Skip to main content

Boredom

I am well aware that I have had a lifelong issue with boredom. But it was the moment when I was making a word document on my computer, I only had two more things to add when boredom hit me, and I didn't want to finish. I was 2 minutes until done and I wanted to do something else. It was at that moment that I realized how often this happens to me. All too often, I have to be stern with myself and force myself to finish what I start. The only thing that will keep me focused to finish, is the fact I like things done, more than nearly done.   

Boredom is defined as the state of being weary and restless through lack of interest. For me I don't start out being weary and restless, I just end up that way. 

Some nights I will say to myself at bedtime, "I am going to do nothing tomorrow". Then I get up in the morning and think doing nothing is a waste of my life. Every day should hold something new and exciting. It is getting harder to lead a new and exciting life at my age, but the hunt is on.  

How do I deal with boredom? Well, I looked at my house, and it is set up in stations. Much like a kindergarten room. I have my knitting, my computer, my cards for solitaire. I am thinking I will set up a puzzle. I can lose myself in a puzzle, it is never boring. I never tire or find it boring to go on a drive to see new towns or countryside. 


Baking is often my go to for boredom. I never reach for one recipe when I am baking, I reach for at least 3. I am a very organized baker. I have a process, set the oven, pull out the mixer, blend the eggs, margarine, sugar. Put the parchment or grease the pans and add remaining ingredients to mixer and in a few minutes, it is in the oven. The most organized, but probably the messiest. If I plan to make bread or buns, I get the bread machine out the night before. It is not to save the 10 seconds in the morning; it is a reminder this is the first thing you will do when you get up!!!

Many people fear boredom in retirement and say it is why they don't retire. That was not an issue for me and still isn't. I am a master at offsetting boredom. I spend an incredible amount of time writing on my computer. I take on projects, organizing events is my favorite. I like to organize on paper and that works for me as I can be a very detail orientated. Bored people struggle with control issue. I have learned that I don't have to control every situation, unless, no one is controlling it, or it gets out of control, and needs to be controlled, and then I can help. Bored people are efficient, because they know that they need to get it done before boredom sets in and they want to bail. 

I am selective in what I want to do. Even though you would think I would do anything to not get bored, that is not the case. Cleaning for instance is boring, and I have to force myself to do it. My cleaning standards are poor, but my neat standards remain high. 

It is paramount that bored people have something to look forward to. When I ask a person, "what are you going to do today?" and the answer is, "I don't know". I am dumbfounded. Clearly, they didn't lay awake at night processing what they were going to do the next day. 

I had a long conversation at lunch with a friend about being bored. I believe there are so many of us out there that struggle with it. I am sure those of you that are like me, are shaking your head with agreement. Those that don't struggle with boredom, you are relieved you don't. The one thing to appreciate about being a person that bores easily, you get lots done and are rarely boring to be around. 




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Easter Baking

Easter is a holiday that is steeped with tradition and reflection. It holds a different meaning for each of us. Every Easter I reflect on how it was when I was a kid, way back in the dark ages, and how everything has changed so much. For many families it is a time to come together to celebrate the traditions that are meaningful to them.  Easter is a sacred time for Christians as they celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ . Easter is known as a  time for rebirth, hope and new beginnings.                                      I doubt anyone has a family memory that can trump the "Dixon Family Egg Hunt". My Dad was one of 10 children in his family. They were never all at home at the same time, but there were probably at least 6 or 7 kids on the egg hunt each year. Their dear mother would dye 14 dozen eggs with no food coloring. All I know is beets make red eggs. Dad would speak of h...
2 comments
Read more

Unbelievable

  I am feeling very lighthearted as I write this post. What you are about to read is a collection of what we could call, "first world problems". It is going to unfold just like my conversations with my bestie, jumping from one topic to another at warp speed with absolutely no connection to the previous topic.  There are just an unbelievable number of perplexing things in life.  For instance, how can a dryer ball simply disappear. Lost forever in your home, never be to be seen again. Or, how can you have a grocery list in front of you yet miss the very thing you went to the grocery store to get. The only answer to those questions is, "because".  I would be amiss if I didn't use this time to speak of the unbelievable January weather. I often describe the weather as bipolar and this January the weather went right off its medication. When the weather is off its meds, it goes up and down the thermometer like a maniac.  At least when it is extremely cold you don't...
2 comments
Read more

Traffic

I recently drove south of Brandon at 10:00 AM. I was in no hurry and that was a good thing because I got behind a vehicle going 60 kms in an 80 kms speed zone. As we doodled along a big truck pulls right up behind me. I was hopeful he knew I was not the cause for the speed reduction. Shortly, the slow-moving vehicle turns, and I am now the lead car. I quickly arrived at the speed limit and perhaps even above. For others it must have looked like I was towing the truck behind me, he was so close. I was closing in on another set of vehicles going slow and I knew the truck behind me was not going to be happy. In a blink of an eye, out he goes to pass me, there is oncoming traffic so close I was slowing down to let him in. He's not done; he guns it and passes the car ahead of me as well. He then swoops in between that car and a semi. Now the semi appears to be pulling him he is right behind him. Thankfully, we finally hit the passing lane, and the truck is gone like a rocket. I hope the...
2 comments
Read more