Wake up, work, home, dinner, sleep, repeat. Sound familiar to anyone? If not, please share your secret with the rest of us, but for most this represents a pretty typical day. And let’s be honest; it gets boring, and worse, exhausting.
Boredom doesn’t cultivate creativity or fulfillment, making it hard to have the motivation to accomplish the days’ simplest tasks, much less personal endeavors. I’m a creature of habit myself, and there is certainly something to be said for the reliability of a constant schedule, but there comes a point when you need something to spark passion again–something new to invest in or something old to revisit.
The idea behind beating boredom isn’t, in fact, to pile on responsibility. I tried that route, and believe me, don’t go there unless you want a full-on sob session and a never-ending headache. The idea is to use the free-time you already have to escape from daily responsibility and invest in yourself.
So, after one too many weeks of boring daily life swamped in work, I decided that it was time to make some changes and game plan a path back to being the actively engaged, creative, busy bee that I am. As busy as so many of us are, I’m sure I’m not alone in this, so through trial and error, here are five ways I spiced up my days.
5 Most Effective Ways to Beat Boredom
1. Learn Something New
Leave boring days behind by learning something new! I’m a big advocate for hobbies. Everyone needs a little “me” time no matter how crazy life gets. Hobbies allow us to decompress and let go of daily stresses while developing our sense of self and promoting personal growth. Taking on a new hobby wakes up the brain and gives it an unfamiliar task, in turn making you feel more productive and eager to take on the obstacles ahead.
2. Switch Up Your Routine
Boring days aren’t so boring if you break the cycle. Take a new route to work, stop into a different coffee shop for your morning cup of joe, or rediscover the town or city you’re living in by getting involved in community events like 5Ks, farmers markets, or the latest museum exhibit. Adding a new, non-disruptive element into your daily schedule breaks up the monotony that makes days blend together. Boredom cured!
3. Set a long-term goal
Have something big in mind that you just haven’t had time to tackle? Now’s the time, my friends. Breaking up a long-term goal into manageable weekly or daily tasks gives you a project to dive into during your free time and mini-victories along the way. You will constantly be learning more about the task at hand and also about yourself, keeping the brain stimulated and actively engaged.
4. Join a Club or Committee
Are you a passionate gardener? Quilter? Cook? Join a club to surround yourself with like-minded people who broaden your understanding of a common interest. Being in a structured group keeps you accountable to the other members, making it more difficult to back out of showing up at a meeting. Not to mention that club meetings often times include cookies and social gatherings. That looks like a win-win to me.
5. Read More
This is especially true for my creatives out there. Reading, whether it’s fiction, non-fiction, or what-have-you, removes you from real life for a short period and allows you to go on adventures, have a better understanding of the world around you, learn more about yourself, or get whisked away into your favorite historical era. It places you in a story that is not your own, which gives you a break from the day at hand. The more I read, the more naturally other creative endeavors come. Try subscribing to your favorite magazine or newspaper for a cheap way to indulge, not to mention the excitement of opening up your mailbox to see it waiting there for you.
These are, of course, very broad strokes. Take a minute to consider how any of these categories can apply to your daily life. Don’t try to tackle all of these ideas at once or make too big of changes too quickly. Stay true to you and your family’s daily lifestyle while making mindful decisions as far as which area to tackle first to best benefit your life. Eventually, add in ways to keep your mind active and engaged, but start small. It’s all about the baby steps!
I can only hope that these ideas help you break the cycle of a boring routine. Have a trick up your sleeve that I didn’t list? How do you beat boredom in your daily life?
Also by Megan: 5 Ways to Have a Productive Day before Getting out of Bed
Related: 7 Ways to Become a Better Writer
25 Fun Ideas to Beat Workout Boredom
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