Are you really bored?

In this time of uncertainty and forced isolation we seem to be facing two extremes; we are either being worked to the bone or not working at all. All while feeling the anxiety of the unknown and unknowable, social isolation, and becoming a teacher for their kids.

But for those of us who have had life put on hold, all those fears still exist but I’m also hearing an abundance of another feeling: boredom. But what is boredom?

We have become so used to being bombarded by stimulus. We spend our days checking email, liking IG posts, and arguing with strangers on FB. We have lost the ability to sit, to be alone with ourselves and to quiet our minds.

Boredom is just a feeling of unrest. A manifestation of anxiety unnamed. A fear of one’s self.

When clients talk of eating or drinking out of boredom we don’t focus on the action; all actions have a cause. What is the actual causal relationship between boredom and eating? Emotion. Boredom is a proxy for difficult emotions.

Like anything else the first important step is identifying the problem. Figure out the emotion that you are trying to avoid and allow yourself to feel it. Practice acceptance of our new reality. And find another activity that fulfills your mind, body, & heart.

We will get through this. It won’t be easy. But together we are so much stronger than we are apart. Social isolation doesn’t have to mean emotional isolation. Whatever you might need, I am here to help.