Bored People Die Younger
In the 1970s, the then-famous actor George Sanders shocked the world when he killed himself and left a suicide note that explained, “… I am bored.” Killing yourself is a pretty extreme response to being bored, of course, but several recent studies have found a startling connection between chronic boredom and early death, adding an eery literalism to the catch phrase “bored to death.” In one study, researchers conducted initial interviews in the mid-1980s with 7,500 civil servants in the UK. When they returned to update information about 25 years later, they found that people who had reported boredom in the original screening were nearly 40% more likely to have died than those who found their lives more interesting. The same study revealed that people living with high levels of tedium were 2.5 times more likely to die of heart disease than those who did not. This is certainly an interesting demonstration of the powerful connection between mind and body.
Many people live with assorted states of boredom; obviously, some parts of life (paying bills, loading the dishwasher) are quite dull. But giving in to living a life that feels tedious can ultimately be very destructive, says life coach Lauren Zander. Boredom is a state of mind, she says. And in her view, this truth is very powerful-whether a person is allowing boredom to dictate life actions or attempting to overcome it:
People who are bored at work are more likely to start showing up late, making mistakes and otherwise begin acting in ways that may eventually lead to the exit door (or at the very least, keep them stuck doing the same job without much prospect of advancement). Boredom can also destroy relationships; no longer excited about the other person, one may quit paying attention to conversations or doing nice things for the other. Some even use their boredom to justify having an affair. Boredom doesn’t strike only in romantic relationships, by the way, it can also cause you to take friends, siblings, even your children for granted. Interestingly, boredom can even arise in areas where one has achieved success, precisely because of that success. Attaining mastery in career, school, family etc can still feel mundane.
Boredom is a Choice
Boredom may be an inevitable part of life, but it’s not a life sentence. Rather, it’s a signal that you need to find something interesting to do. That seemingly enlightened mantra “it is what it is” is, in fact, a clue that you are feeling stuck in your life or behavior. Take it as a nudge to start looking to learn something from your boredom. It may mean that you have achieved your goals in one part of your life, so it is time to create change for yourself- perhaps search out new challenges that you could add to your job description or maybe even look for a whole new position. Or, if your weekends are empty and dull because they’re no longer filled with your children’s sports and parties, it’s time to schedule new activities of your own.
Here’s the powerful part: Becoming aware of your boredom shows you the parts of life where you are letting things just exist rather than taking action to shape them to your liking. So now you can do something about it. Take an inventory of your current life and look for areas where you have become lazy, slightly depressed, indifferent and feel resigned about facing another day. These are all indicators of boredom and as such they are your signals to step in to start making change.
Note: Lauren cautions that it is important to be careful not to confuse boredom with contentment. Contentment is when you truly are at peace with the way things are, whereas boredom leaves you unhappy with the status quo.
Finding ways to bring some zing into your life isn’t difficult or really all that complex. When people consider making changes in their lives, the mistake they make is thinking they have to change everything, start a new career or ditch a spouse right now. Not so, says Lauren. In fact the best way to get going is with very small changes. Start with something as simple as adding air to the tires of your bike and going for a ride, getting in the car and heading out for a “field trip” to a town you’ve never visited, or even going food shopping in a very different sort of place, like a farmer’s market or a gourmet supermarket. If your sex life with your partner puts you to sleep, you can change that by taking small steps as well, says Lauren. “Make out in the car, ask for a kiss in the morning, do something new together each week. Slowly inch your way back to where you would like this to be,” she suggests. Try something new or different to engage your imagination and emotions. Start by breaking the boredom of the moment, and then go on to making plans to break the cycle in more important areas where you feel stuck, such as work or your marriage overall.
Boredom is actually a valuable signal that can energize you and put you back in power. Pay attention to your “boredom radar” so that you spot it quickly, before it harms the quality of your life. Take responsibility, urges Lauren. “You’re the driver in your life — and if you have driven yourself into a ditch, admit you put yourself there and accept that you can get yourself out.” That’s a powerful thought indeed!
Source(s):
Lauren Zander, cofounder and chairman, The Handel Group, www.thehandelgroup.com.
Get a little extra amusement in your life easily! Come back tomorrow and read about the Hidden Horror in Your Food, the next instalment into our fast weight loss tips.
Reprinted with the permission of:
Bottom Line Publications/Daily Health News
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