Boredom Isn't Real

Covid 19. I'm sure you've all heard of it by now. We can't open our phones or turn on the television without hearing about the Coronavirus every four seconds. It's a worldwide pandemic that's shut down our social engagements, our work schedules, and quite frankly, our lives. It's the equivalent to a zombie apocalypse scare that's kept us boarded in our homes like a George Romero movie. While precaution and information are real and important measures, I'm not here to further the endless watering down of this disease with scare tactics. What I'm here to do is to get us to use this downtime in the most effective ways. In every tragedy, there's an opportunity. But in every tragedy, there's also a myriad of different reactions by different types of individuals. I want to debunk one of the most common statements I've seen lately: "I'm so bored". Let me be harshly direct here, boredom isn't real.

Yes, everyone is entitled to deal with tragedies in their own manner. An abrupt change in our daily lives is a jarring and stressful thing. But inside this scary abyss lays a blessing. Since some of us are being forcefully halted from work, and all of us are being locked out of our social gatherings, we have a sudden surplus of time thrown into our laps. How we choose to spend that time is up to us. But to waste it laying around in boredom, is another form of tragedy. Let me delve into why boredom isn't real.

I don't want to lose some of you here with this potentially divisive hot-take, but I must be harsh in order to be clear. People that say they're "bored" are either lazy, confused, or dreadfully unimaginative. There are an endless cornucopia of options at your feet, even when you're stuck in the house. How about taking the time to learn that instrument you've always wished you could play? How about writing, whether it's a new book/movie or poem/journal? What about painting or drawing? With endless time and endless "how to" tutorials on the internet (like WikiHow and YouTube, for starters), we have thousands of teachers and examples for everything you could ever want to learn.

But let's take the creatives out of this for a second. Not everyone is born with the same type of ingenuity or creativity. There are still a plethora of things to catch up on. What about calling that relative you've been promising to stay in touch with? What about cleaning out the garage and finally getting to that kitchen reorganization project? Why not start reading that stack of books on the shelf that are collecting dust? How about looking online for some workouts you can do to stay in shape while the gyms are closed? Now I get it, some people aren't lazy, they just simply don't know where to start. For those people, I implore you to make a list. Sit down and organize a list of things that need done so that you can fill your time productively. You'll feel better and more accomplished instead of overwhelmed in front of the news media.

I'm not shaming the people that want to do self-care things either. There's nothing AT ALL wrong with getting more sleep, binging some movies and playing some video games. We need time to be in ease and enjoyment as well. It's about a healthy balance. So instead of being glued to the TV and feeling helpless, start to fill these valuable days with things that will make you feel less stressed and more useful. As the nation heals from this virus and time passes, we can do the things that start to make our lives feel more complete as well. These are the times that we create the building blocks that will be the foundation that we bounce back on. Be well, my friends. Every day is one step closer to healing.

-Jason Burke