Self-help hacks: Surviving Boredom
Boredom can be enjoyable.
Yeah, I said what I said; Boredom can be creatively enjoyed, too. Stay with me.
Okay, if you are reading this, then you experienced the 2020 lockdown and you know what boredom feels like.
It’s no news that every day the world goes further down the path of ‘aromatic geogyuasm’. Relax, those words were made up by my mum. She used them whenever she wanted to describe an intense state of pandemonium or disarray, and I like how it sounds.
Whether you work a 9-5, run your business, or are a freelancer, you’ll encounter boredom.
Introverts and those who are used to working from home may not find it so challenging, but for your mental health, here are some activities to engage in (on a budget or FREE) to help with boredom and live a productive life.
Book clubbing
I enjoy reading, but I also know not everyone does. Here’s the thing: Books enrich our lives in many ways. They can help you unwind and recharge, provide strength and encouragement during difficult times, and provoke feelings of empathy, anger, delight, and curiosity.
Rather than stay on your phone wasting time on irrelevant conversations on social media, you can join an online book club or start your squad, connect with readers of like mind, and expand your understanding of what literature has to offer. Here’s a list of some online book clubs and their links;
Book Baristas — https://bit.ly/3cL58Sq
The social book club — https://bit.ly/2zqisx6
Poppy loves book club — https://bit.ly/3eR18l9
Two books I just finished reading and recommend are The Way of a Superior Man by David Deida and My Name Is Maame by Jessica George.
Guess what? Hard copy books are quite cheap to buy, too, once you pick an interest. You can also send me a message for book recommendations and their respective PDFs. Lazolia Buzuzi has some amazing recommendations, too.
Video editing
Editing videos may sound complex and boring, but there are some cool apps you can learn with that are very mobile-friendly. There’s CapCut, Inshot, Videoleap, Filmmaker Pro, and others.
The hack: Create and film content you like, and editing will be just as enjoyable as shooting. I can’t wait to share my first LEGO video with you all.
Pottery and Painting
This one is so good. I used to think you needed to be a pro to do pottery until I indulged. You can buy some clay, watch videos, and play around with it, and you’ll be amazed at how many amazing things you create.
Remember, you are made in God’s image and crafted with Godly pottery skills. Don’t let your heavenly father down now. Just kidding, but try it and share your thoughts with me.
Fitness Challenges
Running through the city with my woes…this was last year’s half-marathon, and I thoroughly enjoyed it and will go again this year.
You don’t need to be looking for a particular body type to feel the amazing effects and nourishment of physical fitness. The best thing about it is that you can practice it anywhere. If you’ve got ten minutes and just a bit of space, you can easily turn to Instagram for both inspiration and live-stream yoga and fitness classes.
Lowkey, sometimes I work out at almost midnight just because I can’t sleep. Don’t judge me.
Arts and Creative Interactions
I call them creative interactions and not merely hobbies anymore because if you zoom out a bit, you’ll realize how you’re interacting with the seemingly mundane things like painting, building blocks, or solving puzzles can help you manage your mental health better.
Your inner child doesn’t die when you become an adult; don’t kill them with constant adulting.
Online courses
There are quite a few good online courses available for free, and you don’t have to take a course because of a job application or for certifications only. You can take short courses that introduce you to different concepts, and you’ll be shocked at which niche you find yourself dabbling in. See some good resources below:
50 courses in one — Udemy
Coursera (Mostly Free) —Free Courses
Google skills — Skill Shop
E-learning college — Online Learning
IBM — https://ibm.co/2Y5e54N
There are many other courses for your enrichment on the above websites.
Commune with God
We all believe in something, someone, or a higher power. It’s quite understandable to have a scientific explanation for the recent global happenings, as well as the confusion and panic that comes along. However, if you believe in a “God” or the “afterlife”, now is a great time to get closer to God and strengthen your chances of making heaven in the end.
Spending quality time praying and studying God’sword is a necessity for every believer in these trying times. And honestly, some of the best moments you’ll spend in your life are when you’re talking to God.
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
There are several reading and study plans to guide you in consistent, enriching Bible study. See;
Olive Tree Bible App,
Prayer Guide,
Daily Bread,
Daily Manner.
My dear, friendly reader, boredom will come, but you can turn that dull moment into something that fuels your drive to keep surviving to live a fulfilling life.
I need to see the Lego movie and I need to see the pottery. I have wanted to do something stop motion with Legos and I would love to see what you created.
I appreciate these suggestions - they are mind enriching or mind freeing...which have become rarer and rarer in the ways we consume and operate.
There is a place, time and value to brainlessly checking out and moving into autopilot but for this to be the norm does not promote progress nor personal change. And is a choice to remain stagnant (nothing wrong with this but be intentional with the choices you make).
These activities you suggested are either forcing interaction or freeing your mind to wander - both of which are hugely beneficial to progress and creativity, respectively.
And, to your point, a creatively filled mind is a mind that will never be bored. A mind that is working on something new or learning can never be bored.
In 2026, with an internet connection and an able mind, you should truly never be bored - throw in a bit of motivation and you will never stop progressing.