5 power tools to dispel boredom and activate your spark at work or home

By Neera Maini Srivastav

Boredom. A sticky word. An unwanted intruder. An antidote to bliss. Just for a moment, let’s embrace the presence of boredom in our lives. Let’s get out of denial mode. Yes, we are afflicted by boredom. Speaking for myself, I have been a victim too of this invasive monster. It all began during the pandemic when I was really hit by this impasse with little or no respite to get away or deal with it. But, like they say, acknowledgement is the first step to healing.

Now that I have made friends with boredom, let’s take one good look at it and see how we can flip it to our benefit.

The first rule is to keep away from swiping away boredom. That’s how my ‘deboredom’ journey began. Mindless consumption of random content on social media is perhaps a cause and not a remedy!

Have we got so accustomed to external stimuli that we have forgotten to go within and dip into our own creative reservoir? Have we become so dependent on the world’s validation that we have forgotten to compliment our own selves? Have we become so obsessed with following what’s trending that we have forgotten our own power to set trends? No wonder we are bored so often!

Let’s employ some tools that can transform this state to a happier state that gives birth to creativity.

Slip into your boots! 

They say, when man and mountain meet, a new force is unleashed. While you may not always find a mountain, you can always find a trail, nestled in nature, waiting to be discovered. Go, trek, far away from the concrete jungle and urban madness. Embrace a sense of adventure. 

I took off on a little forest trail off Lonavala a while back (my first) and I discovered so many hidden treasures about nature and life. So what if you have never climbed a mountain or walked through a forest. Dig your heels into the mud and feel the earth beneath your feet. You never know what you may discover! Trek not to escape life but so that life doesn’t escape you!

One thing’s for certain. No one has ever returned bored!

Get the curious you out

In the humdrum of daily life, we often forget to notice our surroundings. Our ‘nose for new’ gathers dust. We settle down to the ‘known’, the familiar.  It’s time to unleash the ‘eager beaver’ in you and look around you- the neighbourhood – the streets, the cafes, the hangouts, the hawkers, the park in your locality – get to know each one of them. Maybe you don’t even know your neighbour’s name! This is a good time to say goodbye to ignorance.

I took the liberty and walked into a quaint library down my lane and actually made friends with the owner who turned out to be a writer too! So, get to know every nook and corner that is waiting to be discovered. Remove the shroud and get interested in finding out and exploring the environment around you. Any time for boredom? Nah!

Take the road less travelled

Surely, your feet need more interesting roads to jaywalk on! Your mind needs a different map to follow and those eyes need a different scene to feast on. There is only one way.

Ditch the hackneyed, the same old route to your work, the market, the school, college whatever. Try a new route, an alternate way to reach the same destination and soak in the new sights and sounds. Of course, it’s unpredictable, it may be long-winding, it may be a short-cut or a longer cut but that’s the fun. 

For months, I passed a narrow by-lane on my regular route to work but hesitated to explore. Then one day, I threw all caution to the winds and stepped into the small little wonder. I discovered the most beautiful plant nursery tucked away in a corner – one that I had been looking for!

So, I would say, dance with the uncertainty, bask in the unknown and relish the ‘new’. Chances are you will enjoy the journey so much that you would have left boredom far behind! Without a trace.

Come clean!

There is always a cobweb lurking somewhere in your closet, library, show cabinet, desk – every little nook and corner that has been unexplored for a while. Arm yourself with the cleaning brigade of disinfectants, dusters and loads of bravado to face the dust mites and your own resistance to dig the layers of dust. It’s a fascinating journey as you rummage through the pile!

My own exploits from my wardrobe surprised me as I discovered beautiful artefacts and little gifts that I had blindly stored away. It was like recovering lost cherishables! Sometimes you may even find a lost object or simply look at an old book in a new light. Irrespective of your find, you will experience the lightness of being.

So go forth, dust off the unwanted. They say physical cleaning also cleans up the mental space too. Well, that’s a dual advantage. You will dust away the boredom too before the cobwebs form!

Ask yourself out on a date

Be your own great company. How about choosing yourself for a date and planning a hangout with the one person who matters the most – you! Choose your favourite café, restaurant, juice bar, ice-cream parlour, a park or even a spa, put on your best gear and head out to spend some time with yourself, indulge the self with whatever your heart desires – from smoothies, grills, coffee shots to even the good old massage to pamper those tired muscles and rejuvenate yourself.

I remember my spa date that was an impromptu act of pure indulgence. I booked myself for the whole day – pampering my body and mind with a detox trip while a stylist gave me a haircut. It was the best date-time ever! Just act like you are the date you were waiting to ask out. And then watch the magic. Boredom will surely be miles away and you would have discovered a whole new fan following: you.

Neera Maini Srivastav is an award-winning author, screenwriter, educator and mindfulness coach based in Mumbai. Her books for children and young adults have been included as curriculum in reputed schools and also adapted to theatrical productions. Her sixth book Hack the Boredom Code (2023) is a humorous self-help book that suggests ways for GenY to overcome boredom and achieve their potential.