This post is a follow-up to: “If you’re bored, you’re boring.”

—

The cause of boredom is often a result of not having a clear idea of what to do or having the motivation to do it.

The key to overcoming boredom is taking action.

Children will often sit in a room with a computer, games, and books, and say, “I’m bored.”

This is not a result of lack of things to do, it’s a result of not having any motivation to take advantage of any of the immediately obvious options. And this is often because it feels as if everything that can be done with the available options has already been done.

• I’ve already played that game.
• I’ve already read that book.
• I’ve already used the computer and visited my favorite web sites.

Anything that you do over and over without reward (such as learning something new) feels repetitive and is no longer challenging. Or if it is challenging — such as in the case of a difficult video game — it is no longer challenging in a “fun” way. It becomes more of a source of frustration — so it is not an option.

The trick to overcoming boredom to be engaged in something — and to generally have a purpose (goal) in doing so. It doesn’t matter if that purpose is to learn something, overcome a challenge, or simply be entertained.

Here are some suggestions to overcome boredom…

MAKE A LIST

One can do a lot with a pen and a piece of paper — even if it is only to create a list. It could be a list of anything, really — so long as it takes some effort putting together.

For example, you could put together a list of:

• Things that one could do to overcome boredom. That seems like it would be a pretty useful list
• Things that you’d like to do when you have the time or resources.
• Places you’d like to travel to and things you’d like to do when you get there.
• Goals you’d like to accomplish in the next year.
• Skills you’d like to learn within the next five years.
• Possible pets you’d like to have and fitting names that go with them.
• Books you’d like to read.
• Movies you’d like to watch.
• Things you’d like to do if you won the lottery and purchases you’d make.
• Things you’d like to learn more about.

Creating lists can be creative, helpful, time consuming, and engaging — and they can also create the motivation necessary to leap from creating lists to actually doing something on a list.

DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT(LY)

Another trick to overcoming boredom is to simply do something in a completely different way — perhaps even creating a personal challenge or game out of it. This can be doing something you’ve already done, but in a different way (such as playing a game on a different difficulty level), or it can involve trying something completely new.

For example: How well can you write your name with your non-writing hand? How about writing something longer? How about writing upside down? How about drawing?

This may seem like a silly suggestion — or the sort of thing that only works once — but that’s the point. It’s something new, relatively simple to do, but difficult to immediately excel at.

And there are a million things just like this that one can do to fill time.

LEARN SOMETHING

It is absolutely mind-boggling how many things we could learn that would improve our lives, but we choose not to. It isn’t just about learning about famous dates and places. It’s about learning tricks to help make living life easier — TODAY.

I suggest visiting sites like:

• Lifehacker
• Lifetips
• Or just doing a google search for others

STIMULATE YOUR MIND

All of the above options stimulate your mind — and that’s one of the keys. Here are some other things you can do:

• Listen to your favorite music. If that’s not easy to do because it’s separate, use the time to make a playlist.
• Organize your life. Could be your room. Your car. Your music. Your files. Anything. Not only will it engage your brain, it will result in doing something positive.

In the end, boredom is really a choice. If you don’t want to feel bored, then remove it as an option. There’s always something you can do. And yes, it really is that simple.