Boredom is the devil's playground

[humble soul]

Because we start to entertain negative thoughts.
We need focus in our lives. Positive focus.

 

[humble soul]

In our modern era we avoid boredom at all costs. Look at a doctors waiting room. See them all using their phones.

 

[humble soul]

How do you avoid boredom? Sometimes our distractions arent fulfilling. So we need new distractions?

 

[Luminous_Rose]

Reminds me of a funny statement my husband made, "There's no such thing as boredom, just under-stimulation. It's not bad." lol. I suppose in a sense that's right...we have a need to keep our brains stimulated.

Your post reminds me of something. I was sitting and thinking about what life was like before the smart phone took over, before the internet was in the majority of homes. I could recall sitting in my room, staring at the wall and actually thinking about things - reflecting on life, thinking about goals, daydreaming about what I wish would happen, etc.

In more recent years, I'm guilty of keeping my mind busy and distracted with the phone screen. If I'm just sitting, it's like it's hard to just sit - I need to be looking at something, reading a news article, checking my messages. I can't believe how many times I reach for my phone each day even when there are no notifications.

I have my own rules, no cell phone at the dinner table, no cell phone when I'm with the kids at the park, no cell phone in the grocery store with the kids, etc. I don't let my kids use screens in the car (unless we have a road trip that's 1 hour or longer), I don't let them look at a screen while at the grocery store, I don't let them look at a screen while waiting for their food in a restaurant. Screens are for at home and after getting sick, I'm seeing the need to put some more screen restrictions/time limits in place. Kids enjoy the screens like we tend to.

I remember being in a kid's museum in the city and there was a dad trying to get mom to look at their children playing and she was staring at the screen, ignoring him. He finally said, "I am so sick and tired of this! You do this every time! Why?! You can't help but stare at that phone! Our kids aren't going to be young forever! Watch them play! Enjoy them!" I was sitting there like in my mind thinking, "Go dad!" It's sad he had to say that, though, because she may not even realize how much she's doing that, but hopefully the wake up call was there.

I have done a few of my own experiments, though. I put my phone on a bookshelf or somewhere inconspicuous that I will remember, but don't always look. If I get a message, I made a rule to walk over there, and I could only stand there until I responded and put it back. I didn't allow myself to walk around the house with my phone unless I had to while on an actual phone call. I was on my cell phone like 80% less than usual after doing that. It's hard for me to do that these days because I keep forgetting my phone and for my safety need it nearby, but the temptation is great, too.

I got an old school phone without wiFi, took bad they hardly want to work with towers anymore. I was also on the phone much less when I couldn't browse the net.

It's good to not have a distraction, good to sit and just think and reflect on life...when did we have the need to always be doing something? It's harming us and our kids - if we don't learn how to deal with being "bored", especially our kids then when they're older there will be problems. It's good to get out in nature, too.

 

[humble soul]

It's good to not have a distraction, good to sit and just think and reflect on life...when did we have the need to always be doing something? It's harming us and our kids - if we don't learn how to deal with being "bored", especially our kids then when they're older there will be problems. It's good to get out in nature, too.

Interesting post luminous. Thanks for sharing. I like some of the ideas you have about limiting use and combating screen addiction.
These days I can't watch tv without using my phone. That's terrible. Actually I can't focus on one thing for long, if it doesn't hold my attention. I can't concentrate. I don't have patience.
So the modern world encourages us to be impatient. With our gadgets. It's not healthy. I need to become patient again.

 

[Tessa]

Because we start to entertain negative thoughts.
We need focus in our lives. Positive focus.

It's good to have hobbies. I think you like reading Humble? That can make time pass quickly.
When the kids were kids I used to try and get them interested in sports, nature, making things, crafts etc.
It's harder when you get older because your body won't let you do a lot of things.

 

[Christ_empowered]

'idle hands are the devil's plaything'

i have that saying, looping in my mind, at times. ugh. no way to work, very limited volunteer opportunities (its odd...so much -obvious- need in this community, not a lot of places to volunteer...), and....yeah. yeah.

"I feel your pain." LOL. not really, but....kinda sorta.

 

[for_his_glory]

My biggest problem with boredom is that since we moved to a new State I have no friends here to talk to or do things with. We are staying with a friend of ours until we find our own place, but I need woman time away from the house. Most of my time is spent in here and after supper I play computer games to keep my mind occupied. Once the weather warms up then I will venture out and explore our new area. Not really much to do here though and most of the tourist places are closed due to Covid.

 

[Luminous_Rose]

Interesting post luminous. Thanks for sharing. I like some of the ideas you have about limiting use and combating screen addiction.
These days I can't watch tv without using my phone. That's terrible. Actually I can't focus on one thing for long, if it doesn't hold my attention. I can't concentrate. I don't have patience.
So the modern world encourages us to be impatient. With our gadgets. It's not healthy. I need to become patient again.

It seems to be a struggle for many of us today, but definitely a thing that's good to overcome, too.