What to do when there’s nothing to do…well most would say nothing – there’s nothing to do. Sit around, watch TV, eat (considering that is naturally paired with watching tv), but boredom doesn’t usually lend itself to exciting or invigorating activity. Unless of course finding out whether not Kylie and Tyga are back on is considered exciting.
Summer is either a time filled with constant boredom, or a time, for some, void of any boredom at all...and so those people find themselves craving it. For those who constantly face it, it’s a nuisance (like a fly you just really want to kill, but you happen to be fresh out of swatters). And for those who are nonstop busy, longing for just a few moments to do nothing, it’s like water in a desert, constantly searching for some peace. Either way, boredom is typically observed as being something that involves nothing, an activity or state where you turn into a potato-esque human and barley do anything.
However, boredom is typically underestimated. There is power in boredom – it just needs to be used for good. When spending so much time in the house with a fly, a tolerance is built. You barely notice it, but then you get fed up suddenly and get sick of its presence. And if a swatter is not available, new tactics of elimination are explored: Letting it outside, applying bug spray, sneaking up and hitting it with a shoe. The same new goes for being bored: Once you let go of that "nothingness" that happens during boredom, you realize that you have the freedom to explore your own mind. You're stuck in this limbo, until something inside you is jolted awake. You can soon open yourself to ideas you may not have thought about when you were only focusing on the fact that you were so bored. After all, sometimes we think of the best ideas at the most random times when we're not stuck on them. Let yourself relax and let your mind wander.
So what’s the point of the fly analogy exactly? Being stuck in one position this summer can be a pain – whether it be your at house, babysitting at someone else’s, or standing all day at a boring job. But once the idea of being bored is no longer acceptable, other, more useful ideas begin to occupy your mind. You may get sick of the same everyday things, but try and make the most out of it.
“My mind is a terrible thing to waste” is a lyric from some really old ghetto rap song, yet continues to reveal its relevance. There are two settings for your mind during a period of boredom: Shut down or Power.
Choose Power.
Stimulate your mind and utilize boredom for good. Think about something new you could try: a recipe, new activity, crazy color blocking wardrobe decision. Whatever it is, just try something new.
If you always wanted to start a blog, this is the time to think of the concept behind it. Bucket list? Now’s the time to choose the activities. Want to write? This is the opportunity to open every creative channel in the mind to release inspiration (and inspiration is everywhere).
Sitting down peacefully with nothing but time to delve into your own mind is the beauty of boredom. Perhaps maybe solitude, creative space, or even peace is an adjective more appropriate for this time that can be spent so beneficially.
Everyone needs time to themselves because if you stay in the desert too long, water is surely a hot commodity, as should be boredom. So drink up, pour it on your face, splash it on someone else. Embrace the small necessities in life and see the beauty in it. Your mind will thank you later.
