How do you deal with boredom?

Long days feeling lethargic, no desire to do anything and then feeling bored that I’m not doing anything. It’s paradoxical- I hope this is just a passing phase.

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I play videogames or listen audiobooks when I’m bored. Just have to get started.

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Working out has helped me a lot since I stopped drinking. It gives me something to break the boredom and then afterwards I’m usually motivated to do something else productive instead of just sit around.

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I try to make my boredom work for me so,clean house,walk,movie,bath,chat on phone,puzzle,yoga, meditation,shouting at the :cat2: lol :rofl: JOKE anything to pass that time the devil makes work for idol hands as the saying goes.butvsayingbthat sometimes it’s ok to just sit and be boared it really is a personal preference .

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Set a goal. A Big Hairy Audacious Goal. Work towards that goal. Mine is earning a Black Belt in Krav Maga. I’m about a year or so away. I started right after my 52nd birthday, two years ago. I train pretty much every day in the garage dojo I built to support my goal. Before lockdown, I attended Krav Maga and Muay Thai classes 4-5 time a week. During lockdown I kept up with Zoom classes 3 times a week. In person classes have resumed.

I will attend a 4 day advance Krav Maga camp next month.

I read about martial arts, self-defense, watch combat sports. I’ve made great friendships, got in fantastic shape, and learned positive ways to deal with stress, anxiety, anger, and frustration.

Maybe it’s not for you. Maybe cycling a century, or a ballroom dancing contest, or a marathon. Maybe it’s learning a new language and taking a trip to a new place. Maybe it’s writing and publishing a novel. Maybe it’s earning a degree.

Whatever it is, pick one, and get after it! You won’t have time to be bored.

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Find a passion and throw yourself at it. I shoot competitively. I am either competing, practicing, reloading ammunition, or casting bullets.

I try to cool from scratch as much as possible. I dont watch much TV, to keep informed…I read a lot.

I need to find something… I’ve cycled a few centuries and run a marathon but I’ve let myself go in the last few years due to drinking. I need a new goal to get myself back in shape.

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Maybe the path back to cycling or running is what you need

meditate. why is your mind restless.

Exercise helps me a lot. It serves as a daily thing to check off my list and it really keeps me from slipping into depression and anxiety or the desire to have a drink. I also feel more motivated after to do other hobbies or chores and stay active.

I also think it’s ok to be bored. In our culture we tend to think we have to “do” something. But sometimes nothing is ok. We can just feel the space of our mind and lives and not need to fill it up. Sitting with boredom can take time though, so be gentle with yourself. Meditation practice can help with this process.

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Great ideas and advice about activities because our brains hate not doing something. Repeat from another post I made but I want to offer a way of thinking about boredom that takes some of the teeth out it, maybe. Bit long, apologies:

I read a really interesting thing about the importance of boredom. Our brains crave activity and the discomfort of boredom, if you lean into it rather than trying to numb it, can lead the mind to really neat and inventive places. When we were kids it was easy to access the imagination, harder as adults but still possible. Many grand achievements in science, math, literature, etc were the direct result of boredom. Im no genius so I was happy to learn that I didn’t have to invent something to make peace with boredom, lol. No one is required to create in order to be valuable and worthwhile, just an extreme example of how positive boredom can be if you let it sit for a while and don’t let the discomfort define the moment.

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I’m never bored because I’m always chasing one thing or another that I’m passionate about. Passion doesn’t leave room for boredom. The rare occasion I find myself experiencing boredom, it’s because I’ve been neglecting my passions to the point where they become dormant. At that point, they need a combination of inspiration and a decent length of warming up, before they’re burning bright again.

Your mileage may vary, this is just how my own mind seems to work.

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I find it extremely hard to deal with boredom. I’m bipolar and borderline, so focusing on reading or watching a movie is quite hard on these early sober days (day 16). I walk and run every day, but after those I can’t find anything to do. I either sleep or stare the ceiling in my bed. Before I filled my days with drinking and smoking pot and watching movies/series, but now I have to face the reality and myself sober and that’s terrifying. I feel this boredom ends up on relapse and I’m pretty worried about it.

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Gym. Gym. And more gym

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Thanks, but I’m not interested of gym. I’ve tried it before, but it ain’t for me. Maybe I just take more long walks everyday to raise endorphins and beat the boredom.

Yep. That’ll work.

I mention gym b/c it puts you around people. Weight resistance training is such a great tool in the sober toolbox.

Get out of your comfort zone you know?

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Yeah, you’re right. I do push-ups and and abs at home, but I find it hard to be amongst people and crowd. But I’m sure it will get easier as I gain more sober days. Now I try to read a little bit.