At first, there was fear. Everyone was scared for their lives as the coronavirus pandemic was showing no signs of slowing down. Soon, the lockdown was extended, and fear turned into a long wait. But as life continued to go on within the confines of our homes, another crisis was in the making—the boredom pandemic.
Unlike the coronavirus, boredom is not fatal but its feeling is surely consuming. With no theatres, parks or restaurants open, and sports events being cancelled, the internet is the only place left to seek entertainment. Netflix, YouTube, and many streaming services are attracting record high viewers, but even they couldn’t stop the rise of boredom.
According to a recent survey, many in Italy living under self-isolation claim boredom to be one of their biggest challenges. Trailing “lack of freedom”, boredom appeared more frequently in their responses than “loneliness” or “lack of fresh air” as their main reason for concern.
Evidently, it’s not just Italians struggling with boredom. Millions under lockdown are feeling a pervasive lack of interest, with nothing better to do but wait for the lockdown to end. But they don’t realise, it is this wait and doing nothing that gives birth to the feeling of boredom. There is only one way to avoid boredom; find something meaningful to do, something that inspires you or challenges you. In this feature, Soulveda shares a list of activities that can help you come out from the sinkhole of boredom.
Learn a new language
People who are bi-lingual or who are capable of speaking two or more languages have better focus and memory than those who speak only one language. A study conducted by the professor of Psychology and Language Sciences Dr Thomas Bak has proven, the more languages you know, the stronger your brain gets. So, what better way to use this extra time on your hands than to learn a new language? It will not only keep you busy but keep boredom at bay as well.
Read books, listen to podcasts
If you are among those with several half-read books, now is the time to finish them. You can time yourself and see how fast you can finish one. Make a goal of reading as many books as you can while the lockdown persists. If you don’t have any new books to read, you can opt for audiobooks or inspirational podcasts too. There are countless platforms for audiobooks and podcasts—covering all kinds of topics on positivity, motivation, and adventure. You can listen to them while doing your chores or sipping a cup of java.
The more you will write, the more you will learn about your thoughts and things that matter in your life.
Write a letter
There was a time when people used to write letters to their families or loved ones to keep their connection alive. Today, we have smartphones and emails for this purpose, but the sentiment and emotions that go into writing a letter still have no match. Use this time to immerse yourself in the therapeutic touch of writing. Write a letter to your neighbour, to your partner, to your parents, or to yourself. You can scribble any thought that comes to your mind. The more you will write, the more you will learn about your thoughts and things that matter in your life.
Create a scrapbook
The younger generation seldom knows about a photo album. Thanks to technology, all the memories can be saved in one small chip. But creating a scrapbook has its own set of rewards. You put effort into creating a scrapbook; memories remain vivid; each picture speaks louder than words. If you have children, this activity will distract them from their phones or TVs. Creating a scrapbook will also help you connect with your children on an emotional level as you will relive the old memories.
Spend time gardening
Spending some time with nature is important for your mental peace. This lockdown has made this difficult but it’s still not impossible. Gardening is one activity that can bring nature to your doorstep. It has countless benefits, from calming your mind to stretching your muscles; gardening can heal your mind and body. If you have a garden, you are already aware of its importance. If you don’t, find some space on your balcony and plant some flowers or vegetables. Nurture your garden like a mother takes care of her child. Soon you will find, gardening is one of those rare activities that give you more than your investment.
Cook your family’s special recipe
Lockdown is the best time to learn the special recipe of your mother or grandmother that’s been running in your family since forever. Call your parents to note down the ingredients. Involve others as well. Cooking your family’s special recipe will not only help you avoid boredom but strengthen your bond with your family too. And don’t forget how delicious the food will taste; don’t be surprised if some old memories get rekindled.
Make that call
Do you have a friend you haven’t talked to for ages? Or an old colleague who moved to a different city? Or parents or grandparents whose calls you couldn’t return as much as you would have wanted? Don’t worry. You have all the time now. Make that call; catch up on their life, tell them your story. Tell them how much you love them wherever it’s overdue. Relive the old days that were the best part of your childhood. It is moments like these that make us human and inspire us to see the beauty in chaos.
The main challenge faced by people during the COVID-19 lockdown is boredom.
The only way to avoid boredom is to find something meaningful to do, something that inspires or challenges you.
Activities such as learning a new language, reading books or listening to podcasts, writing letters, creating a scrapbook, spending time gardening, cooking family recipes, and reconnecting with friends and family through calls.
Gardening is important for mental peace and has numerous benefits, including calming the mind, stretching the muscles, and healing the mind and body.
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