AIBU to be bored out of my tree?

[Soveryboredboredbored]

I'm going insane and really feel my boredom is having a very negative impact on my mental health. It makes me obsess over tiny things which do not matter.

Today- and frequently - I had very little work to do (wfh) and have spent the day wallowing and scrolling. Literally in front of my computer, scrolling my phone. My job is up and down in terms of busy-ness but this is not rare.

People seem to think this period is so busy. I have pre school DC, a house to keep on top of, a well paid professional job. I exercise, read books, have good family relationships close by and a few local friends (most further afield). I have a good relationship with my husband. But I have huge swathes of dead time, don't feel v busy at all (and I don't really like being too busy so am not someone who wants to be on the go all the time) and am just so bloody bored. Maybe I need an engrossing hobby but I've never had one! Anyone else feel like this?! Is there something you are all doing that I'm not doing?! There's 'slow living' and then there's stagnating...

Anyone can decorate. maybe watch some tutorials on diy as decorating could easily fill your time and be so rewarding if you are not getting proper satisfaction from your job.

How about looking at studying with the Open University? You can do that easily online alongside your work.

I feel exactly the same. My DC are older but my work days are soooo dull. I'd struggle to fill 2 days let alone 5. When I took the job I was promised it was ' full on' like you OP, I suspect everyone in the whole team/company is underworked.

If love to know where all these jobs are where you get paid - well - for doing nothing

Do you have a passion? Not like a hobby but a passion? Something you think about when your mind is idle? I found after kids there was a space I didnt realise was there. I'd been so focused in the excitement of uni, building a career, , setting up home. Then getting pregnant, then birth, having a baby. Then it felt like i had done the most exciting things I'd planned to do and felt restless.

Could you become a school governor? There's a dire need for good ones!

Not helpful but I would love your life! To sit & read a book or watch tv at this point in life is a pipe dream for me’ how do you do this? I do have a dog but I’m forever cleaning, tidying, making tea etc etc….literally never stop! Apart from 30 seconds to write this🤣

in your position, I would go on lovely walks, shopping, read more books, volunteer, meet your local friends for coffee & cake & if you’re still bored…

Get a dog!😃

Also, forgot..I have 1 child too!

Must be nice! I think I terms of what you're missing... Most of us are really busy at work so we're mentally and or physically pretty knackered at home time. We then have to do all of the stuff to maintain our lives in an evening. I work freelance too so although I've just finished my work day I'm gonna do some of my freelance work now 😣

If I had loads of free time at work I'd do my freelance work during that time, craft, clean and listen to audio books or podcasts. If I could I'd go for walks too or exercise, but not sure if you need to be on hand all the time?

I know to some people it seems like my diamond shoes are too tight....but being bored and sluggish is really impacting my mental health.

Today - got DC up, had breakfast with them, got them ready and out the door, 20 min exercise class before work. Order 2 x kids party present. Book and pay for DC hobby. Bake some muffins. Do 2 hours of work. Have long lunch hour, brief walk outside. Spend 45 mins cleaning house and listening to podcast. Leaves me 3 hours to sit around twiddling my mouse. Will go to yoga tonight. Then have 2 more hours of 'chill out' time before bed 😂 Its just really odd to have so much empty time.... I start thinking 'am I not doing enough for my kids', 'Am I missing something major'?....

What a luxury to have - to be able to waste so much time.
So many constructive things you must be able to do.

I get it. My job sounds similar although not as senior or well paid. But when the work comes in I'm expected to turn it around quickly (I think). Lack of direction!

It's a relatively new job and I'm already thinking of leaving! However I am doing a side qualification in my own time unrelated to the job and just do this during my working day. It feels so wrong.

I'm afraid of stagnating in this job for too long and when I do get a busy job, not being able to handle it.

It's a very weird place to be (and yes, I have asked for more work!)

Wow. That day sounds wonderful but I can see how day after day it might drag.

Learn a language?
Learn a new skill?

Be careful what you wish for - so many jobs have you running to keep up!

Fuck me.

As a student teacher I WISH I had this problem.

Enjoy it, OP. There is so, so much you can do with your time.

Same here. I can’t do anything outside the house because I’m meant to be working. But there isn’t enough work so I’m twiddling my thumbs a lot of the time. I do all the admin, bills, presents, holidays, housework, laundry etc. but it doesn’t fill the hours. I don’t know what the answer is.

It’s so hard to keep motivating yourself when you’re in a really boring job. I briefly had a job with ten minutes of actual work each day, and an expectation that I spend the rest of my time looking busy. My desk was very tidy. It should be good but is actually mind numbing.

It really is very odd. I came from years in genuinely high pressure roles, constant working, always behind. I thought this would be the same and it's just not...I actually thrive off hard work and always have. It's a huge piece missing not to have it anymore. Can't decide whether to move on or think myself lucky and embrace a slower life.

Thanks to all those people who understand what I'm getting at/are in the same position!

If you are interested, you could learn a language. There are a lot of online courses (try City Lit), and as ‘little and often’ works well for learning a language, you could fit some study into the slow parts of the day.

What industry are you in and where do I sign up? 😉

Thanks for all the suggestions. I already have about 6 post grad qualifications and can speak 2 languages (overqualified and underoccupied!).

I am absolutely lacking a 'passion'. Maybe I should start on my vague dream of writing a novel...