We are living through an age of boredom. COVID-19 has led to restrictions that keep us home more than ever, away from our regular activities. Now that winter is upon us, there is even less opportunity to be outside and stay occupied. Most people think of boredom as an undesirable nuisance. The truth, however, is that it is not so innocent. Boredom can be bad for you.

Weight Gain

Have you ever spent time at home without much to do and found yourself frequently visiting the refrigerator? It seems logical that if you are home and bored you might snack more often. Eating gives you something to do and can fill an emotional void. For example, devouring a few king-size Snickers makes you temporarily feel good when you feel apathetic toward life. In contrast, when you are busy you probably hardly ever think about eating. You are focused on the activity at hand.

The additional problem is that not only does boredom lead to unnecessary eating, but it also replaces exercise activity. If you are being unproductive you are not exercising. The irony is that a lot of people don’t exercise because they find it boring. They are not going to undertake a boring activity to help them with boredom. What do we get when we add unnecessary eating to a lack of exercise? You guessed it. Weight gain.

Addiction

You might be surprised to know that being bored can have a relationship with addictive behavior. Boredom may lead someone to try activities that can provide some form of exhilaration. Drugs, alcohol, pornography, and gambling are all habit-forming alternatives when one feels bored.

Once you start participating in those behaviors it is not hard to fall into addictive cycles. Why wouldn’t you continue to do things that make you feel good rather than be bored? Further, for those with a known addiction, boredom is usually a significant risk factor. Keeping busy helps people with an addiction focus on more productive ventures. The mind naturally turns toward addictive behavior when there is nothing else going on.

Risk-Taking

Further, certain individuals need higher levels of risk to maintain an interest in an activity. These people tend to become bored more easily in the first place. Therefore, they require an increase in risk-taking behavior to stave off boredom.

Of course, not all risk-taking activity is bad for you. If you want to participate in extreme sports there is nothing wrong with that (unless you don’t take safety precautions). But there is a reason they call them risk-taking behaviors. They are often perilous and can lead to poor outcomes. For example, if you want to steal from a store simply to get a rush that is a problem. Most illegal activities are hazardous and may appeal to risk-takers. You can’t take risks regularly and hope to avoid all negative consequences.

Anxiety and Depression

Do people that are prone to anxiety and depression become bored more easily? Or does boredom lead to those unwanted emotions? Or is it a little bit of both? It is a worthy conversation with no clear answer. You can make the argument that anxious people often avoid situations due to their anxiety, which could lead to boredom. Or, that depressed people lack the motivation to participate in more exciting activities.

On the other hand, boredom leaves someone alone with their thoughts. People who are predisposed to anxiety and depression tend to have distorted beliefs that are surely made worse when they have more time to think. We are truly are our own worst enemy and boredom doesn’t help.

Is Boredom All Bad?

You may think I am being awfully hard on boredom. And you might be right. Boredom isn’t all bad; it does have some redeeming qualities.

Prosocial Behavior

Some people use boredom for good. Research has found that boredom increases prosocial motivation and lasts even after boring feelings subside. In other words, certain individuals take being bored as an opportunity to do meaningful things with their life that help society as a whole. This probably would not occur if they were busy.

Creativity

Boredom may also fuel creative behavior. This makes sense when you think about it. If the mind is freed from focusing on a particular task it allows people to think outside the box. How creative can you be if your boss is breathing down your neck about a deadline? Some people are naturally creative but most people need some time free from demands to focus on creative pursuits. Boredom provides that possibility.

Boredom Is How You Use It

While boredom is associated with certain negative consequences, it can also provide an opportunity for positive acts. For certain people, however, breaking the bonds of boredom will be difficult. Individuals with predispositions for addictions and negative emotions, for instance, will have to work harder to not fall prey to those harmful responses.

Making that decision, though, appears to be worth it. The choice to perform productive and helpful behaviors can make all the difference in your life and others. Think about it for a moment. Which situation is going to positively contribute to your mental health? Converting a state of boredom into volunteering to feed the hungry or staying at home playing video games?