“I’m so bored.”
Many of us have either heard this lament, or uttered it ourselves, in different situations. Some of those situations include sitting in a class covering a topic in which we’re not particularly interested or waiting, for a movie or sporting event to begin or for a plane to take off or land. Dr. John Eastwood of York University defines boredom as, “an aversive state of wanting, but being unable, to engage in satisfying activity.” Boredom can manifest as feeling frustrated, anxious, or angry, as well as create negative actions, such as overeating or substance abuse.
Boredom itself stems from several conditions. The first of these conditions is one’s energy level. Having a high level of energy but nothing to which to devote that energy can result in feelings of boredom. A second condition is difficulty focusing attention due to the environment. If there is too much stimuli in the environment, or not enough stimuli, one’s mind may jump from one thing to another in an effort to focus. The more the mind wanders, the more one may feel bored because there is the recognition that this daydreaming is the mind’s effort to occupy itself. A third condition is control. Feelings of boredom are more likely to occur when one feels little control over a situation. Sitting in a classroom or waiting in line are often places where one has limited control in changing the situation. This feeling of lack of control can cause anxiety and/or frustration and long-term, can create negative feelings regarding those things that have become the object of one’s boredom, thus leading to impaired performance in future activities, such as paying attention in class and working memory capacity.
So, what can one do to alleviate boredom, particularly in those situations when one has limited control? Recognizing and understanding the reasons for boredom can allow one to refocus attention. Meditation exercises can help regulate and/or lower energy levels, which can help one feel less bored. Listening to music, if the environment and/or situation allows for it, can help filter out distractions in the environment, as well as have a positive influence on mood.
