When life gets boring... CHANGE IT UP!!

Have you ever found yourself in a rut - or what you think is a rut. You criticize yourself for feeling so negative and you feel sorry for yourself. Maybe your just bored of the same lonely apartment you have been stuck in for a few days. Maybe you are tired of doing the same work day in and day out. CHANGE IT UP!!!!  These three words or shall I say this  "Action" will save your life.  I have spoken to several people in the past few days who have told me they were bored to death with their lives. "What should I do?" they ask -  I am not motivated to do anything right now, I am really sad, I cant focus, etc etc etc.  When I first hear this I think back to a time when I was in the same situation and how I cleared space in my head. The first step is to identify the exact problem. Is the problem that you are not enjoying the specifics  of what you are doing? Is the problem that you are not having enough social interactions? Is the problem that you are neglecting areas of your life? Whatever it may be, you need to identify it. The example I am going to touch on  is about a friend who recently came to me and said that he was lonely. He was studying for a degree in medicine which took up the majority of his day and he felt that he had no time to do anything besides study.  I said to to my friend, " You are sitting here on the computer moping to me about your life - therefore you have enough time on your hands to do something else besides study." He laughed and explained how he has no friends where he is and lives by himself.  

Here are the series of questions I presented to him based on our conversation - are you lonely because you do not have a roommate? Do you secretly not like the work you are doing? or are you spending too much time by yourself?  He told me that he was in the process of looking for a roommate for the following semester and meets with his friends on the weekends. He further explained that he  spends way too much time cramped up in his apartment, studying day in and day out.  As people we crave for attention and even the smallest amount of social interaction is enough to make us smile. I told him that maybe he can try studying in a public setting such as a library or a coffee shop - he got excited. I told him not to worry about the following semesters roommate and to worry about NOW - or the importance of doing well in his program. He agreed  and said that he chose to study medicine due to his passion for it not because he was forced to. We continued to discuss and i told him that by focusing his attention on the work as something he likes he  can make it a more enjoyable process.  As we went on and on I explained that even the most dedicated and passionate people need to step away from their work to partake in a recreational activity. We suggested; the gym, doing a hobby of some sort, going to the mall, reading a book, etc etc.  People cannot submerge themselves in something 24/7 without enjoying other areas in life. Some of the greatest people in history were musicians but also sculptors, inventors but also musicians, philosophers but also dancers. He told me he is going to study at the library and on his off times, attend classes at the gym or do an activity he used to enjoy.  I was very happy to see how easily he shifted from being sad to happy. He was very negative in the beginning of our conversation, and became very positive towards the end. It was nice to see this sort of excitement. Many do not realize the importance of change. I listened to a lecture from a friend at a toastmasters  club, who explained how using Feng Shui in a home or office is extremely effective for changing ones mindset. By clearing the clutter in your home or office you become less stressed out and more at peace. Next time you are feeling down ask yourself this simple question - How can I relieve my stress by changing what I am doing. This will surely enhance your life.

Enjoy your week,

Geoff Goodman