I've been feeling very bored recently, and feeling that life is pointless. Why strive for a future that may not come!? Surely there is more to life than doing the same thing for another 20 years, then retiring to do nothing!? Maybe I'm tried of spending money and paying more tax just for our dreadful government to squander more of it!? Do I need change!?
Sometimes I feel like I want to switch off. Anyway, self-reflection never gets you anywhere, so time to find a helpful article.
How to Not Be Bored (According to Science) (lifehack.org)
"Boredom is feeling that there are too few high-quality ways to spend attention. Busyness is forced boredom. This means that you feel there are high-quality ways to spend attention, but your attention is being stolen before you can use it."
"Feeling Bored? Here’s How to Not be Bored
- Improving the Quality of Your Activities
- Externally
- 1. Plan ahead.
- 2. Win-win.
- 3. Prioritize.
- 4. Put quality of experience first.
- 5. Escape the motions.
- Internally
- 1. Build an inner world.
- 2. Seek quality in the now.
- 3. Don't resist.
- 4. Unchain yourself.
- 5. Stop.
- On the Other Hand, Boredom Can Be Good For You
- 1. Being bored turns you mind inward and encourages reflection.
- 2. It's essential to creativity.
- 3. Boredom stimulates the search for better ways to do things.
- 4. It's an essential step for rest."
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Without going into the article in too much depth, it's pretty much hit the nail on the head at the very start.
I need to find high-quality ways to spend my attention / give high-quality attention to whatever I must do.
It's not about doing what you want to do, it's about doing high-quality things, or if you must do something that isn't particularly high-quality (say a mundane task) you still give it high-quality attention.
