AJ’s advice – tackling boredom
| April 28, 2012 | Posted by Alaa Jasim under AJ's Advice |
We all have those days, don’t we? You just sit and sit and sit, staring at the wall a little while you continue to sit. Being bored is, well, boring, and sometimes you just have no idea what to do because you’re that fed up. There are some really easy answers to tackling boredom; namely, you’re usually bored because you’re not doing anything, so do something! The world is your oyster: you can do anything you want – and really, if you’re that bored and you’re not revising or doing work, you’ve probably got the time to. So get out there, find something you enjoy, and have a bit of fun. Here are a few suggestions for ways to get busy.
Go for a coffee
This one is so easy you could sneeze and do it: all you need is a friend and a coffee shop. (Or maybe not even a coffee shop – you can have coffee at home. The important thing is the person.) The point is, meeting a friend to have a good chat and a catch-up can be really fun. It’s not wild, it’s not crazy, it’s just a simple solution to getting out of the house and tackling your boredom.
Get some exercise
Going for a run, going to the gym, or playing a sport with a group of friends can be a really useful way to get rid of boredom, with the advantage that you’ll feel great afterwards. Exercise can also be a great stress reliever, because all you’re thinking about is keeping going, rather than work or exams. Keeping the exercise up will also keep you fit and healthy during exam season.
Get in touch with your creative side
I suppose I would say this – but do something arty. Paint, draw, go to a gallery. Using the more arty side of your brain is good for you, and doing something visual can be really refreshing after boring yourself with books or revision; finding interesting things to look at is always a bonus. It can also be really fulfilling to create something that’s just as fun to look at, whether you’re making, building, or drawing. Once when bored I decided to put together a bench for the garden: I am proud of that bench. And, you know, you can always write something for TSR…
Do something you wouldn’t usually do
I have no idea what this might be for you, but it could be practically anything. Last time I decided to do something I wouldn’t normally, I ended up buying a cheesecake for a busking band in York. It was fun, I felt good, and the band liked cheesecake. It was a win-win situation.
Getting out and doing something fun or mentally stimulating is never a bad idea. It will get you thinking, and it will stop you staring at that bloody wall. It’s important, especially at this time of year, to find the balance between going out and staying in to work and study. Too much work will probably drive you insane, and you’ll just end up bored and irritable. Human interaction is important, so whatever you do, do it with or around people. With any luck, you’ll get rid of the boredom and a little bit of the stress.
That’s all from me for this week. You can get in touch, as always – and now, feel free to also get in touch via The Student Review‘s Twitter and Facebook pages. As always, questions, comments and suggestions are welcome. See you next time, and thanks for reading!
