Given our society’s general overstimulation through technology, it may take more to keep your interest because you’re used to being distracted fairly easily. For some, it might mean a lack of connection to things that help you feel stimulated, purposeful, or motivated. Boredom may also be a defense mechanism used to protect yourself from more unpleasant, distressing, or activating emotions. For others, a chronic disengagement of attention could be a symptom of a larger depressive pattern. If you’re not sure where your constant boredom is stemming from, reflect on these four potential causes and decide which feels most true to your situation. Understanding the root of your persistent boredom will help you manage it most effectively. Disengagement from your own emotions can also make it hard to connect with the emotions of your child. Chances are, if boredom has taken over, you may not be experiencing a wide range of other healthy emotions. On the other hand, boredom can prompt many people to search for meaning in their lives, which can lead to deeper fulfillment and more enjoyment. This can have a positive correlation with parenting and may improve your relationships with your children and other loved ones. When you do become stuck, boredom can be exhausting and frustrating. Instead, get curious about your boredom so you can learn more about how your body is functioning and what you may really need in those moments. Ask yourself: Journaling can also be a useful exercise to offer yourself words of affirmation and compassion. Use this space to talk to yourself differently about your boredom and get more curious about what could be under it. It may be time to try new things and even allow them to not work. You won’t know if something is a good fit unless you give it a good shot at success. Lastly, remember that no feeling lasts forever. If chronic boredom begins to affect your mood negatively or affects how present you feel, it is recommended to seek some outside supportive resources to help understand and navigate it, such as a partner, friend, your community, or a therapist. Seeing a therapist for this is very common and a healthy way to process boredom if you’re feeling stuck. Abrams enjoys providing consultation and creating mental health, relationship, and antiracism training/workshops for organizations, schools, churches, hospitals, & other media, and has been featured in the New York Times, Essence, Allure and mindbodygreen, as well as AfroPunk, Therapy for Black Girls, and Silence the Shame.
