Boredom is a funny thing. Well, maybe not a funny thing. It's too boring to be funny. The strange thing about boredom is that you can actually become so bored, you're not aware you're bored. That's when boredom takes over your life and you're officially in a rut.Years ago, I read an article by a professor who blamed boredom for every ill on the planet. He said bored people tend to drink more, eat more, take illegal drugs, commit more crimes and generally be crummy to the rest of the world. I lampooned his opinion in a newspaper column I was writing at the time. But I couldn't let the topic alone. Why? Because it struck too close to the core. I was officially in a rut.
Next month, the Journal of Epidemiology is going to publish research from the University College London that found that while boredom probably isn't a direct cause of death -- I mean how can you hurt yourself by essentially shrugging at the world? -- but it does, in fact, lead to bad habits that contribute to death. Researchers Annie Briton and Martin Shipley said bored people may be more prone to drink, smoke and use drugs. They may also have a psychological problem.
What they're saying sounds logical to me. I've been at my worst when my daily life was boring me to tears. It wasn't until I acknowledged the problem -- my addiction to boredom -- that I set out on a five step program to recovery. RuggedReviews.com is my shrine to the activities that led me out of boredom.
The basic recovery program entails:
- Admitting you have a problem. If everything seems so familiar and uninteresting that you're convinced you're living the same day over and over and you're not happy about it you're probably bored. Or, worse, in a rut.
- Seeking out new activities that stimulate you. Some people know from past experience what they truly like to do in life. They just lose touch with the activities somewhere along the way. Most of us, however, have to spend some time sampling different activities before we find the ones that appeal to us.
- Dedicating yourself to sticking with the activities -- as long as you like them. Few activities worth pursuing are mastered in a day. The very act of mastering a skill can wipe out boredom long before the payoff of mastery.
- Finding new activities if the current list begins to bore you. There is a seemingly endless list of activities that you can use to fill your day. Whenever the current list starts to bore you, seek out new activities.
- Never giving up. The minute you give up seeking ways to get out of a rut, you will officially be over the hill.
The list of activities that have made my life fulfilling includes traveling everywhere from remote deserts and mountains to the biggest cities in the world. Having a wide range of experience is very stimulating to me. I also enjoy sports as simple as running and weight training or as equipment intensive as kayaking and primitive camping. You'll also find me at home at some point every day working on my guitar, photography, Web design and writing skills.
My anti-boredom efforts might sound pretty frantic, but the activities actually are woven very comfortably with my real estate and personal responsibilities. Most of all, they give me something to look forward to every day.
I hope the gear reviewed on my Web site RuggedReviews.com gives you some ideas to make your own life more enjoyable.
