There’s nothing worse than being bored. The problem with boredom is that it leads you to spend too much time thinking. Our thoughts tend to default to the negative when we have too much time and we tend to worry about the future or stress about the past.
Humans do not like uncertainty and we live in a world where this is a constant. So keeping your mind busy is important to keep stress and unnecessary anxiety at bay.
Ways to keep busy and stimulated
The obvious one – television. Keep your mind engaged by watching movies, TV series and box sets. Now is the time to catch up on those box sets you haven’t had a chance to watch. Binge watching with no guilt – woohhooo
Read – I don’t know about you but I rarely get time to read. It’s usually lower down on my to-do list. Now is the perfect time to get stuck in to those books to expand your knowledge and your mind.
Download apps on your phone – there are so many apps that can entertain you. I particularly love the word puzzle type apps and they provide me with hours of brain stimulation. Sudoku is good for the brain too.
Get online and study – there are many free online courses.
There are many short courses you could start. Being productive provides you with a sense of accomplishment and helps counteract the feeling of helplessness when stuck at home.
Join online forums for emotional support. We are social creatures and chatting online to others is great way to socialise and feel less alone.
Take your dog for a walk – this is a great way to boost your mental health. Animals are known for being excellent in maintaining stable mental health. They give us an important focus other than ourselves and we get to be playful with our pets. There’s fun involved too and getting out on the fresh air is a good way to feel refreshed and view different scenery.
Take up a new hobby. Knitting, painting, colouring in etc – all of these are worthwhile pursuits. If you are creative, you especially will benefit from doing something creative and fun at home. Many hobby materials can be ordered online.
Instead of focusing on feeling trapped and bored, focus on the positives – the fact that you actually have free time and can choose what to do with it – this is a precious gift in many ways.
Mandy X
Photo by Joshua Rawson-Harris on Unsplash
Author: Mandy Kloppers
Mandy is a qualified therapist who treats depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, trauma, and many other types of mental health issues. She provides online therapy around the world for those needing support and also provides relationship counselling.
