I don’t remember what I used to do when I was bored, before there were computers, email, or social media. I’m old enough that a good chunk of my life had that time, where there was no laptop, tablet or smart phone to check on. When “I’m Bored” crosses my mind, I find myself in a state of dissatisfaction and am not motivated to get started on anything, When there are chores or jobs looming, I find myself in this state when there is just enough time to procrastinate but not quite enough time that I feel like I can do something totally engrossing,
In my youth, I like to imagine it was easier to find something to do in a shorter time frame. Perhaps I used to wander around the house like kids do, saying “I’m bored. What can I do,” and then stumble upon something purposeful or fun, and lose myself for an hour or two which would result in some creative play, or spontaneous artwork, or even a cleansing organizational project.
Those days are gone, as more often than not the fleeting thought of “I’m Bored” seems to automatically lead to checking email, checking in on the news, social media, clicking to blogs. None of which, when in this state, is really beneficial. Not only is it usually junk mail, or spam, or news that isn’t newsworthy, but five minutes after I close the computer I don’t even know where my hour went.
All of these activities are things I actually enjoy when purposefully do them. I love the NYTimes on a Sunday morning, or social media on a Thursday night with a glass of wine. I love catching up on friend’s blogs with my early morning coffee. When I am in a mindset to start a new art project or craft, an hour purposefully reading and clicking through to new ideas is well spent.
As the technology evolves, and we are forced to adapt our habits and lives to it – it is ever more important to be mindful of how we use it, so hours of creative inspiration, and moments of quiet reflection for our own well being are not lost to the less important happenings of the online world.
