63 points
*

People who are bored all the time could be depressed. Depression being stigmatized, people won’t necessarily want to talk about it more directly, or “bother” other people with it. It could also just be expressing a desire to do something without knowing what.

The people basically encouraging chores (wtf?) or implying they’re a manipulative emotional vampire should consider being a little less judgmental.

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43 points

You don’t. Boredom is a gift. It drives people to be creative and improve themselves.

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7 points

I’ve used Dota 2 as a crutch for years, stopping it every now and then when I felt it was interfering with my personal development or school work.

I’m a moment of stoppage now…and man, having the time to write (I like to write), or play with AI stuff or clean my home or pack (we’re moving soon) is really nice. I don’t have that intense inner pressure that comes with winning or losing an online multiplayer game, which just opens up so much space for everything else.

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7 points

Or it could turn you into a huge stoner like it did to me for like a decade. I’m from a suburban area, but there isn’t much to do around here other than drink, farm and hunt. Drinking gets old quickly and I don’t farm or hunt. Also the weather limited my choice of activities for a good 5 months out of the year.

I just moved down to South Florida where I just want to be active because the weather is nice (at least for now, ask me again in about 4 months) and everyone looks good, so if I’m not laying out by the pool or working out (for “free” at the building’s gym) I’m usually doing something else, rather than sitting inside smoking out of boredom.

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1 point

Boredom is a gift that gives people energy.

Where they spend that energy is entirely up to their circumstances. Do they binge watch an entire series of the simpsons? Or do they take up painting.

It can lead to wonderful things, but equally it can be squandered.

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37 points

This is fairly common in both depression and ADHD, so maybe check on them? Like, make sure they are personally okay. Someone who needs to be consistently stimulated is probably uncomfortable at rest. Being bored all the time is something I struggle with personally. I have ADHD and depression and trauma. Addressing and working on those things helps immensely with the chronic boredom. When I’m more depressed or anxious, I’m more easily bored and crave more stimulation. So, yeah, play Ted Lasso and check in on them.

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3 points

They say they have no interest in doing anything and are sad.

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5 points

Yeah that sounds like some kind of depression. If it isn’t medical cause try to get them socializing and into creative or explorative hobbies. If it’s medical just be there and encourage them to seek treatment

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0 points

Bet if you got them a living wage and affordable health care they’d be a lot better.

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33 points

You don’t. Unless your job is to entertain this person otherwise it’s his/hers problem. If by any chance this this person is putting the responsibility of his/hers emotional state on your shoulders and asking you to do something, it’s not ok and is an attempt of manipulation.

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25 points

Or a cry for help because the person only knows this way to ask for that kind of help.

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3 points

A continuous boredom is actually more like a feeling of emptynes and a lack of energy to engage. You cannot help someone fill the emotional emptiness they are feeling, you don’t even know the cause. And it leads only to codependency.

Even if it’s a cry for help you can show them your perspective but it’s their job to heal and get out of the “pit” they are into.

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3 points

God forbid people care about others

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16 points

There is two things to do

  1. find something they enjoy and ask if they want to do it

  2. realize they were never gonna do #1 no matter how interesting it might be. And now you know why they’re always bored

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