Everybody happens to say, “I’m bored!” It is an inevitable condition for anyone in their lifetime and, admittedly, it is not the most pleasant. Why is it so boring, and why can’t we find something that interests us?
Boredom is a familiar feeling, and feeling dissatisfied with, or disinterested inactivity can lead to boredom. It can occur when we feel energetic, but we have nowhere to direct our energy.
It can also happen when we have difficulty concentrating on a task. Boredom is a common problem among children and adolescents. In some cases, they may complain of boredom when they do not feel comfortable focusing on their thoughts or feelings.
What are the Symptoms of Boredom?
1. Boredom is marked by a feeling of “emptiness” and a sense of frustration with this emptiness. When we get bored, we may have limited attention and lack interest in what is happening around us. We may feel sluggish, tired, nervous, or irritated.
2. Boredom can be defined in terms of attention: it occurs when we cannot attract attention with internal or external information (thoughts and feelings and, respectively, environmental stimuli) necessary to participate in a satisfying activity.
3. In one study (Eastwood et al., 2007), 200 students completed questionnaires about their susceptibility to boredom and their emotions and answered questions about describing feelings and external concentration. Students who said they had suffered from more boredom focused more on the outside and reported difficulties identifying their emotions.
What Causes Boredom?
According to psychologist Laura Maria Cojocaru, president and founder of the Institute for Somato-Integrative Linguistic Neuro-Programming (INLPSI), people identify and experience boredom in slightly different ways. This can be caused by:
- Rest or inadequate nutrition
- Low level of mental stimulation
- Lack of choice or control over daily activities
- Lack of diversified recreational interests
- Loss of interest
- Fear of making mistakes
- Repeating movement for too long
The specialist believes that almost everyone experiences boredom from time to time.
Some age groups may experience this condition more often, and it is the case of adolescents, who, although they have more freedom to choose what to do with their time, still learn about themselves and their interests. When you don’t know precisely where, when and what to focus on, you may experience boredom.
The Difference Between Boredom and Depression
“Boredom is a normal response to some situations. However, although there are no tests to diagnose boredom, if it lasts for long periods or occurs frequently, it can be a sign of depression.
The symptoms of boredom and depression are sometimes similar. A psychotherapist can help you distinguish between boredom and depression and get the necessary treatment and treatment. There is no specific treatment for boredom unless it involves depression “, says Laura-Maria Cojocaru.
Parents have several solutions to prevent boredom, especially among children and adolescents.
1. Keep track of the circumstances in which your child gets bored. Remember the time of day, the place, and the activities that precede the condition so that you can avoid these circumstances or prepare for possible boredom in the future.
2. Make routine tasks more interesting by adding a unique element.
3. Combine several repetitive tasks so that they can be performed together.
4. Divide the larger tasks into smaller ones and plan breaks or rewards at key stages.
5. Create a to-do list when you get bored.
