The cure for boredom

Do you ever feel bored? In this video, find out about the problem of boredom and a way to never be bored again!

Instructions

Do the preparation task first. Then watch the video and do the exercises. Remember you can read the transcript at any time.

Transcript

I'm going to talk today about the problem of boredom. Now, it's true, we encounter boredom less and less, with all of our gadgets and with the totality of human knowledge and artistic output always available to us. When you can always hear your favourite song or watch a great film or read a great book or text a friend because you can do all of these things with the device that you have at your side 24 hours a day, you might successfully avoid boredom for the rest of your life. But you might also never discover what's on the other side of boredom. And you might not recognise the price you are paying for being compelled to distract yourself, for having lost or having simply never acquired a capacity for doing nothing. A productive capacity for doing.

Once you learn to meditate, you realise that boredom is simply a failure to pay attention. If something as simple and repetitive as breathing can become a source of blissful contemplation, and it can, and if the feeling of boredom itself can become an object of intense interest, and it can, there's no way to be bored, if you're paying close attention to your experience. So training in meditation is the true cure for boredom. It's a kind of permanent inoculation. Once you learn how to meditate, you will never be truly bored again. Now, this isn't to say that you won't still make choices in life. Certain activities might still feel like a waste of time, and they might be a waste of time, given all the other things you could do. So you might still walk out of a movie or stop reading a book because it's, quote, 'boring', but when left alone with yourself, how do you feel? Are you desperate to be distracted by some stimulus? Or can you find a deep feeling of well-being as an intrinsic property of just being conscious? The gulf between these two conditions is enormous and in my experience only meditation allows us to reliably span it.

© GooRoo Animation

Discussion

What do you usually do when you're bored? Have you ever tried meditation? Would you like to try it?

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Comments

Submitted by LauraMar on Thu, 09/22/2022 - 23:17

What do you usually do when you're bored? Have you ever tried meditation? Would you like to try it? When I am bored I usually play with my dog but if my dog is lazy I read a book or I sleep. Well I tried but sometimes... No I am so distracted with all things and I would like do the meditation but I am so distracted so it is very difficult for me to try to do that but if I can do it... that would be a very very big surprise for me.
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Submitted by Andrii on Wed, 07/07/2021 - 16:58

When I'm bored I usually go out. Sometimes with friends, sometimes alone (my friends are so lazy, that can't even go outside).

Submitted by hermione123 on Thu, 07/08/2021 - 11:58

Most of my friends are so lazy too. And they usually sleep at day instead of night. So, they never really go out either

In reply to by Andrii

Submitted by Supernova on Sun, 01/31/2021 - 07:25

When I feel bored, I usually read a book. If the book is interesting, it can instantly cure my boredom.

Submitted by hermione123 on Sat, 01/16/2021 - 00:09

When i'm bored, I usually read a book or watching TV. And, I've never tried meditation ;)

Submitted by emilily on Sun, 01/10/2021 - 20:53

being bored means not enjoying anything, lumping, continually eating and tucking into food from the fridge. and TIME'S SLIPPING THROUGH FINGERS., of course, I usually watch some Korean's drama series. and no, I've never tried meditation, cos I don't have ensured appropriate conditions for this activity

Submitted by SARAHATHOME on Tue, 01/05/2021 - 07:00

easy

Submitted by paradise_2006 on Fri, 09/11/2020 - 18:12

I do all sorts of things. I usually read books, listen to music or watch K dramas.... These days I don't easily get bored, coz I've got a lot of things to entertain myself with... I'm really into dancing these days..... Though I get bored whenever i start studying......
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Submitted by icat on Thu, 08/06/2020 - 10:36

When I'm bored I usually watch series or read a book, play on my tablet and sometimes do art! I haven't tried meditation when I went to a Zen monster but I find it hard to do it for a long time!

Submitted by Nandini on Fri, 07/03/2020 - 18:15

Never mind, the video actually worked now.

Submitted by editor_rachael on Sat, 07/04/2020 - 09:09

Hi Nandini,

 

So glad it's working for you now! Thanks for letting us know :-)

 

Rachael
LearnEnglish Teens team

In reply to by Nandini

Submitted by Nandini on Thu, 07/02/2020 - 18:33

The video is not working for me, I don't know why

Submitted by editor_rachael on Fri, 07/03/2020 - 09:55

Hi Nandini,

 

Thanks for letting us know. I've just tested it and it's working fine for me. Are you using Chrome, Internet Explorer, Safari or another browser? Try using a different browser and see it that works.

 

Can you see the other videos in Video UK and Film UK, or are they not working either?

 

The videos in this section come from YouTube. Do you know if YouTube is blocked in your country?

 

Best wishes,

 

Rachael
LearnEnglish Teens team

In reply to by Nandini

Submitted by Nandini on Fri, 07/03/2020 - 18:09

I'm using a chrome. The other videos worked just fine and no, YouTube is not blocked in my country. I can't figure out why this video isn't working, but thanks for helping.

In reply to by editor_rachael

Submitted by Pasta on Mon, 06/01/2020 - 07:51

When I'm bored , I usually try to distract myself by doing all the simple things every teenager does. But for my opinion some entertaiments can be more than wasting the time.For example , series and films , they can be scientific , history , biographic.A lot of people watch films in foreign languages , that helps them to learn it.The same we can say about books. But I DO agree , thta meditation helps too.Living in modern world sometimes keeps us from paying attention on simple things.My advice is to try, go on your balcon, watch the view , lie on the floor with your dog and enjoy your life.

Submitted by yelisha on Mon, 06/01/2020 - 04:18

i usually watch korean drama, listening to music. i have tried meditation but i can't do it because i can't focus on my meditation
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Submitted by Caspiterin89 on Tue, 08/04/2020 - 13:38

yelisha don't give up that early! At the beginning I struggle a lot! My mind had always a lot of thoughts and I couldn't concentrate at all. But I continued and now I can meditate for longer sessions. You see: our brain is like a muscle, and as a muscle need train also our brain need it. So I reccomend you try another time because meditate is such a positive habit! Peace Caspiterin89

In reply to by yelisha

Submitted by LochNess on Thu, 05/28/2020 - 03:31

I keep the boredom away by drawing, painting, and etc, but I do agree that meditation is a perfect way to cure boredom away.

Submitted by NadiaP on Mon, 05/11/2020 - 12:18

Cool! I try to keep boredom away by reading, especially fantasy: Game of Thrones, Elantris, Diplomat of Uram, Steelheart... Reading is a good way to keep my sanity these days.

Submitted by 02jnadal on Sat, 05/09/2020 - 16:50

I have tried meditation because one of my best friends recommended me, and it makes you feel calm and serene. My friend started meditation with her father, and was kinder ever since. She felt the diference.

Submitted by pamequesito on Tue, 04/28/2020 - 02:46

When i am bored i dance,sing,draw and saint but i have never tried meditation and i would like to get out of my comfort zone :)

Submitted by beyou03 on Mon, 04/27/2020 - 03:15

i think and i´m agree with the video that the best way to relax when you are bored are maditation and distract yourself doing someng like read a book etc... well the method that i used to distract myself when i feel bore is to read a book and imagine all the scene

Submitted by AV on Sun, 04/26/2020 - 19:41

Listening to music and painting is what helps me most not to be bored, but I'm also trying to learn new things like learning to cook, etc.

Submitted by Carbonelratufepikad on Wed, 04/08/2020 - 13:45

I sometimes feel bored because teachers gived us lots of work because we're not in class. But, if I feel bored: I imagine storys, read books, paint, draw, and meditation! It's a good way to feel not bored!!

Submitted by peachygirl on Sun, 04/05/2020 - 11:50

In the last time I often feel bored because I always stay at home (because of coronavirus) and I can not to have a walk with my friends. So, when I feel bored, I read books, play guitar and meditation (it is really nice, if you have never tried it, do it).

Submitted by Nandini on Thu, 07/02/2020 - 18:39

I love reading books, but since we can't go to the library, I have been reading my remaining books. I finished all my books and repeated it over 4 times, literally. The story gets boring after you read it twice. My life has totally become boring.

In reply to by peachygirl

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Submitted by Andrii on Fri, 04/03/2020 - 15:50

I watch TV, play computer games or read a book when I'm bored, but I've never tried meditation. I'd like to try it. But it's kinda weird...
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Submitted by Caspiterin89 on Tue, 08/04/2020 - 13:28

Don't worry Andrii, at the beginning it can be kinda weird, but if you are consistent you are going to be way more calm and aware of the present. It's a really good habit, I'm meditating consistently since this May and I can feel the difference! So I reccomend you to give a shot! Peace Caspiterin89

In reply to by Andrii

Submitted by hermione123 on Sat, 01/16/2021 - 00:07

Hi, Caspiterin89 Could you please tell me how to do meditation?

In reply to by Caspiterin89

Submitted by hermione123 on Sat, 01/16/2021 - 00:05

Yes, agree. Meditation is kinda weird . Maybe, if i try meditation, someone will ask what i am doing.

In reply to by Andrii

Submitted by Haley1617 on Thu, 03/26/2020 - 16:37

I usually do art when I'm bored, or I read a book. I have tried meditation, and do it sometimes, thanks to my mom. She started meditation when I was about 6, and has calmer and kinder ever since
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