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A 'lil HooHaa

Messing with the blogging world since 2005

boredom

Using creative outlets to get through life’s tough times

November 4, 2013

The guest post I ran on the blog this weekend got me thinking about boredom and hobbies.

See, I’ve had to do a lot of things to avoid boredom the past few years. Battling unemployment with part-time jobs, odd jobs and a massive job search can really mess with your mind. Anyone who has been in this situation can probably understand where I’m coming from.

Checking out community days/fairs/festivals is a good and inexpensive way to get out and avoid being bored overworked.

The funny part is, some of the things on that list I had never considered and I wish I had — such as reading free chapters for Kindle books. Talk about a way to see if there’s something you truly want to read.

But it also got me thinking about the human mind when it comes to boredom.

See, a lot of my time the past few years has been spent on the computer. It’s the bad part about being on a job hunt. Resumes. Cover letters. Search. Tweak resume. Write another cover. Search for another job. Repeat.

Over and over. And over. And over.

I’m sure you get it.

But doing that for many hours a day gets pretty boring. And it’s not that you don’t want to push forward, it’s that you can’t. Words start mashing together. You worry you’re writing to one person and putting a total different name in the spot. I can’t even say how many times I’ve woke up in the middle of the night worried I addressed a cover wrong. I’d quickly grab my phone and access Dropbox to see if I did it right. Thankfully, I’ve only had an error once — and I wonder if it hurt me.

Alas, I won’t dwell on that one. That was my stupid mistake and it involved a name that could be male or female. Yeah, I’m sure you know what happened there. I did e-mail the person soon after, apologizing. I even conceded in the letter that I probably ruined my chance for the job, accepted it and moved on. I haven’t made that mistake again.

But that boredom.

I call it computer eye. By that I mean I stare at a screen, trying to write a cover or tweak a resume and nothing works. Nothing at all. It’s not necessarily boredom, rather a block. So I’ve needed to do things to keep my mind focused.

My out has usually been some sort of a creative outlet.

From writing on the blog, to photos (many of which I still need to process), to just getting outside has been key for me. Utilizing creativity allows a mind to wander, to think, to focus. I usually can go back to cover letters and such within the next day and be good to go.

One thing that has been key is finding affordable or free things to keep busy. That’s something that isn’t underrated. And while blogging has been amazingly therapeutic — especially with creating many friends in this outstanding community — it doesn’t get you away from the computer.

Get out and find a place to hike or explore.

Geocaching (outside the GPS unit I bought several years ago) is a free hobby, for the most part. Hiking is free. Going out and snapping photos is free, again outside of the equipment I already owned. Playing board games with friends is free. Disc golf is free, as long as you have one disc and can get to courses. Letterboxing is free. Many parks are free. Heck, I visited a zoo in South New Jersey not too long ago that was by donation, so it could be done very inexpensively.

In the warmer months, many communities have festivals or fairs and a lot of them are free. You just have to look around and visit other communities. It’s well worth it.

It really makes you think outside the box.

Sure, there are online things one can do, but there are so many other things. Do some community service, or find a way to help people. I try and do work with Find-A-Grave as much as I can, which allows me to help people from all over by getting photos of long-lost relatives headstones. Maybe they are researching a family tree and those stones can often be very important.

That guest post also got me wondering — what do you all do to escape boredom or to clear your head when you really need it? Share in the comments below as it might help others looking for free/inexpensive ways to spend some time away from the computer.

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog [at] gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook!

Filed Under: My world Tagged With: blogging, boredom, clearing mind, free things, job hunt, my world, things to do

18 Comments

Guest post: 10 ways to try and avoid boredom

November 3, 2013

Guest post by Evan Darcy

One term we’re hearing more frequently in recent years is “time waster.” It might refer to any hobby, or an addictive app or game.

Indeed, it seems like we’re always being presented with new ways to “waste time,” or do away with boredom. So, just for fun, here are 10 different ways to avoid boredom — online and off.

1. Crafting hobbies

Crafting is a broad topic. For some, it might even mean painting, or doing woodwork. Most of us have a creative side and tapping into it gives you a great way to keep a side project going for when you need to waste time.

2. Online quiz sites

There are plenty of category specific quiz options online, all great for a bit of simple leisure, but nothing beats Sporcle. Just be careful not to spend more time than you can afford there!

3. Traditional gaming

Let’s not forget about ordinary gaming! Particularly if you pick up one of the next-gen consoles on the way, this can be a great way to spend an hour or two… or five.

4. Online gaming

Online gaming, in general, is a lot of people’s favorite way to pass an hour or two, but I might suggest taking it up a notch. The Betfair Games site is one option to consider if you’d like something that goes beyond basic, simple arcade play. At this site you basically encounter an entire casino community online — live games, arcade options, and much more, all with real money on the line.

5. E-Reading Samples

A Kindle or Nook gives you a great way to access your favorite books with ease, but one underrated aspect of them is the ability to sample e-books. Just as you might peruse iTunes looking for new music, you can sample five or 10 books in an hour’s time!

6. Reddit 

There are plenty of ways to incorporate social media in an post like this, but I settled for the service that combines the best of it all. If you’re not on Reddit yet and you’re looking for an online “time-waster,” look no further. It’s great for news and entertainment alike.

7. Short-burst workouts

If you want to be productive about your down time, use it for “short-burst” workouts like jumping jacks, push-ups, etc. More and more fitness experts are recommending short, high-intensity bursts for productive workouts, anyway!

8. Plants vs. Zombies 2

Seriously — this one game can keep you occupied on your smartphone as long as all your other games combined.

9. Writing

Again, this is a way to tap into that creative side. Whether it’s poetry, a diary, short stories, blogging, or even song lyrics, having a writing project to turn to when you’re bored can be lovely.

10. Read posts/articles like this one

Ever wonder why sites like Buzzfeed are so popular? List-style articles and “top-10s” are always entertaining, and give you a reliable way to pass time!

Evan Darcy is a freelance writer and blogger on a range of topics relating to entertainment.

Filed Under: Guest Post Tagged With: boredom, guest post

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hoohaa29

Writer who loves images just as much as words! In search of perfectly poured pints of Guinness and great hot dogs. Find me on twitter @softball29.

I guess the April Fool's joke is on us, Mother Nat I guess the April Fool's joke is on us, Mother Nature? Oh .. ha ha ha.
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I also guess this is why hitting back roads to work is good -- you can stop and take a photo and not worry about anybody coming (usually)! Main roads around here are fine for now, but it's definitely quite picturesque on the lawns/trees etc.
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#snow #winterspring #springwinter #april #blackandwhite #photography #photooftheday #goawaywinter #love #instagood #picoftheday #bestoftheday #nature #backroad #road
This was pretty relaxing and fun. #lego #legos #ea This was pretty relaxing and fun. #lego #legos #easter #legoeasterbunny #legoeaster #relax #hobby #fun
It shouldn’t be so hard to find a trash can... # It shouldn’t be so hard to find a trash can... #litter #mask #masks #blackandwhite #streetphotography
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softball29P.J.@softball29·
11 Apr

I mean, if you hold a #Wrestlemania in an open stadium... eventually rain delays had to come, right? 🤣

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RealKentMurphyKent@RealKentMurphy·
7 Apr

28 years ago The Sandlot was released and this iconic scene was brought into our lives.

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softball29P.J.@softball29·
2 Apr

New blog post: Photo Blogging Challenge (March 2021): Eight #photobloggingchallenge #pbc #challenge #blogging https://hoohaa.com/?p=15201

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