. 

Now, this doesn’t apply to all situations as sometimes tolerating boredom and just sitting still is necessary. However, if you find yourself sitting alone at home with nothing to do then you may want to re-evaluate how you’re spending your time. You can take this opportunity to try things you never thought you’d be interested in. Use boredom to your advantage and pick up new skills. Indeed, one of the best things to do when you’re bored is to learn something new. 

Conclusion

We hope this article has helped give you a better understanding of boredom. If there’s one thing that you take away from this article, let it be the knowledge that boredom isn’t always something that you have to dread. By learning how to embrace it, you put yourself in the best position to make most of the time that you have.

If you’re looking for more productive things to do when you’re bored, Bored A Lot has got you covered! We are a platform that is dedicated to helping users who are stuck at home and don’t know what to do with their free time. Browse through our pages to find fun websites, information, and other activities to do to cure your boredom!