“I’m bored…”
This is the chronic refrain of kids on summer break or a rainy day. A mother’s response is often: “Well, go clean your closet!” Without their usual routine—or the opportunity for outdoor play—children feel at a loss for something to do.
And I’m afraid adults are not so different. We need structure as well, and without it the day before us can seem endless. Who wants to admit to feeling bored, though? In a world where so many are so busy, and in a country where the Protestant work ethic still prevails, it seems almost shameful to have too much time on your hands.
But many of us find ourselves in that position. Maybe you’ve just retired and you miss the very same routine—getting up with an alarm and heading to the workplace—that you were so eager to be free of. Perhaps you’re a stay-at-home mother who lacks adult contact. (Sometimes boredom arises not so much from empty time as time without meaningful connections.) For whatever reason, you may have open spaces in your day that you don’t know how to fill.
So what’s the answer? There are as many responses to boredom as there are reasons for it—and they don’t necessarily involve cleaning out your closet. Your mom might have been on the right track with that suggestion, though. Tackling practical tasks is one obvious way to fill your time. These jobs are always available! Re-arranging that storage area, cleaning out those drawers, organizing your personal records can both fill your time and make life’s details more manageable.
If you find yourself with extra time on your hands, you might tackle projects you’ve been putting off. That bathroom has needed a new coat of paint for a long time. You’ve been meaning to re-plaster that water-damaged part of your ceiling for years. Now is the time to stop procrastinating—the project you’ve been putting off probably won’t take nearly as much time as you anticipate.
You can also put your free time to good use for others. Volunteer opportunities abound in most communities. Homebound seniors need a friendly visit, schools need lunchtime aides and playground supervisors, local organizations are looking for residents to lend their talents. Our communities need us just as much as we need involvement. Sometimes all we need is one task to organize the rest of our day around.
What about rediscovering that hobby you’ve put on the back burner? How about spending time with a friend who would appreciate your companionship? Filling time isn’t only about producing something; it’s also about being more fully ourselves.
But maybe the best antidote to boredom is the right attitude. If we expect life to keep us endlessly entertained, we’re bound to be disappointed. (This is what Mom was getting at when she suggested closet-cleaning!) Only we can decide how to fill our time in a way that satisfies. Maybe a place to start to is taking one day at a time. What can I do with today? What can I accomplish in these next eight hours? We don’t have to fill our entire retirement or 12 weeks of summer vacation at once. Find tasks and set goals for the day and the weeks may well take care of themselves.
I’d also suggest that we resist the notion that we must be frantically busy at all times. There’s nothing wrong with taking time to appreciate a sunset or ask someone how their day is going. We don’t always have to do; sometimes we simply need to be in the moment and watch life unfold.
Time is a precious commodity. It is the currency of life. If we’re lucky enough to have extra, we can find many uses for it. When we focus on making the here and now fulfilling, we are halfway to creating a future with meaning.
