Fighting Boredom and Depression

Have you ever just gotten into a slump, like a rut? Do you ever feel like one day is the same as the next and that nothing you do makes a difference, and you have found yourself just sitting and staring at the television, not even following the program, or hearing it?

Sometimes when life seems to be handing you the same repetitive routine, and there is not enough mental stimulation in it to keep your interest, we become bored, and if something does not change soon thereafter, depression will set in simply because we begin to feel that we are not making any difference in our world, or that our existence isn't important if this boredom continues over a long enough period.

There are several possibilities to overcoming this type of depression without going into the doctors office and getting medication to combat it. If you are the type of person who would rather not complicate your problems by adding an addictive medication into the mix, try some of these activities to help combat the depression. Many times for the older parent, it comes from empty nest syndrome, after kids have left the home and you now have vast quantities of time that used to be filled by kids and their needs.

Sometimes when you are stuck in a rut, the way out feels so overwhelmingly big and impossible that many times people will just give up. The easiest way to get out of this rut is called "baby steps". Don't look at the huge problem, but do one little thing at a time to start the change in routine. Hobbies are sometimes a good way to begin. Think about some of the things that you have always wanted to do, and for an example let us say making quilts has interested you. A baby step towards this would be to visit your local thrift store and find remnants, and begin to cut the squares. This would be a baby step towards the end of completing a quilt.

If you are more of a people person, and your depression is more because of a loneliness rather than boredom, look in the newspaper for community activities, or look up a charity that may be needing help towards helping a need in your community. There is nothing like feeling needed, and when you look into the eyes of a hungry child, or a homeless person who needs clothes, being there to help that person and the gratitude felt will lift your spirits more than a pill ever will.

Whatever your personal problem is that may be causing your depression, do not just sit there and continue feeling this way, for the longer you allow yourself to be down in the dumps, the harder it is to pull yourself out of it. Every person is valuable, and every person should not allow themselves to become useless. That feeling of uselessness will soon turn into hopelessness, and there are too many things to do, needs to be met, and useful things that you can do.

There is also the needs of children. Do you realize how many kids do not have adults that care or that cannot be there for them because of working hours? Mentoring is a needed endeavor, and so are tutors. Teach a youngster something you know, or show a young person that all adults are not the same, that there are adults out in the world that care enough to take the time to be there for them. There are so many things that a person can do to fill the gap in their lives. Do not be the kind of person that just sits and falls into the trap of nothing to do, until it is too late. Be active in not only your life, but in the lives of others in your community or even in the world. Get creative, get active, and get going now. You will be glad you did!!