Fighting the Boredom Monster
Those of us with ADHD get bored a lot. It can feel painful, like we’re being attacked by a monster. Our brains need constant stimulation, or else weird stuff starts happening. For example, if I am in my car and there is no music playing, I will start making random noises. This is a prime example of the ADHD brain finding stimulation for itself. Impulsivity is harder to control when you are understimulated.
Fortunately, you do not have to give in to your impulses. This is a good thing because, sometimes, giving in to your impulses means scaling the buildings on your college campus. (I am not saying I have done that; I am just saying it’s a possibility.) But, what can one do when fighting the boredom monster?
Exercise
This may not be your favorite response to boredom, but there are non-boring ways to get exercise. Getting some exercise is not only good for your body but also good for your brain. There are brain benefits that come from exercise.
Engage in a Creative Pursuit
Do something creative! What are some of your creative hobbies? Some of the most creative ideas have come from moments of boredom. The sport of basketball was invented to fight off winter boredom. Embrace the boredom and get creative.
Multitask
You might be thinking, “How can I find multiple things to do when I am bored?” It is possible. Do something boring while doing something else. You could sort papers while watching Netflix, or you could clean your house while listening to a podcast. What mashup of things can you come up with?
Do the Thing You Have Been Procrastinating
Boredom is the perfect time to tackle those things you have been putting off. My kitchen seems to get clean when I don’t know what else to do with my time. “I might as well clean up the kitchen,” I think when the boredom monster starts attacking me.
Create a Menu of Things You Can Do When Bored
Create a list of activities that capture your brain’s attention. That way, when you are bored and asking yourself, “What can I do?”, you have a list to go back to and review. This list of options is a menu from which you can satiate the hunger of your boredom monster.
If you need help creating your boredom menu, a coach can be a powerful creative partner.