# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Credit: Diego Vito Cervo | Dreamstime.com

Although boredom is as familiar a feeling as excitement or fear, science has only begun to understand what makes people bored. Recently, six scientists who emerged after living for a year in isolation on the Mauna Loa volcano as part of the HI-SEAS (Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation) experiment, which simulated the isolation that future space travelers might experience traveling to and living on Mars, said that boredom was their biggest challenge.

Boredom "has been understudied until fairly recently, but it's [worth studying] because human experience has consequences for how we interact with each our and our environment," said James Danckert, professor of cognitive neuroscience at the University of Waterloo in Ontario in an interview with Live Science.

It's easy to think of examples of mind-numbing situations, such as waiting in line at the DMV, listening to a monotonous lecture or being stuck in traffic. It's much more difficult to define boredom.

A 2012 review of boredom research that was conducted in educational settings suggested that boredom is some combination of an objective lack of neurological excitement and a subjective psychological state of dissatisfaction, frustration or disinterest, all of which result from a lack of stimulation.

The one aspect about which most people seem to agree is that boredom is unpleasant. "I describe it as an aggressively dissatisfying state," Danckert said. In this way, boredom is not the same as apathy, because bored people are in some way motivated to end their boredom. [ 10 Things That Make Humans Special]

Boredom is also distinct from hopelessness and depression. Compared to hopelessness, "boredom may involve feeling stuck in a dissatisfying current situation, but it does not involve believing that success is impossible or that engaging in satisfying activity is unattainable in the future," said Taylor Acee, assistant professor of developmental education at Texas State University, San Marcos, in an email interview with Live Science.

And although boredom is similar to depression, in that both are unpleasant states of low-arousal, Acee and Danckert agreed that depression tends to involve negative, inward-looking focus, whereas boredom relates to a negative feeling that arises from lack of stimulation from the outside world.

Research has shown that some people are more prone to boredom than others. A 2012 paper looked at the psychological attributes that could make a person more susceptible to boredom, and it found that people who have conditions that affect their attention, such as ADHD, may get bored easily. Also, people who are over- or undersensitive to stimulation, and those who are unable to express what activities might be engaging enough to combat their boredom, are more likely to get bored.

In his own research, Danckert has found that people who are reaching the end of their young adulthood years, around age 22, may be less likely than those in their late teens to get bored. The reason may hint at a larger cause of boredom, he said. "In that age range, the frontal cortex is in the final stages of maturation," and this part of the brain helps with self-control and self-regulation, Danckert said.

People who have experienced traumatic brain injury may also be more prone to boredom, which can affect their recovery, he said. It's possible that this relates to injury to the frontal cortex. [ 10 Things You Didn't Know About the Brain]

The key to avoiding boredom, for those both inside and outside of the groups of people most prone to boredom, is self-control, Danckert said. "Those with a higher capacity for self-control are less likely to experience boredom," he said.

Recent research has linked boredom to increased creativity. Danckert said that in studies that he has done, he has found that boredom tends to inspire creativity only in people with high levels of self-control.

So far, there's no tidy, evolutionary reasoning to explain why we get bored. But that doesn't mean that boredom can't do us some good. "The positive side of boredom is that, if responded to in an adaptive way, it is this signal to explore, [to] do something else. That what you're doing now isn't working," said Danckert, noting that he was explaining the philosophical reasoning of University of Louisville professor of philosophy Andreas Elpidorou, who defends the value of boredom his is own work.

Research on boredom isn't far enough along to reveal ways to fight it. There are, however, some hints as to what might make a task boring or not. "Boredom is often experienced when an individual perceives themselves as being temporarily confined to a situation or activity that lacks value for one reason or another," Acee said.

Tasks could lack value because they are unenjoyable, uninteresting, too easy or too difficult, or because we consider them unimportant on a personal level, he said. [ So Bored! 8 Facts from the Science of Boredom]

One way to keep a tedious task from being boring might be to think about it differently. "Reflecting about the potential usefulness, relevance or meaningfulness of an activity can help individuals increase the value they assign to the activity," said Acee. Although it hasn't been tested, Danckert similarly suggested that mindfulness training or meditation might help ward off ennui.

It's important to note that, unless you find Candy Crush particularly meaningful, turning to technology is not the likeliest boredom cure. It may provide an increased level of engagement, but probably little else, said Danckert, emphasizing that there isn't really any way to say for sure whether what we're experiencing in our plugged-in present is any less boring to us than what preceding, smartphoneless generations have experienced.

Both Acee and Danckert said that boredom is something we need to know more about. Boredom has been associated with plenty of negative outcomes, including low academic performance, high dropout rates, mistakes on the job, depression, anxiety and a lowered sense of life purpose, Acee said.

Even if it doesn't lead to these problems in most people, boredom plays a major role in our lives, particularly if we find that our work or time in the classroom is snooze-inducing. "Generating knowledge about boredom through research can help inform us about how to design educational programs, structure work environments, advise patients and clients and manage our day-to-day lives," Acee said.

Original article on Live Science.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Although boredom is as familiar a feeling as excitement or fear, science has only begun to understand what makes people bored. Recently, six scientists who emerged after living for a year in isolation on the Mauna Loa volcano as part of the HI-SEAS (Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation) experiment, which simulated the isolation that future space travelers might experience traveling to and living on Mars, said that boredom was their biggest challenge.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Bored in Class Hacks | LIFE HACKS FOR KIDS

# data[].attributes.body
this idea i tried it and it works

# data[].attributes.body
this idea i tried it and it works

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Are you always bored? Fix it. Learn a variety of ways that you can have fun and occupy your time. Find something to do. Think of things that you like to do. Once you find something, you're good to go! If not, continue.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Though boredom is a feeling that most people experience from time to time, there are many ways to address and prevent it.

What is boredom?

Boredom is a common feeling. Feeling unsatisfied by an activity, or uninterested in it, to boredom.

Boredom may occur when you feel energetic but have nowhere to direct your energy. It may also occur when you have difficulty focusing on a task.

Boredom is a common complaint among children and adolescents. In some cases, they may also complain of boredom when they're uncomfortable dealing with their thoughts or feelings.

Boredom is by an empty feeling, as well as a sense of frustration with that emptiness.

When you're bored, you may have a limited attention span and lack of interest in what's happening around you. You may also feel apathetic, fatigued, nervous, or jittery.

In some cases, boredom can make it more challenging to focus and you to feel stressed or distracted.

People identify and experience boredom differently. In some cases, boredom may occur due to:

inadequate rest or nutrition

low levels of mental stimulation

lack of choice or control over your daily activities

lack of diversified recreational interests

poor perception of time

You or child may become bored while engaged in an activity due to:

loss of interest

confusing instructions

fear of making a mistake

repetition of the activity for too much time

feeling unable to try new approaches to the activity

In some cases, chronic boredom can also be a sign of certain mental health conditions, depression.

While there is no specific medical treatment for boredom, there are plenty of solutions if you're experiencing boredom.

For example, you may want to consider trying some new hobbies or other new diversional activities.

Joining a club can be a good way to thwart your boredom. Reading clubs, hobby groups, or exercise groups are all great places to start. Participating in a community group that organizes activities or outings is another great options.

You can also help your child cope with feelings of boredom when they arise.

When they complain of boredom, encourage them to communicate and address their feelings without questioning the validity. Take time to help them identify the causes of their boredom and find creative solutions.

For best results:

Don't question whether or not your child "should" be bored.

Avoid responding to your child's complaints of boredom with impatience or anxiety.

Ask open-ended questions to stimulate their creativity in finding interesting solutions for alleviating boredom.

Recognize that your child's complaint of boredom may be their way of trying to engage your attention or asking to participate in an activity.

Help your child identify any other emotional issues or feelings that they may be identifying as boredom.

Help your child find an engaging activity or one you can participate in together.

If boredom is part of larger issue, like depression, you should seek treatment from a mental health professional. Talking to a doctor about your feelings will help them understand your needs and identify the best course of treatment for you.

Here are some simple tips you can try to prevent boredom:

Keep a record of the circumstances in which you or your child becomes bored. Note the time of day, place, and activities preceding the boredom, so you can avoid those circumstances or prepare for possible boredom in the future.

Make routine tasks more interesting by adding a unique element. For example, start timing tasks to see how fast you can do them.

Combine multiple repetitive tasks so they can be done together.

Break larger tasks into smaller ones and plan breaks or rewards at key milestones.

Create a list of activities to try when boredom strikes. If your child is the one feeling bored, try creating this list together.

Establish a special area where you or your child can store activities reserved specifically for battling boredom.

Be prepared to take time out to work with your child to set up an activity when they're bored.

Boredom is common in all ages and some boredom is unavoidable.

However, learning how to deal with boredom at a young age will develop problem-solving skills that can be beneficial in the future.

Why do I get bored easily?

Feeling bored easily can be caused by many different factors, including decreased mental stimulation or a lack of control over activities in your daily life.

Interestingly, research that some people are prone to experiencing boredom more frequently, which may also be to decreased attention span, self-control, and self-esteem.

What emotional or mental health problems can be related to boredom?

For some people, boredom may be used as a way to disconnect from negative feelings or experiences that can be overwhelming and difficult to deal with.

Additionally, chronic boredom a sign of depression. If you experience other symptoms of depression like decreased energy levels, unintentional weight loss, or sleep disturbances, you should consider talking to a healthcare professional to determine the cause and best course of treatment for you.

What are the benefits of boredom?

In some cases, boredom may actually be beneficial.

In fact, feeling bored can help push you to try new activities or explore other hobbies and interests. It can also promote self-awareness and problem-solving by encouraging you to identify the cause of your boredom so that you can address it.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Though boredom is a feeling that most people experience from time to time, there are many ways to address and prevent it. What is boredom? Boredom is a common feeling. Feeling unsatisfied by an activity, or uninterested in it, to boredom. Boredom may occur when you feel energetic but have nowhere to direct your energy.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
BORED definition: 1. feeling unhappy because something is not interesting or because you have nothing to do, or.... Learn more.

# data[].attributes.body
5 types of bordem

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Boredom can be a destructive feeling, leading people to zone out in meetings and classes-and in some cases, even to alcohol or drugs. But in certain circumstances, boredom can also be a force for good, becoming the spark that starts a creative process or leading to greater self-reflection.

Essentially, boredom is an emotion that's a lot more nuanced than we give it credit for. It's also especially common in today's society.

Only in the last decade has there been much scientific research looking into the nature of boredom. In 2006, a study classified boredom into four different types, with a follow-up study published this month in the journal Motivation and Emotion adding a fifth kind of boredom, called apathetic boredom, to the list. The researchers involved in the study had 63 university students and 80 high school students answer smartphone-based surveys about their activities and experiences over the course of two weeks.

It may pay off to be more aware of our boredom so we can harness it more productively.

The upshot of the work is that it may pay off to be more aware of our boredom, either so we can rid ourselves of it or perhaps harness it more productively. Though we're all likely to experience every kind of boredom at some point, the work also shows that people may have a consistent boredom "type" that corresponds to their personality.

If you've read this far without getting too bored, here are the five types of boredom:

A person who is calm and withdrawn from his or her external world. Words reflecting this kind of boredom include "relaxation" and "cheerful fatigue."

A slightly unpleasant emotional state associated with receptiveness to "boredom-reducing options," but not necessarily an active search them. Characterized by wandering thoughts, not knowing what to do, and a "general openness" to activities unrelated to the present situation.

A more negative feeling reflecting a sense of unpleasant restlessness and an active search for ways out of the boredom mindset. A person might think about alternative activities, hobbies, leisure, or work.

The highest levels of arousal and negative emotions. A person in a reactant boredom state has a strong motivation to escape his or her boring situation and avoid those responsible for it (such as teachers or a boss). Reflects significant restlessness and aggression. There are persistent thoughts about specific, "more highly valued alternative situations."

This kind of boredom is different from the others. Like reactant boredom, it's also unpleasant, but a person experiencing it has low arousal and a lack of positive or negative feelings-in other words, a feeling of helplessness or depression. Of the high school students sampled in the study, 36% of boredom experiences were of the apathetic kind, which is worrisome given that other studies have shown that boredom, depression, and destructive behaviors are often linked.

How do you know which type of bored you are right now?

Thomas Goetz, the lead researcher of the work and a professor at the University of Konstanz in Germany, says the multiple types of boredom can be loosely characterized along two dimensions. First, whether it is associated with a positive (score of 1) or negative (score of 5) emotion, and second, by degree of arousal, from calm (score of 1) to fidgety (score of 5).

"You can assess your individual boredom by writing down the two numbers," he wrote Co.Exist in an email. "A bit simplified: 2/1 reflects indifferent boredom; 3/2, calibrating boredom; 3/3, searching boredom; 4/4, reactant boredom; and 4/1, apathetic boredom." (Other combinations of scores fall in between boredom types.)

If he can maintain his concentration, Goetz intends to continue his own research into understanding the nature of boredom. He wants to measure physiological signs of arousal, which could one day add a new component to wearable health trackers. He's also interested in investigating whether specific boredom types correspond to different age levels and cultures. "There are many important questions to be answered related to the boredom types," he says.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
There Are 5 Types Of Boredom. Which Are You Feeling?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Boredom can be a destructive feeling, leading people to zone out in meetings and classes-and in some cases, even to alcohol or drugs. But in certain circumstances, boredom can also be a force for good, becoming the spark that starts a creative process or leading to greater self-reflection.