Capitalizing on Being Bored

A time for the luxury of thinking.

Many people sit around bored and fill the time watching TV, chatting, or getting high.

At least worth adding to the list is thinking.

Topics

Here are some questions that might trigger a topic(s) on which you’d like to mull:

• What to do to improve your romantic relationship(s)?
• What to do to improve your platonic relationships — parents, children, friends?
• What to do to improve your health, physical or mental?
• What to do differently regarding your job or career?
• What short-term goal should you prioritize?
• What long-term goal should you prioritize?
• What do you think they’d say about you at your memorial?

The power of scribbling

Sometimes, it helps to scribble thoughts. Here are examples:

A psychotherapist wants more clients.

• Hate marketing
• Like most of my clients
• Hate whiners
• Call fave former clients, ask how they are. Will that remind them of me and refer clients?

Wants to meet both a romantic partner and a platonic friend.

• Old friends, nah?
• Avoid PC but these days, everyone’s PC
• Not too old, not too young
• Smart but relaxed
• Maybe I should reach back to Sarah
• Nah
• Singles hike?

Unhappy on the job

• Hate job
• Can’t quit. Scared
• Hate boss.
• Won’t let me transfer.
• What can I do?
• A special project but what?
• Interviews re the product?
• With David?

Back to school?

• Like school
• Expensive
• Career stalled. Will another degree help? Maybe.
• Bored. so it’s a good time.
• Visit City College site.

Move to a low-cost place

• It’s too expensive here.
• Idaho?
• Cold
• But no traffic, crime, good schools.
• New Mexico?
• I’ll play on the Net and see.

Estranged parent

• She’s always been difficult and now?! Oy.
• Is it worth trying again?
• Yeah.
• Just small talk or confronting?
• At least start with small talk.

Overeating

• Sick of dieting
• Always gain it back
• Acceptance?
• I can’t.
• Gotta try just cutting down 10%. Doable

Ritalin

• I hate that the teacher says he needs it.
• No.
• But what do I know? She’s the professional.
• No.
• I should go for a consultation at least.
• Ugh.

Garden

• Soil’s warming. It’s time.
• What to plant?
• Corn never works.
• Is tomato soil tired?
• Get compost.
• Definitely do Orange Paruche tomato again
• Flowers?
• Zinnia.
• What was that new red one?
• Look it up on the Net.
• Oh yeah, Preciosa Red. I’’ll get seeds.

Aging

• Scared
• Done what I can
• Suppress
• But suppress with what?
• Write memoir?
• Face death in the eye?
• Too scary.
• I dunno.
• Work in hospice — desensitize?

The meaning of life

• Is it happiness?
• Productivity?
• Nothing?
• Serving God?
• Balance? Probably.

The takeaway

A client, busy with career, wife, two kids, and life, lamented, “I don’t have time to think.” If you do, perhaps that’s a luxury worth indulging.

I read this aloud on YouTube.

A previous post offered other tips for when you’re bored.