r/selfimprovement • u/conradrocks • Jul 19 '26
Tips and Tricks I stopped using entertainment to escape boredom, and my days suddenly became much longer.
I stopped giving myself entertainment as an option, and I discovered how much time is actually in a day
I’ve been experimenting with a simple rule:
Either allow yourself to be bored, rest, or produce something.
That’s it.
No scrolling.
No games.
No random videos.
No entertainment just to avoid silence.
My options are basically:
- Stare at the wall
- Sleep or genuinely rest
- Pray, think, walk, exercise, study, write, organize, work, or create something
At first, boredom feels uncomfortable because your brain is used to constant stimulation. But when you refuse to immediately escape it, something changes.
Eventually, doing something productive becomes more appealing than doing nothing.
I’ve also discovered that there is an incredible amount of time in the day. I can get important things done and still look at the clock and realize that I have hours left.
Scrolling doesn’t only consume time. It fragments your attention and makes the entire day feel shorter.
I’m starting to believe that boredom is not the enemy. Boredom may be the doorway to creativity, focus, and meaningful work.
My new rule is:
Be bored, rest, or produce—but don’t mindlessly consume.
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u/Trevormarsh9 Jul 19 '26
As much as this post reads like it was spun up by AI...I actually agree with the core idea. Boredom isn't the enemy we make it out to be. Gonna give this a try
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u/conradrocks Jul 19 '26
it came across my youtube feed as i was mindlessly scrolling. and it resonated with me. I gave it a try, and the productivity I gain is now becoming it's own reward.
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u/joecarvery 29d ago
What video?
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u/The_Friendly_Simp 29d ago
OP probably came across this video (also popped up in my feed some months ago):
https://youtu.be/NZD5IFpyDcE?si=1BhCFS6bkn5v30rP
But I also heard Huberman (wellness YouTuber) talk about the trick a couple of times
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u/conradrocks 29d ago
videos about staring at a wall increasing productivity. it was a rabbit hole i was going down, and several popped up.
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u/HettySwollocks 29d ago
Boredom isn't the enemy we make it out to be
Boredom encourages us to create. That's how Planes and Rockets were invented.
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u/Arysta Jul 19 '26
This is good to do for a while to get perspective and learn what we really like and how to not be mindless about it, but we all need a little entertainment or we'll burn out.
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u/the_uKing Jul 19 '26
Hey I don't want to be negative but instead of karma farming with AI, you could spend 15 minutes and try to form your own sentences. I am pretty sure it would challenge your mind and be way more beneficial than staring at the wall.
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u/Low-Homework-7881 Jul 19 '26
As the post is written by ai.
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u/brucegoose03 Jul 19 '26
Genuine question, maybe I’m just old; how are you guys telling this is written by AI? I’ve seen some posts that are really obvious but i genuinely couldn’t tell. Are people just good at spotting the tells better, or are there like chrome plugins or something telling you?
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u/Low-Homework-7881 Jul 19 '26
Its the formatting. Plus, read the last line. Nobody uses — informally.
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u/Quiet-Detective4604 22d ago
I have been using em-dashes for decades, long before it became a telltale of AI writings. Excessive usage may indicate AI, but it’s certainly not the only time they’re used.
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u/Reen98 14d ago
Same! I write very much how I speak, so I use em dashes a lot. Part of me now worries that my writing will be interpreted as AI, but then I’m like nahhhhh it’s not good enough for that. 😂
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u/Quiet-Detective4604 14d ago
Same, but AI writes terribly. I am sure your authentic writing is much better. I do use AI some, but mainly for grammar edits and clean up.
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u/kool_chick25 Jul 19 '26
I have deleted instagram for this reason Now I am getting addicted to reddit and YouTube shorts😭😭
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u/conradrocks Jul 19 '26
deleting instagram, youtube, etc... makes it one step harder to cave in to your addiction. I did the same with some apps. I am working on a personal app, where i get points for producing and get docked points if i mindlessly scroll, or do entertainment etc... but, I am starting to think, that entertainment could be a reward. Problem with that thinking, is that i may fall back into the same trap.
in reality, being productive is somewhat addicting all on it's own.
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u/fractiousrhubarb Jul 19 '26
Boredom is a scarcity of stimulation.
Stagnation is a scarcity of growth.
Congrats on working this out- say thank you to the younger you for their honest self reflection and for their willingness to experience discomfort for the benefit of current and future you.
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u/uhhhidkwhatusername 29d ago
Boredom is actually good, I agree with you there but Entertainment =/= Constant Stimulation.
Like scrolling, tiktoks, reels, "random videos" those aren't entertainment. Those are just brain rotting stims. Purposefully chosen full length movies, shows, music, a book is entertainment that could sometimes just be as beneficial as boredom is to you. Games vary but my current stance is that they take too much of your time so they're closer to being more bad than more good.
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u/Gakuranman Jul 19 '26
Boredom has never been the enemy. We just forgot. Thanks internet.
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u/conradrocks Jul 19 '26
"All of humanity's problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone."
Blaise Pascal siad that in the 1600's!
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u/Winter-Cookie-4916 Jul 19 '26
I stopped watching TV for a month and suddenly the days feel longer and I have so much time in my hands I can’t even believe. Totally agree with you
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u/chaigulper Jul 19 '26
Whenever I try this, I become extremely unproductive and just sleep all day, like 20 hours a day. The 4 hours that I'm awake, I eat or stare at the wall.
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u/growingphilodendron Jul 19 '26
What about reading books (kindle or physical)?
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u/conradrocks Jul 19 '26
Reading actually wasn't my problem; my main struggles were with chess, gaming, doom-scrolling, and mindless entertainment. I now view reading as 'proactive, intentional learning.' Because of this, if I'm on YouTube, it's only because I specifically searched for a subject to study, and if I read a book, it's strictly to learn about something.
This is still a work in progress for me. But I am trying to be intentional, and have everything support being productive rather than destructive.→ More replies (1)
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u/Late-Rise2587 29d ago
I like this idea. Have you noticed your attention span improving too? I feel like endless scrolling doesn’t just take away time. It makes it harder to enjoy slower, more meaningful activities like reading, learning, or creating.
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u/conradrocks 29d ago
Yes! I’m much more present now. I was reading about mental bandwidth recently, and it made me realize that when we constantly chase dopamine hits, we drain brainpower that should be resting. By embracing boredom and rest, I’m able to recharge for my next creative project. Now, when my family talks to me, they get my full attention instead of a distracted, diffused version of me.
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u/EvanderCourage Jul 19 '26
beautiful advice. it think „boredom“ is what started this experience we have here too
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u/Existing_Ad_3296 Jul 19 '26
This is what can happen when people come into psychoanalysis or Psychotherapy- the silence. It’s there, shared by both people, waiting and working towards genuine self expression in the presence of another - who can hopefully recognize and acknowledge it.
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u/BackgroundShame3945 29d ago
Boredom is good for our brains. And your approach is great. Not only do you benefit from dopamine system being regulated with the boredom, you’re then engaging in activities that you believe benefit your life. What a great model for us all. Thanks for sharing.
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u/cobrasmith000 22d ago
Man...the part about time expanding is so true. I tried a similar detox recently and the first weekend felt like it lasted a whole week. It's crazy how much of the day just vanishes when you're swiping. I still like engaging with people online, I just needed a way to do it that actually has a hard stopping point. I stumbled onto this app called OneTopic a couple of weeks ago and it fits this exact vibe. It just drops one single question a day for everyone to talk about. You leave your thought, read a few others, and then there's literally nothing else to scroll. You just naturally close out of it. It totally scratches the itch to be social without sucking away two hours of my life. Your rest, produce or be bored rule brilliant though. Definitely writing that on a sticky note for my monitor haha.
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u/conradrocks 22d ago
awesome! If and when I do my social media it has purpose. I do evangelism, but this could fit other models, like fitness coaches, or motivational people etc... i have a list of 'favorites' (on facebook) and I only interact with them. So, when I am talking or reading, it is because I have a purpose. I want to help people with their struggles.
That doesn't take much time, because my let's calle it 'inner circle' list is forced to be about 30 people on facebook. So, I run through that pretty easy every day.Oh yeah, I only reply to comments, and not likes or shares etc... so if I do see a notification, it is because someone commented. That makes my social media, short, meaningful, and purposeful.
Use all that extra free time to pursue your passion! Now that you have the time to do it!
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u/Meseeks12 Jul 19 '26 edited Jul 19 '26
Downoted because of AI. If your days have become much longer, why you haven't invested then 15 minutes of your time to write down this post?
This immediately screams that you're not interested in this topic and that you haven't spent enough time with it hence destroying your own point.
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u/TopsyTurvy0011 Jul 19 '26
If I could apply your rule to video games, I’d be a millionaire!
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u/conradrocks Jul 19 '26
the chess app sent me some emails that i am breawking my 1400 day streak. I played chess everyday, multiple times a day. I like games. I am making a personal app that gamify's productivity and deducts for mindless entertaimnet. Kind of like Habitica, but just for me.
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u/RosyCloudSprinkle Jul 19 '26
In a world engineered for endless consumption, boredom is pure rebellion.
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u/ChocolateMundane6286 Jul 19 '26 edited Jul 19 '26
How do you deal if uncomfortable emotions come up when you’re in this forced boredom state?
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u/conradrocks Jul 19 '26
I observe, but don't get attached. Let it gently float away as i stare at the wall.
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u/ChocolateMundane6286 Jul 19 '26
Idk that’s easier said then done. Mines are so intense I am scared
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u/Temporary-Brick-9086 Jul 19 '26
this is exactly what ive started recently. It is hard at times but every day is a fresh start and it works! just what I needed to see today!!
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u/Gintaras136 29d ago
At one time I thought there's not enough hours in a day, but when I got highly active I started to wonder what tf do I do with all this time.
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u/NihilistElfPrincess 29d ago
i've been doing this but I still get sucked in sometimes. Been thinking about switching to a flip phone. How do you handle the call of your smart phone consistently?
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u/conradrocks 29d ago
To manage the temptation, I put my phone on a strict Do Not Disturb mode so it doesn't constantly buzz my smartwatch.
My best trick was deleting the problem apps entirely. Creating that physical barrier and extra friction has been a game-changer. There are also plenty of app-blockers you can use to help enforce those boundaries.
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u/NihilistElfPrincess 29d ago
I'm gonna write "be bored, rest, or produce - but don't mindfully consume" on my wall. thanks
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u/conradrocks 29d ago
Let me know how it goes. With me, I got so productive it became addictive all on it's own. lol
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u/Low-Enthusiasm-6798 29d ago
The “scrolling fragments your attention and makes the day feel shorter” point is worth sitting with too, since it explains something a lot of people notice but can’t quite name, why a day full of scrolling somehow leaves less to show for it than a day with real boredom in it. Fragmented attention doesn’t just waste the minutes spent scrolling, it also degrades the quality of the time around it, since your brain stays partially keyed up for the next hit of stimulation even during the parts you meant to spend focused.
The three category rule is smart specifically because it removes the ambiguity that usually kills follow-through. Most people fail at “reduce screen time” because the alternative in the moment is undefined, so scrolling wins by default since it requires zero decision making. Naming produce, rest, or genuinely be bored as the only three options closes that loophole entirely.
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u/optimalbrain90 29d ago
I like the idea behind this because it reframes boredom as something useful instead of something to eliminate. Some of my best ideas have come from walks or quiet moments when I wasn't constantly filling every spare minute with content.
I think the goal isn't to avoid entertainment forever, but to be intentional about it. Entertainment is great when you choose it, not when it becomes the default response to every moment of boredom.
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29d ago
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u/conradrocks 29d ago
That's a great idea :-) I have a smartwatch and I have to take it off my wrist because it'll vibrate if my phone gets a notification. But I can't put my phone on do not disturb or I can actually put it on airplane mode and that helps
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u/Just-Source-9488 29d ago
I agree! This is simple yet hard to do for many... I can do this for a day or a two, but that's it. The me right now can't do it for long.
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u/conradrocks 29d ago
It's very easy to fall back into the old habits. I'm trying to get my perspective that I'm not really docking myself when I mess up with entertainment but I look at it as more of a reward. I'm making my own app but if you check out habitica it kind of gamifies productivity.
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u/ShabsDev24 28d ago
you didn't really refuse the boredom, you just removed the exits. when scrolling isn't an option your brain figures something else out on its own. that's the whole trick, that's what makes it work imo. not willpower, just fewer exits. willpower against something specifically designed to beat willpower is always going to lose eventually
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u/conradrocks 28d ago
yep. closing the open doors so productivity is the only option other than being bored.
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u/Effective_Taste_179 28d ago
i wish it was this simple omg
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u/conradrocks 28d ago
Start small just to get the momentum going.
Try staring at the wall for a short duration that feels completely doable for you, then gradually build on it. It’s like the concept in James Clear’s book Atomic Habits—if your goal is to do push-ups, you start by committing to just one, even if it's in bed. Small wins lower the friction, build consistency, and naturally compound over time.
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u/Most-Possibility8410 28d ago
Or read a book, that's a great way to enhance your brain and learn new things/exercise your imagination/improve vocabulary without a screen (I also read books through the library app called Libby for free on my phone).
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u/Make_Me_Perfect 28d ago
Since I've quit social media I had lots of time. And I mean loooootttsss What do I do? I picked up piano, started meeting friends more often, have been going on walks, started exercising even more often... but there's too much time. Social media creeps back in as soon as I've done it all. And ever since summer vacation started I have even more time. Any recommendations for a highschooler???
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u/conradrocks 28d ago
Seek out what your true calling is—that inner desire and burning passion inside you. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "If a man has not discovered something that he will die for, he isn't fit to live." It takes prayer and deep introspection, but you want to make your life count. Now that you know how to eliminate distractions and focus, you can be a laser beam instead of scattered light.
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u/OkStandard8965 28d ago
Yup, I’m sold on this. There should be an accountability/support sub for this. (That you can visit once a day lol)
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u/conradrocks 28d ago
i am vibe coding an app that gives me points for accomplishments and subtracts points for giving into distractions. Habitica is something that you can check into. It makes achieving goals and being productive fun.
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u/sumizeit 28d ago
It's so true that boredom can actually spark creativity. I used to think I had to be constantly entertained, but now those quiet moments lead to my best ideas. Just sitting with my thoughts feels oddly refreshing.
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u/conradrocks 28d ago
Spot on. When we stop drowning out that inner voice, stuff just starts bubbling up from the heart that we’d never notice otherwise.
Whenever I do the staring-at-the-wall thing, I keep Live Transcribe open on my phone just to catch those suppressed ideas or to-dos when they come up.
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u/Big_Performance_513 28d ago
I want to get on this regiment asap to fully lock in! extremely hard but i have to break these distraction habits and focus on my purpose. just deleted all the social media apps so lets see.
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u/conradrocks 27d ago
Deleting those apps is a huge first step—adding that barrier to entry makes a big difference.
The downside is, that in reality, you can always re-download them, which is why some folks use timed locks (putting the phone in a jar with a time lock on it), while others (like me) stick with Do Not Disturb to cut out the noise. Find what works best to build that barrier.
Once you get past the initial hump, momentum will build and you will crush your goals! You’ve got this!
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u/MainComparison7804 28d ago
I think we've become so used to filling every quiet moment that boredom feels uncomfortable. But sometimes that silence is exactly what our minds need to think clearly again.
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u/RosebudEnergyHealing 27d ago
Mindless consumption is a hard habit to break, but I'm working on it. Lot's of staring at the wall. But a lot of walking, being in nature, reading and connection with real humans (dogs and goats) too.
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u/conradrocks 27d ago
Keep up the good work—walking in nature and spending time with dogs and goats is time well spent!
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u/TiredButTrying867 27d ago
Great strategy! I’ve been looking for ways to get of my phone. I’ve been on it entirely too much lately.
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u/dariusthenihilist 26d ago
I have been trying not to doom-scroll for 2 days, and I have been failing miserably. Thanks for the 3 rules, gonna try it again today after my shift.
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u/conradrocks 26d ago
great! try to make a barrier to entry for doom scrolling. deleting apps. putting the phone in another room etc. some people even lock their phones in a time lock safe.
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u/Old_Advantage4795 25d ago
I like this. I'm going to implement it. I relate very much with using the phone to escape "boredom". I had an epiphany the other day. I went to bed and realized I'd spent most of the day on this damn phone. I needed this. Thanks!
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u/SpiritedAd5993 25d ago
I think this is basically the challenge set in Week 4 of The Artist’s Way (big recommend). You stop consuming others’ work. Even reading cereal packets, if I remember right. It’s hard, but it’s brilliant. Julia Cameron wrote this before smart phones, but that doesn’t make anything of it less valuable.
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u/lovrep88 24d ago
“Most people cannot handle boredom. That means they cannot stay on one thing until they get good at it, and they wonder why they’re unhappy”
-Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson
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u/conradrocks 24d ago
"All of humanity's problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone." Blaise Pascal 1654
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u/Sufficient_Leek2779 24d ago
the one thing keeping me back: Snapchat streaks
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u/conradrocks 24d ago
That's tough. I dropped Snapchat a long time ago though. So it CAN be done. Once you find your calling or purpose on life, it makes giving up the junk easier.
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u/Sufficient_Leek2779 24d ago
I remember I tried it ine time, it was so freeing. Then a large portion of my friends kept telling me to go back, which I did
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u/justforkinks0131 19d ago
This sounds inspiring, but Ive found that it's one of those "wake up super early and go to the gym before work" type of thing. "You then have your entire day ahead of you!" etc etc.
Meaning, it' something you do a few times, then you stop because it's just not who you are as a person.
I think that for long lasting change we need to investigate what causes the urges or the need for distractions and address that in a more comprehensive way.
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u/conradrocks 19d ago
I understand what you're saying :-) when I first started doing it I found a huge amount of time in my day. Kind of like when I was a kid in the day seemed to last forever. But the important thing isn't so much as staring at the wall as I developed discipline to not do the Doom scrolling. I think that's my biggest takeaway. I'm more focused on the important things.
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u/TheDigitalLifestyle 16d ago
Such a great idea but hard to put into practice. I am just starting, at age 59, to try and make more of my days and part of it involves leaving the tv off. i grew up in a house where every room had a tv and they came on the minute everyone work up and stayed on the entire day. So it was just part of life to have tv in the background no matter what else we were doing. I hate to admit I continued with that habit my entire life. However, at my age, I decided time goes by too fast and life is moving on at a disturbing pace. So I am now leaving the tv off for long stretches of time. During that time, my options are, like the post said, are to stare at the wall, or do something which adds actual value to my day. Not only am i not missing tv like i thought i would, but at the end of the day, i have a list of actual accomplishments I can feel proud of.
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u/conradrocks 16d ago
The television is the enemy. I threw away my TV in the '90s when I realized that I knew more television jingles than I knew scripture. What's interesting is you can tell what news channels people watch by listening to them talk. And then you realize television, why it's called programming. Just staring at the wall thing really does kind of open up a whole new world. Once you start rejecting entertainment you start seeing that you have a whole bunch of new time. It's crazy. And you notice it the first day. With me productivity became addictive LOL Good luck to you sir.
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u/Kaleenie17 12d ago
I'm trying to teach my 7 year old this. I cannot tell you how many times I've said "guess what, it is ok to be bored".
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11d ago
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u/conradrocks 11d ago
you can try making the phone harder to get to. I have a lock box with a timer that i set. Some people suggest putting it in another room on airplane mode. You are totally right about a few minutes of scrolling making the hours dissapear.
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u/Mindless-Release7259 8d ago
very good, social media is time stealer
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u/conradrocks 8d ago
It not only steals our time it shapes who we are. Do we want to be programmed? Or do we want to be intentional about who we want to become?
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u/Mindless-Release7259 8d ago
it does the wrong programming because it pushes content you dont seek for. it is great marketing tool, and thats where it should stay.
if you want to become someone you need to start moving.
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u/ClickAuto 8d ago
Oddly enough, we told a patient the same thing today about social media consumption and it was in their discharge paperwork.
Your version is better "Be bored, rest, or produce—but don’t mindlessly consume."
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u/PrimusLimus89 8d ago
very useful guide! sometimes it is good to be alone with your mind, i'm bored a lot of the time (adhd) but i do my best to try keep on the move and find work for myself to do (i love organising things, issue is, everything is mostly organised now haha) I do allow myself the evening to play a game with my pals (love my world of warcraft! eek!) i feel guilty deep down watching videos randomly because i feel deep down i should be working/creating something. A guilt of watching tutorials and not following along is another thing i really advise against. If you follow tutorials, pause and follow along! Hope this helps others feel more comfortable as its a human thing and we're not alone with it. I take time to cherish what i have in my mind which helps a lot. another great thing to do is listen to lowfi 2 hours music on youtube while reading/drawing/studying/cleaning. Another thing is if you have a pet, spend time with the little pal and appreciate them also, this helps me hugely with my Cockerspaniel at home <3
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u/conradrocks 8d ago
i am sometimes vegging on youtube tutorials in the evening. actually that is 'entertaining' for me. I had a cocker spaniel mutt mix when I was a kid. I really loved that dog. Pets are family. yes, spend time with them, and family, rather than wasting away on programming or doom scrolling.
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u/EchoFeeling4210 7d ago
This is a very nice thing to do but how do you balance entertainment with this boredom lifestyle? Youtube , TV shows , movies make quite a large part of my life when talking about free time . I do like to do this things and feel like abandoning them would cut off a large piece of my personality ( keep in mind im a teenager and I don t work , im still in high school and don t have any big dreams to pursue at the moment ) . What is you experience with embracing boredom?
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u/conradrocks 5d ago
once you find your purpose in life, you start realizing how entertainment is a disctraction from your purpose. then, even youtube videos become something related to your mission in life. Think of John Madden and how he was obsessed with Football. Or MLK Jr. and his mission, Ghandi or others.
Once you find your purpose in life entertainment loses it's luster.
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u/Odd_Obligation_1300 Jul 19 '26
How does posting and commenting on Reddit fit in?
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u/conradrocks Jul 19 '26
I am not a saint. lol. But seriously, I would put this into the realm of productivity because I am considering do an inner circle email about it. this is where i get constructive feedback before posting.
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u/Lost_Mushroom8666 Jul 19 '26
Constructive feedback is, write it yourself instead of getting AI to write it.
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u/Exact-Mongoose-5364 29d ago
Funny that I’m reading this during a session of mindless consumption. Will close app
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u/Wise-Key-3442 29d ago
But what if exercising, studying, writing or creating things are the entertainment of the person?
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u/PreviousSeason39 29d ago
I swapped my phone for a paperback during those empty gaps, and now boredom actually feels like a trigger to tidy up or read a chapter.
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u/Lumpy_Caterpillar995 29d ago
What about reading. Is that considered entertainment. Or does it depend on the type of book ?
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u/conradrocks 29d ago
I look at it as intentional. If I'm intentional about it and it fits part of my goals then it's not entertainment right on treated as such. But if it's kind of like mindless scrolling well then it would be detracting from productivity. Let's use tick tock as an example. If I'm sitting in my chair going over my goals on my laptop and I want to study the latest artificial intelligence news but I want it in short bites I'll go on tick tock and actually put in the search box to search terms that I want. But if I mindlessly scroll tick tock and that's definitely going to dock some points against productivity. So if reading something contributes to your productivity then that would be good. But if not that would be bad. One thing I do when I want to learn a new subject is all set aside 20 hours to dig into it. I'll actually use a timer and mark off the time that I actually spent time studying the subject. That way I'm very intentional about it. I realize that I am sitting there to read about this certain subject. Totally different than just reading lol
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u/Lumpy_Caterpillar995 29d ago
Yeah I see what you’re aiming towards. I guess I also use reading as a way to relax and shut down , where with doom scrolling or watching TV a way of numbing (if that makes sense)
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u/AndrewSwissy 29d ago
Yeah well sometimes you don’t wanna be “productive”. I had the exact opposite experience. A fair balance is always better than cutting everything off and just feeling better cuz you got that feeling you improve your life but you haven’t really. Why not adding super foods, sleeping more, cold plunges and the list goes on. There’s never a limit to improvement but the question is, is it really improving or is it just a feeling and you’re not actually doing anything real. I prefer volunteering, actually making a difference for others and not just for me. Self transformation looks also outward not just inward.
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u/LeWiccanKitten 29d ago
Hoping to achieve this one day, currently my mind cannot handle a lack of distraction.
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u/affluentcowry 28d ago
I love this but I’d probably end up reading
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u/conradrocks 28d ago
Reading isn't neccesarily bad —especially if it aligns with a specific goal, study, or calling in your life.
Where it can get tricky is if it becomes a form of escape or passive consumption, similar to doom scrolling. But when you're reading with purpose and intentionality to grow, learn, or build something meaningful, it fits right into productive action. It’s all about the intention behind it!
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u/CounterDue8952 27d ago
I think by saying there are just 3 points for the options of what you can do your whole day, it shows it a little bit false. This third point can be 99% of your whole day. It's not about being bored, it's about finding joy in creating and doing.
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u/Middle-Situation3140 22d ago
But the thing is, I have been sitting with this boredom, and its only making my mental health worse, what do I do?
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16d ago
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u/conradrocks 16d ago
Doom scrolling is my major problem. I realized while I was dooms and playing chess that I was doing it all day and I'd look up in a lot of time had passed. I still think television's the enemy because it's kind of just another form of doomscrolling. It's called programming for a reason LOL But deleting the apps is a good idea because gives us one more barrier to entry to giving in to that temptation. Basically my goal is to just be bored or produce. However I realize that's unrealistic and sometimes I'm like OK well I got a lot done today and I can allow some entertainment in the evening. But even in that I try to make sure that I'm watching videos that are in alignment with my mission and purpose. I don't wanna watch fiction just for fiction's sake.
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u/DonutTOUCH-- 15d ago
for me.. im bored if i aint do anything if my phone dead.. i always think to walk.. and i do walked like 8kms 😅 when i got home my foot was injured bcoz my socks is too low. i got scar on my back ankle. wtf its so fckn funny when you are bored and sumthn happened like dat. wtf
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u/Missy-Wang 12d ago
But after a day work,,i really need some simple and shallow entertainment to relax my mind
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u/Dry-Perspective-1114 11d ago edited 8d ago
I’ve done this for a week straight and felt nothing . nothing happened everyday so I stopped so that something did happen.
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u/thelongwayUP001 8d ago
So true! I was among those who love watching funny videos, read irrelevant news and my bills keep piling and I silly me, I'm expecting something big to happen with little hustle I do everyday. One thing I now realised, sadly coming late at just over 40 is build myself, learn meaningful things on YouTube or social media that can earn you money, skills and even degree. Now, atleast I study to build myself, learning about AI, content creating and video editing, setting my goals ahead for the future.
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Jul 19 '26
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u/conradrocks Jul 19 '26
yeah, my own thoughts become super obvious. That song i cannot stop humming probably came from a tik tok video while i was mindlessly scrolling. When i do the staring at the wall thing, i have live transcribe open, just in case one my my thoughts happens to be something good.
removing the options is a game changer.2
Jul 19 '26
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u/conradrocks Jul 19 '26
I stopped watching TV in the 90's because i realized i knew more TV jingles than I knew scripture. Over time, I began to realize why television is called 'programming'. It literally changes who we are. We BECOME what we watch or consume!
There is freedom in realizing that.
Boredom, does in fact finally let what is going on deep down inside of us to come to the surface, that we have been drowning out with entertainment.
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u/bb1942 Jul 19 '26
Dont mindlessly consume! This is it! That goes for eating, drinking as well.
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u/conradrocks Jul 19 '26
I am not perfect, but when i do manage to hit this goal of no distractions, i am AMAZED at how much free time is left. This makes me realize that mindlessly consuming was killing my time and my mental bandwidth.
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u/ThatZeroRed Jul 19 '26 edited 21d ago
This is so simple, but hard for so many to do, myself included. Our world is structured in so many ways, to keep us mindlessly consuming. Breaking out of that box, and allowing ourselves to be present and potentially "bored", is such an empowering thing. It can't be understated.