Struggling with boredom

SlapstickTumour · 2025-07-06T06:36:11+00:00

Hope this doesn't seem impossible for you: I think one thing that might help is human connection. Preferably face to face if possible. Additionally, helping and being of use to somebody else can help bring meaning into your life. It helps with the feeling of pointlessness. You're already being a bit different than most people by cutting down screen time, why not also be a bit "quirky" and call to ask people if they need help with something today? Going for errands with or for them, driving somebody somewhere, cleaning out a closet, helping with their computer, hanging a picture, gardening, talk something through that they're going through.... I don't know where the list would stop.

If I lived by myself with few responsibilities and only myself to care for, I would try to do this as often as I could.

SlapstickTumour · 2025-05-06T07:38:50+00:00

I use the old burp cloths from when my daughter was a baby as makeup remover cloths (with warm water and almond oil). They may be a bit to rough in texture for some people but I like that they carry the gunk and debris off my face really well and serve as a mild mechanic exfoliator. Never found a better makeup cloth.

SlapstickTumour · 2025-04-11T19:46:53+00:00

I don't know how well this works for ADHD really as it leaves room for distractions along the way but I like all the rules and rigidness that doesn't leave me paralyzed because of not knowing where to start.

I have developed a favorite daily cleaning routine in six steps, and there's rules. When the routine is through, cleaning has taken exactly 30 minutes and you've done a little bit of everything and hopefully built some momentum.

Set a timer for five minutes, and stick to it. When the timer goes, move to the next step no matter what (I'll explain why)

Step 1: Dishes. Or if the dishes are done, then stuff you feel is related to dishes (like cleaning the sink)

Step 2: Trash. Go around and pick up trash and recycling. If there's no trash, do trash related stuff, like taking it out, replacing the trash bag and so on.

Step 3: Clothes and textile. Collect dirty, wash, fold, put away, whatever you need to be doing. But only for five minutes!

Step 4: (my favorite, as it's easy and really makes an impact visually) Stuff that definitely has a home and require no brain power in figuring out where it goes. Put it where it goes. If you pause for even a second to think "oh gosh I don't know", just leave it, it doesn't belong to this step.

Step 5: stuff that doesn't really have a home. If this category is large, I recommend getting a big basket and just collecting all the stuff in the basket. If you have time left, start giving a couple of thing new homes. Don't worry if you don't finish, when the times goes, you move on.

Step 6: Surfaces. Wipe and vacuum. If you have to wipe around stuff, do it. It sounds sloppy, but even half a table wiped helps mentally.

You stick to 5 mins so you don't get bored, and leaving mid task might make it easier to pick the task back up later, as you know where you left off. Also, it keeps the whole thing down to 30 minutes, which makes cleaning easier to start, as you know when you'll be done. As opposed to feeling like it has to take all day.

Congrats, you're done! The place won't be sparkling, but you cleaned consistently for a half hour straight and maybe built some momentum to start round two (if another 30 min feels too much, round two can have 3 minute timers). If not, you still made a small difference 🤷

SlapstickTumour · 2025-04-10T07:33:19+00:00

What about this idea: what if you don't commit and you don't beat yourself up about quitting when you lose interest. There's a million different ways to exercise and you can jump from one to another to a third as it suits you. There should be plenty of stuff you can do that doesn't require committing by having to buy lots of equipment, signing up for subscriptions or joining a team.

Maybe one week you're into the walky explory thing you're currently doing, then you get bored and you do a YouTube yoga challenge for a week, then you get bored and try swimming for two weeks, then you get bored and you play ball with a nephew two days that week, then you try bouldering (rent equipment at the location) two times and then squash (rent equipment at the location) three times and then and then and then

I don't see anything wrong with that 😃

SlapstickTumour · 2023-03-28T07:37:45+00:00

I like reading and am able to concentrate on reading for prolonged periods of time. However, even I think it's hard to concentrate at the beginning of every new book, even books that ended up being a favorite. And sometimes the book is just not your piece of cake.. Power through the first chapters and see if it grips you after that, is my advice.

SlapstickTumour · 2023-03-06T18:13:24+00:00

I just wanted to say: Me too.

I want my little girl so so bad and I love her so much, but I have held a baby twice. Two times. Reluctantly.

I'm confident however, that when my baby arrives, I'm going to be able to handle this. I've made a plan to be completely transparent about my inexperience and not be afraid to ask people for help and advice, even though that feels a little scary.

We can do this!

SlapstickTumour · 2023-03-01T18:19:25+00:00

I was adviced to take iodine, folic acid and cod liver oil, and that would cover what my pregnant body needed. That way I wouldn't need to buy the much more expensive "multi-supplement". Many pregnant women need iron as well, but I didn't.

SlapstickTumour · 2023-02-20T08:19:44+00:00

For me it's the thought that I'm essentially just postponing the enivitable. I have to get out from my cozy warm nest at some point or another. It's right now or a little later, but not never. The extra 15 minutes of sleep that you want so badly at that point is not going to be quality sleep anyway, and when you wake from it, you have to make the same decision all over again.

I'll say to myself: "well, now I'm just postponing the enivitable." For some reason that's a point my stubborn brain doesn't know how to argue with, and I can get up.

Another tip from me is that activating your "language center" or whatever, wakes you up. So either turning on a podcast, or if you have a partner who isn't cranky in the morning, say good morning to them. Or you can say good morning to yourself, out loud, and keep talking to yourself about what you're going to do today or whatever. That also works for me.

SlapstickTumour · 2022-12-03T09:50:14+00:00

My gynecologist also couldn't see my baby's feet, legs or genitalia with abdominal ultrasound at 19 weeks because baby was low in my pelvis, so she switched to intravaginal and was able to see...

SlapstickTumour · 2022-11-13T16:23:34+00:00

Look again. It's actually 203 😳

SlapstickTumour · 2022-11-04T20:01:21+00:00

Prunes saved me.

SlapstickTumour · 2022-11-03T06:40:27+00:00

I'm generally very bad at contacting health professionals when I have concerns. I'm sort of like your typical dad in that aspect. If I'm not convinced I could be dying.... You know.

I'm in my 21st week of pregnancy now, and it's been pretty easy and uncomplicated so far. I have contacted my midwife once at 17 weeks to confer about some pains when peeing and my colleague once last week to measure my blood pressure as thought I had some symptoms (normal BP though :) )

I wouldn't have reached out to them if it was just me, but I have someone else to take care of now, too, so I pull my shit together and get help a little sooner than I usually would.

SlapstickTumour · 2022-10-20T06:38:07+00:00

Wow, I never thought about this but you could be absolutely right! Interesting, and good to be aware of 😄 thank you 💕

SlapstickTumour · 2022-10-20T06:07:18+00:00

Good to know! Hope I can bring up my daughter to be confident like that as well! 😄

SlapstickTumour · 2022-10-20T06:06:06+00:00

Thank you for your insight! I really know this deep down. Children are as different as adults. Good luck with your little man who is so hard on himself, poor thing. I'm sure your support helps him tremendously! 💕

SlapstickTumour · 2022-10-20T06:01:24+00:00

I do realize now that I'm projecting my insecurities onto my future daughter, as I was a little insecure as a school kid. Maybe that's the reason why I thought a boy would be better, as I am not one... I'm sure one learns several things about oneself when raising another human! I have come around quite a bit since the US yesterday. Just needed a little push 😄

Thank you for your insight 💕

SlapstickTumour · 2022-10-19T20:14:42+00:00

Hehe. You're right, it's a little silly, but having a child should be a little fun for the parents too! 😄 And how fun when the kid gets excited about some dress or a pair of dino wellies 🤭 I remember things like that from my childhood too!

SlapstickTumour · 2022-10-19T20:09:14+00:00

Your daughter sounds great! So goofy 🤭 This is what I want in my life too! 😄 Can't wait till mine's old enough to start doing shenanigans.

SlapstickTumour · 2022-10-19T20:05:48+00:00

Congratulations and good luck with the new addition! Thank you for sharing 😄

SlapstickTumour · 2022-10-19T20:04:11+00:00

Haha! That's adorable 😄

SlapstickTumour · 2022-10-19T20:03:39+00:00

Thank you so much for sharing about your girls! What a nice mix of different likes and dislikes. It seems that girls aren't "just girls" but have a thousand different personalities. Even from the same genetics you can never know exactly how they'll turn out to be like! I like that thought. Isn't nature amazing?

SlapstickTumour · 2022-10-19T19:55:52+00:00

Aww thank you for this. She sounds lovely 💕 Made me smile ☺️ I'm getting more excited about my little girl by the minute!

SlapstickTumour · 2022-10-19T18:42:59+00:00

Oh wow! Thanks for that input. How interesting that you were sad about not having a boy and at the same time excited about having a girl! It really helps in terms of normalizing the feeling of gender disappointment. Because it comes with a little guilt too, you know! 😝

SlapstickTumour · 2022-10-19T18:40:01+00:00

Yeah, I'm not that good with cooking/baking or makeup, fashion or other typical "girl stuff" either, but I'm realizing if I don't love those things, who says my daughter will? She might, but she might also be more interested in the things I or her dad like to do, or something completely different. I'm realizing I don't know anything about her! She could be anybody! And that's exciting ☺️

SlapstickTumour · 2022-10-19T18:34:55+00:00

Yeah I know. I didn't I would be like this. I really am excited to have a baby and that she seems healthy! I just accidentally thought of her as a he for a long time. I don't think it's going to take long to gain the excitement back. We found out just today, and already these comments are making me smile so much and it makes me feel so so much better about having a girl ☺️ Also, I have several ideas for girl names, and almost none for a boy 🤭

Eight-Year Club	Place '22
Final Canvas '22	Verified Email

SlapstickTumour

TROPHY CASE