It’s clear now that we will be stuck in our homes for all of April, doing our part to stem the spread of the coronavirus. And let’s be real, I’ve got a close eye on May as well, if not October. While we may be minimizing our physical health risks by staying at home, the negative effects of boredom might be the second-wave infection facing our society. What can we do to maintain or even improve our prospects for sound mental and financial health during these times?
The Boredom Dilemma
Since leaving my job in early February, I’ve been repeatedly asked by friends, family, and readers of this website if I’m bored.
“Hey buddy, aren’t you bored yet”?
And that was in late February and early March, long before the rest of the world joined me at home. In their home, not mine.
The short answer is no. I’m not bored.
My days are packed! There’s still not enough time in the day⏤it’s amazing what you can get done without a job, without rock climbing, and without ever leaving a 2-mile radius around your house!
It’s natural to assume that boredom will permeate a schedule once filled with work obligations. As I’ve mentioned many times before, we spend so much time at work, preparing for work, or otherwise designing our lives around work. Even for those now working from home, all that time previously spent commuting, putting on pants, and covering a coworker’s screen with 87 sticky notes is now wide open.
How should we fill all this time with meaningful tasks and activities?
Filling Boredom with Technology
To ease even momentary boredom, we often turn to technology.
Hit a snag at work? Facebook.
Awkward silence in a conversation? Instagram.
New thought? Twitter.
House is quiet? Television.
We have rapidly become conditioned to fill our brains with flashy screen time instead of productive routines and/or conscious thought. Increased screen time is clearly linked to lower psychological well-being and poor physical health.
Concerningly, there’s a whole lot of anxiety-riddled news media out there these days. If one’s choice du jour is to revert to listening to or reading endless analysis of this situation (beyond responsible levels of self-informing), a vicious cycle of negativity is created:
Listen to news > get scared > feel the need to listen to more news > get more scared > look at stock market > get more scared > buy more toilet paper > sell life savings in stock market for comfort of cash > watch more news and try and figure out market bottom > miss bottom > lose more money > get depressed > etc.
I’ve already written a lot of words on this subject, so check this out for more: Digital Minimalism: Give Me Back My Brain.
Bottom Line: It is exceptionally easy to fill down time with an excessive and unproductive amount of technology. Increased levels of screen time are associated with negative psychological and physical manifestations, so we are much better suited to limit or repurpose our technology use. Let’s dig into some ways to turn the tables in our favor.
Step 1: Consider Good Fortune Where It Exists and Plan for Misfortune
If you are still one of the fortunate ones with full-time remote work, first stop to consider your good fortune. For the week ending on March 21, we saw a truly staggering 3.3 million unemployment claims. On Wednesday, the US Department of Labor announced an additional 6.6 million claims for the week ending on March 28! Need some perspective? Check out this chart.
We are seeing people leave the workforce at a level never before seen (not even remotely close). If this isn’t a wake-up call to consider your position of financial strength or weakness, I don’t know what is!
It is now imperative for everyone to take stock on their personal or business finances. I’ve outlined below some key steps we can take, which also will fill some time. Boredom conquered!
(Related Post: The Shocking Headlines of the 2008 Financial Crisis (And Why They Are So Important Now)
Let’s first ask ourselves some questions:
Am I prepared if I were to lose one or more sources of income for me or my family?
Can recurring bills be paid if my income is reduced?
Have I built simple systems to save for an eventual (or early) retirement, even if I am young? (Here is why income is no longer guaranteed for those 50 and older).
If you’ve been living paycheck-to-paycheck, there is no better time than now to create a plan for providing margin. For many of us, a series of choices and and subsequent actions can markedly change the trajectory of our lives. That’s our story, anyway.
Bottom Line: Consider the good fortune of having steady income in a time of incredibly high initial unemployment claims. Regardless, it is imperative to now gauge your financial resiliency.
Step 2: Reframing Boredom
Boredom is commonly associated with negative outcomes. However, we also know that boredom can spawn creativity and lead to skill creation. We must first believe that boredom can be harnessed before we slump on the couch in a defeated state, watching three straight episodes of Tiger King by lunchtime. Yeah, I’ve watched it. I’m not proud of it either.
Is there nothing in this big, wide, amazing world worth pursuing? Are there no skills to learn or perfect? What about that massive list of things we always said we’d do if it wasn’t for this job!?
Hell, I could stay busy for hours simply plotting and analyzing the raw US county-level coronavirus data meticulously compiled by the New York Times. And that’s me being a scientist, not a fearful headline reader.
Bottom Line: Boredom is often viewed through a negative lens. However, boredom can also be a catalyst for creativity and creation of new skills. Begin to assess how an abundance of down time can be used in your favor.
Step 3: Set Constraints: Converting Boredom to Skills with Intentional Use of Technology
There are obvious and irrefutable benefits of technology when properly utilized. One can spend hours of time on YouTube learning a new trade or skill. The result could be thousands of dollars saved or a new income stream. I’m pounding these words on a computer, and I guess you can be the judge on that one. As much as I rail against it, I use social media to promote this site and interact with other writers and readers. There’s never been a better time in history to build a platform and share it with thousands of people.
The key is to clearly define limits on the type and amount of technology use. These limits are especially critical for any technology that can easily become addictive. I find social media addicting. Not surprisingly, social media platforms are intentionally built to be addictive.
I show up to do one simple website-related task, and 15 minutes later I find myself strung out on The Onion again. I just did it again when I went to find that link! So weak!
Setting Technology Constraints
Here is a two-fold strategy for reducing time spent on addictive technology, inspired by Atomic Habits (James Clear):
Delete the app from your phone. Make it “invisible.” Now I have to go to my laptop or desktop computer instead of casually grabbing my phone. If you can’t delete the app, move it to a page on your phone all by its lonesome. Don’t stick it next to other commonly used apps. Out of sight, out of mind.
Set limits. Make it Difficult. I have 10-minute limits set on addictive social media apps. That way, I’m on to do business and get off before that thing squawks at me. Set limits that work for your goals and responsible use patterns.
Bottom Line: Technology is easy and abundant. Setting constraints on its use can free up hours of daily time for more meaningful and fulfilling tasks.
Step 4: Define Tasks and Create a Schedule for the Day
“Professionals stick to the schedule; Amateurs let life get in the way.”
James Clear, Atomic Habits
I’ve told you how I’m a slave to the schedule. And in a pre-Coronavirus world, I too at times faced a critical shortage of time. Thankfully, many of the same tactics used to find time in a busy world are equally useful when time is plentiful.
It’s far too easy to go down an endless rabbit hole of time-wasting activities if there aren’t some constraints placed on the day.
My recommendation is to begin each and every single day with a list of your desired or required tasks, followed by a schedule. Below is a very non-exhaustive list of potential activities to fill copious amounts of time.
List Example:
- Learn a language on Duolingo.
- Complete or start new home projects (that preferably doesn’t require driving to a hardware store).
- Finally learn how to make food at home that doesn’t suck.
- Start tracking your spending.
- Tally and track your net worth.
- If you haven’t already, devise an investing strategy.
- Create a plan to pay down debt.
- Meditate for 10 minutes. Set a timer, close your eyes, and count each breath. That’s it.
- Dust off that guitar and learn some scales on YouTube.
- Read a really funny book.
- Do a body-weight strength session. Or use weights. Smoke em’ if ya got em.’ I’m trying to perfect my Turkish Get-Ups. Plenty of free videos on Youtube.
- Organize a Zoom game night with friends or family.
Separating Work and Leisure
By having a schedule written, boundaries are established on what otherwise would be a blurry line between work and leisure. Not separating the two undermines the quality of them both. I’ve always been a scheduler, but Cal Newport was able to convince me of the value of a minute-by-minute (sort of) schedule in his fantastic book, Deep Work.
It’s important to honor the schedule as best as possible when it is time to move on to another task. Nothing is set in stone of course, but bear in mind that the schedule was created to focus the day or knock down important to-do items. Making a habit of continually letting certain tasks slip can be the beginning of the end for a good scheduling routine.
For instance, I like to end my productive day at 4:00pm. At that point Mrs. CC shuts down her laptop (and her work duties), we feed “Snickers,” and then we go on a long walk. If I’ve kicked several work-related tasks to spend more time on social media, for instance, I might need to make up some work time after dinner. The lines begin to blur.
Below is a schedule I’ve modified from my previous post on the subject to fit a stay-at-home lifestyle. For what it’s worth, I don’t have kids. I won’t attempt to build a schedule around rug rats because I don’t know. Sorry! I’ve also included an example of one of my schedules from a recent day, for those that might not be occupying their time with paid work.
Work-From-Home Schedule
This is a hypothetical work-from-home schedule.
6:00 – 7:00 Wake, brush teeth, prepare breakfast. Maybe listen to short news podcast.
7:00 – 7:15 Check and respond to work email
7:15 – 9:00 Finish presentation for tomorrow’s meeting
9:00 – 9:15 Check social media and personal email
9:15-10:15 Read journal articles related to new work project
10:15-10:30 Check and respond to work email
10:30-10:45 Responsible news consumption (enough to make you an informed citizen and no more)
10:45-11:00 Non-work web browsing. Research how to track your spending!
11:00-11:30 Make work call
11:30 – 12:00 Lunch
12:00 – 12:30 Walk
12:30 – 1:00 Watch two YouTube videos on how to fix your leaky sink
1:00 – 2:00 Team Meeting on Zoom
2:00 – 2:15 Check social media and personal email
2:15 – 3:45 Write Proposal for Budget
3:45 – 4:00 Check and Respond to Work Email
4:00 – 6:00 Train at Home (or run, or whatever)
6:00 – 6:30 Walk
6:30 – 7:30 Dinner with the main squeeze
7:30 – 9:00 Netflix, reading, prepare for bed.
My Non-Working (or Laid-Off) Schedule
This is an actual schedule from a recent day.
6:30-7:00 Wake, brush teeth, prepare breakfast. Listen to 10 min news podcast while preparing food.
7:00-8:45 Write for this website
8:45-9:00 Check social media accounts
9:00-10:00 Dog Walking. Finish second news podcast.
10:00-11:00 Research power inverters for camper. Take measurements outside.
11:00-11:30 Website: Emails, background web design
11:30-12:00 Lunch
12:00-1:00 Walk
1:00-2:00: Research Tax-Loss Harvesting
2:00-2:15 Meditate
2:15-2:30 Spanish lessons on Duolingo
2:30-4:30 Home training session
4:30-5:30 Walk
5:30-5:45 Check raw Coronavirus data and briefly check evolving local and national government orders. I’m a scientist and I love data.
5:45-7:30 Prepare and eat dinner. I love food. You do you.
7:30-8:30 Netflix
8:30-9:30 Prepare for bed, mobility drills, read
(Related Post: Walking the Walk and Other Tales by Foot)
Give it a try for a couple days, ok? If you don’t accomplish more or set better boundaries, then you don’t have to continue. As anal as it seems, I think you’ll find your days to be far more productive and enjoyable.
What do you have to lose by trying?
Bottom Line: Creating a daily list and detailed schedule provides critical boundaries for work/life balance. The schedule also provides a template for designing each day, ensuring tasks are completed.
Boredom, In Summary:
Let’s first try and reframe boredom with an eye towards the positive. Imagine all the skills and tasks we can accomplish with this down time! Conversely, if we allow our time to be filled with endless news and social media, coupled with a lack of human interaction, we are whipping up a hell of a depression sandwich. And that’s a sandwich without mustard, which isn’t worth having. Mayonnaise is gross, final determination.
Once we recognize that boredom can be a force for personal or greater good, we’re in the driver’s seat my man! Now that we’ve put some limits on our technology use, we can begin to create copious lists of new skills and tasks. With a carefully crafted schedule, you will soon find the days to be over before you know it. Keep work and play separate, for we do not wish for Jack to become a dull boy.
Stay safe everyone. Wash your filthy mitts, and I reckon we are wearing masks now. And please, continue to stay home. The crags and all your projects will still be there. I don’t think we’ll be quarantined on geologic time.
Remember, the best laid plans mean nothing if you can’t take action today. Have questions? Need some feedback? Hit us up on the Contact page.
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