There you are, minding your own business doing the things on your to-do list when it hits you… life’s gotten pretty boring. When’s the last time you had something to look forward to? When’s the last time you did something memorable or life-changing?
The truth is, life can get pretty boring from time to time and it can be hard to put your finger on when and why it happened. What once was new and exciting has become routine and boring. What once was all you thought you wanted, somehow became not quite enough.
It sounds like the blah’s have set in which can feel stifling.
When did life get so boring anyway?
That might be hard to pinpoint. It might not have been an exact moment but a collection of moments and lackluster experiences that have become so routine and easy that they don’t account for much anymore.
One person’s boring is another person’s security. Your boredom might stem from doing the same things over and over again to the point that you are simply going through the motions without any thought about it. While other people might feel safe and secure in a routine, it might be wearing you down into a boredom abyss.
There are a lot of reasons that life gets boring. Sometimes it has to do with the stage of life we’re in. There are times when life seems to stand still:
- The university years, when you’d really like to get your career going
- The young family years when you’re overwhelmed with small children
- The mid-life slump when you’re waiting to retire and reinvent yourself
Each of these, and other phases of life, can cause boredom, apathy, and a sense of going nowhere fast. This doesn’t mean life won’t get better, it just signals that you may want to do something to shake things up a bit. You don’t have to make a radical change to get your enthusiasm back… sometimes all you need is a jump start.
Everyone Gets the Blahs – You’re Not Alone!
Everyone gets the blahs – though the reasons might be different, the feeling is the same:
- Bored
- Underwhelmed
- Apathetic
- Unenthusiastic
Feeling blah makes it hard to care about what’s currently happening and it’s difficult to make plans for the future. Sometimes it just feels easier to veg out with some Netflix and popcorn hoping the feelings will pass.
People get the blahs when:
- They’re stalled in their careers
- They’re in unhappy relationships
- They avoid their calling
- They fail to learn new things
- And more…
Are you bored with your career? Feeling stuck in your career or failing to pursue your dreams can cause boredom. Perhaps you’re underutilising your talents or failing to challenge yourself, even when it’s painful. Feeling bored with your career can be a chief cause for the blahs.
Are you unhappy at home? Being in struggling relationships that aren’t satisfying can leave you feeling blah. Relationships ebb and flow – they definitely require commitment and effort to keep them satisfying and new.
Are you running away from your calling? While some people don’t know what their calling is, many do, and they aren’t engaging it. Your heart knows when you aren’t doing the things you were meant to do. From a hobby, to a career, to other form of expression, not following your passion can leave you feeling blah.
Have you stopped learning new things? We are meant to be life-long learners. Now more than ever, we have learning at our fingertips that is plentiful and affordable. People who stop learning new things and challenging themselves in new ways grow stagnant and are ill-equipped for an ever-changing life. You might be feeling stuck because you haven’t taken a class or stretched your mind in some way!
Everyone feels blah from time to time. It’s normal, but it’s also something you can remedy. Taking action is all that stands between you being bored and having something exciting going on in your life.
Three Tips to Beat the Blahs
While there’s nothing wrong with a mental health day spent on the couch binging your favourite series, this shouldn’t be a permanent state of being.
The trouble is, it can be hard to get yourself revved up again. It just seems easier to lay low and take a nice long nap, doesn’t it? When you’re feeling low-energy, ho-hum and like you just want to check out, try these three tips to beat the blahs.
Beat the blahs tip #1 Get up and get dressed. One of the best ways to beat the blahs is to make yourself get ready for the day. If there’s not much motivating you, it can feel easy to stay in your pj’s and graze snacks all day. Taking a shower and getting ready in real clothing (not your slouchy tracksuit!) can help you beat the blahs and be ready to do something fun.
Beat the blahs tip #2 Get out of town. Sometimes the same old thing adds to your sense of boredom. The same stores, the same foods, the same drive home. When you’re feeling blah, that’s the best time to get out of town. From an extended weekend to a week-long…or longer, vacation can help shake things up. Seeing new sites, eating new foods, and having new experiences can banish the blahs and make room for something exciting.
Beat the blahs tip #3 Get a buddy. Everything’s better in pairs. Finding a buddy to try something new can help you stay accountable and give you someone to make memories with. Find someone with similar interest to try a new adventure with and encourage one another to have a great time and get out of your funk.
From Blah to Bodacious – Do You Need a Makeover?
When’s the last time you updated your look? Sometimes feeling blah and underwhelmed has a lot to do with how we feel about our appearance or our homes. How we look or how we decorate isn’t meant to be a one and done thing. Trends change, our tastes morph, and sometimes we just need a makeover.
If you’re feeling blah about life, take a look in the mirror and around your home and see what you think. Do you need to update your closet? Want to change your hair? What about redecorating your dining room walls? Would you feel better if you tidied and decluttered your bedroom?
Here are some fun ideas for updating your look:
Use resources like Pinterest to create mood boards or get ideas – Pinterest is a great way to get inspired and collect visual ideas of what you might like to change in your home or about your appearance. Create various boards that highlight the changes you want to make.
Schedule a spa day – It’s refreshing to pamper yourself. Schedule an entire day at the spa to create a new you. A new hairstyle, mani-pedi, and facial can help you beat the blahs and renew your self-image.
Wander the aisles – If you’re inspired to makeover your home, get out and wander the aisles of your favourite décor stores. See what’s new in home furnishings and home décor and start dreaming about what changes you want to make.
Out with the old – Host a garage sale and get rid of items that don’t fit your current style. From clothing, furniture, and household items, it can feel great to purge and make room for the new things you’ll acquire during your makeover.
Plan a celebration – Nothing motivates a makeover more than an important event. Schedule family pictures or a party at your home to get you motivated to make changes. Knowing you have something to celebrate or get ready for will help you stay on task with making things over and getting ready for the fun.
Finding Community Beats the Blahs
Life can get pretty boring when you’re isolated. If you’ve been feeling underwhelmed and bored, finding a new community to plug into can make all the difference because there are great benefits to being in a community. Check this out:
Benefits of joining a community:
- Like-minded people rev up your energy
- Having things to do keeps you busy
- Community gives you an outlet
- Community creates variety
Creating community with likeminded people can be exciting – Whether you join a group that has a common hobby, participate in a group that does a common activity, or has a common goal, being a part of a community of likeminded people can be exciting. Having something in common with others revs up your energy and gives you something to connect over and get excited about.
Being busy helps avoid boredom – Being in a community can keep your social calendar full. If you’ve been bored, this can really shake things up and keep you from feeling blah. Generally, groups offer a wide variety of activities that can make your day full and give you something to look forward to.
Participating in activities is a great outlet – Being a part of a community is a great way to express yourself or engage in something you believe in or love. If there’s a cause you are passionate about, there’s likely a community that is waiting for you to help. If you love fitness or hiking, there are groups that focus on working out or walking trails. Joining a community is a perfect outlet for your self-care and self-expression.
Joining a variety of communities can be fun – You don’t have to limit yourself to one community. There are plenty of ways to plug into community and join the fun. If you have a wide range of interest, it will surely beat the blahs when you find a community that enjoys the same things.
The important thing is to take action before you sink any deeper into the blahs!