"I'm bored to death."

 

Boredom, at it's worst, really is life threatening. Boredom can lead people to risk or ruin their lives with drugs, alcohol, gambling and food addictions, to name a few. These are short-term artificial diversions, and the result is a predictable treadmill to oblivion.

 

Boredom can, of course, just be temporary, but when it lingers, it's a warning sign of serious problems that include depression and even suicide. Boredom leads people to drop out of school, change jobs a lot, get a divorce, and in general, create a lot of problems for themselves and others. So, if you're experiencing too much boredom or know someone who is, action is needed to overcome it.

 

Get the reading habit. Seldom go anywhere without a book, magazine, or newspaper handy. It is reading, not watching TV that will provide the real information and the entertainment you need to enhance and enrich your life.

 

Develop Hobbies. Hobbies may be recreational, artistic, or intellectual, but whatever they may be, they should be actively pursued. Activities give a special dimension to one's life.

 

Become a Joiner. One should belong to organizations that share your interests. There are literally thousands of organizations eager to have you as a member, whether at the local, state, or international level. Seek them out.

 

Seek a Lifetime of Learning. Take advantage of the opportunities to learn new things at any age. Take pride in yourself; stay in school if you're currently attending. Even if you're a college graduate, stay young by taking courses at a local college, university or adult school. Attend seminars and conferences. Join tours that combine travel with learning opportunities. Feed your mind.

 

Watch Television Selectively. Do not become a slave to the television. If you find yourself spending all your spare time in front of the TV, turning from channel to channel to find anything of interest to watch, you're wasting time that could generate a lot more fun.

 

Take on your Responsibilities. Life involves a variety of errands we must do. Adopt a positive attitude: they'll become easier and provide a welcome routine each day. Chores are a way of learning and maintaining personal self-discipline.

 

Don't Isolate Yourself. Make a point of getting out of your home. By spending time with your family and friends, you can secure valuable support or advice with which to make decisions. Or you can just have a good time. When you volunteer your time to help others, the satisfaction is immeasurable.

 

Say "I Can!" The first step toward any achievement is your own confidence and belief in yourself. Success is often a process of overcoming a series of initial failures. Work and determination hold the key to success. Nobody said life is easy. The cliche is repeated for a reason; because it's true. Life is supposed to be a challenge. That's what makes it worth living.

 

Be Nice to Yourself. Until you're prepared to like yourself, you can't really like anybody else. So, within reason, be nice to yourself by doing those little things that make you happy.

 

Have a Wish List. Always have a wish list of things you want to do, want to learn, want to see, and want to be. You'll notice I didn't say, "Want to have." Just having "things" is not the key to happiness. Becoming the person you want to be is what matters.