What does "being bored" actually FEEL like?

[chiroptera]

@msmith537

I find that statement strange as well. Particularly since my primary reason for even posting in SDMB is to relieve boredom.

Must be all the Ritalin the kids are taking these days.

Boredom is defined as “an unpleasant, transient affective state in which the individual feels a pervasive lack of interest and difficulty concentrating on the current activity". In other words, it feels like having to do something (or nothing) and wanting really really badly to do something else (although often you might not even know what that is).

Think of it like watching a TV show or reading a book you hate for the fifth time.

But I find it difficult to believe that someone wouldn’t ever have felt “bored” with anything. Whether that is a class in school, a slow period at work, or maybe the power goes out for a day.

The “restless frustration” mentioned upthread is a great descriptor - I suppose that can also be termed boredom, per the definition you provide. Except I’d call that frustration and not boredom. IOW, why on earth would anyone watch a film or read a book for the fifth time if they didn’t want to?

I always thought “boredom” means…not knowing what you want to do, and furthermore, not being interesting in doing something, anything; not being able to come up with something to do (or a satisfying state of simply being). Essentially wanting to be entertained, or looking for external stimuli?

My business (I’m a painting contractor) definitely involves a whole lot of rote and repetitive, and not mentally-stimulating, behaviour. But I either listen to NPR while I work, or chat with people around me, or get lost in my thoughts while I’m working. I never feel restless, or as if I could be doing something else more worthwhile, or frustrated. When I’m not working, I’m either doing active/social things, reading, or (like now!) piddling around online, which I find quite enjoyable.

[ouryL]

On wee spelled ennui.

[monstro]

@chiroptera

The “restless frustration” mentioned upthread is a great descriptor - I suppose that can also be termed boredom, per the definition you provide. Except I’d call that frustration and not boredom.

If you say you’re full of restless frustration, people are gonna look at you strange.

[msmith537]

@chiroptera

The “restless frustration” mentioned upthread is a great descriptor - I suppose that can also be termed boredom, per the definition you provide. Except I’d call that frustration and not boredom. IOW, why on earth would anyone watch a film or read a book for the fifth time if they didn’t want to?

I always thought “boredom” means…not knowing what you want to do, and furthermore, not being interesting in doing something, anything; not being able to come up with something to do (or a satisfying state of simply being). Essentially wanting to be entertained, or looking for external stimuli?

My business (I’m a painting contractor) definitely involves a whole lot of rote and repetitive, and not mentally-stimulating, behaviour. But I either listen to NPR while I work, or chat with people around me, or get lost in my thoughts while I’m working. I never feel restless, or as if I could be doing something else more worthwhile, or frustrated. When I’m not working, I’m either doing active/social things, reading, or (like now!) piddling around online, which I find quite enjoyable.

It’s sort of like what delphica describes with conference calls. When I used to be a developer, most of my day could be spent engaged in writing and testing code. Now that I am a program manager, I don’t really “do” anything. I mean I have tasks I do, but not stuff that commands my intellectual abilities. I just sort of sit in front of my computer watching emails and conference call invites come in from all over the world. Then I respond or sit on those calls. Later, I fill out some status updates and send them off to someone who I assume doesn’t read them.

Painting the bathroom in my condo is more engaging. Heck, watching the paint dry afterwards is more engaging.

[chiroptera]

@monstro

If you say you’re full of restless frustration, people are gonna look at you strange.

I try to avoid telling people that.

@msmith537

It’s sort of like what delphica describes with conference calls. When I used to be a developer, most of my day could be spent engaged in writing and testing code. Now that I am a program manager, I don’t really “do” anything. I mean I have tasks I do, but not stuff that commands my intellectual abilities. I just sort of sit in front of my computer watching emails and conference call invites come in from all over the world. Then I respond or sit on those calls. Later, I fill out some status updates and send them off to someone who I assume doesn’t read them.

Painting the bathroom in my condo is more engaging. Heck, watching the paint dry afterwards is more engaging.

That sounds…boring! Heh.
Lots of jokes about watching paint dry (and missing a spot, and gun control, etc) in my trade. But I enjoy the creativity and the fact that each job offers up a different set of people, colours, finishes, locations, challenges. I enjoy what I do and am never bored at work.