On Boredom
During this time of isolation and social distancing I’ve noticed how many people are posting messages on social media about being bored.
Conscious that I am in danger once again of being excluded from a popular cultural phenomenon I have been trying recently to join in this craze. Unfortunately whenever I try to experience a bit of boredom I find there is far too much to distract me.
There’s working from home, of course: lecture recordings to make, notes to prepare, assignments to correct, virtual meetings to attend, papers to write, and so on
But outside of work it’s just as difficult. Whenever I try to interrupt my day with a bit of boredom I find that there’s so much music to listen to, so many books and newspapers to read, so many crossword puzzles to solve so many other things to do, that I always get distracted and fail dismally.
Perhaps it is the fact that I don’t have a television set that makes me such a failure? It seems that there may be a strong correlation between possession of a TV and being susceptible to boredom. Perhaps if I bought one I could be more like normal people?
Anyway, never let it be said that I don’t know when I’m beaten. That is why I am asking readers of this blog for help. Could anyone who is expert in being bored please send tips on how to achieve it? I’d be quite interested in your suggestions.
Your advice through the comments box would be greatly appreciated as I fear that without it I may always remain a social outcast.
P. S. Before anyone says it: if you are yourself struggling to get bored you could try reading through the back catalogue of posts on this blog!
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This entry was posted on April 1, 2020 at 1:56 pm and is filed under Biographical, Covid-19, Television with tags Coronavirus, Covid-19, Social Distancing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
In the Dark 
April 1, 2020 at 2:27 pm
Easy. Do some admin.
April 1, 2020 at 2:28 pm
Even that can be quite interesting.
April 1, 2020 at 7:33 pm
Tax guides? Accountancy textbooks?
April 1, 2020 at 3:18 pm
Sadly, having used my science A levels to read Medical Sciences rather than Natural Sciences in the Cambridge 1982 intake, I find I am far from bored nowadays……..!
April 1, 2020 at 6:36 pm
If anything I seem to be busier since the lockdown started, go figure.
April 1, 2020 at 7:00 pm
Experiencing boredom is challenging for people who are aware of their surroundings and their internal state. I don’t think it is necessary to resort to television to achieve the necessary unawareness of all of the interesting things one can do, though it may be helpful in some cases. In essence it is a choice. Boredom is achieved by defining all of the interesting things one can be doing (and in many cases are doing) as uninteresting, thus boredom is achieved.