A Boomer’s Cure for Boredom

How can you increase your overall well-being? It’s easy if you stay open and receptive to new ideas. The key is to be flexible in your thinking and behavior and to not fall into a rut.

Your familiar routine becomes the problem and that leads to boredom and frustration. Your life becomes so ho-hum that it’s no longer memorable. To get unstuck, you need to bring more spice and excitement into your life. You can only do that by shaking things up and by stepping outside your comfort zone.

Basically, if you realize that your thoughts, feelings and actions put you where you are today, then your thoughts, feelings and actions can put you somewhere else as well. Take an inventory of all the wonderful things that are happening in your life, whether it’s your job, your marriage, your friends, your children, etc. Acknowledge that you have done a great job and were successful in getting yourself to that point. Now examine what isn’t working and see if you notice how your behavior or thinking has manifested that too.

The more you expand your choices and how you use them, the more you’ll discover about yourself. You will then make your life more colorful and more spirited than you could ever have imagined.
Here are some things you can do to stop coasting and to start breezing through life:

1. Make one new decision right now that would flip your life around –just a little. You want to disrupt your present patterns so that your mind has to concentrate on a new way of doing things (for example, take a new route to work, join a Salsa class, write with your non-dominant hand).

2. As in the movie, “The Bucket List”, make a list of things you’ve always wanted to do over your lifetime –and then do it! Stop putting off learning Spanish, the piano, guitar or tap dancing because you deserve to have fun and enjoy your life to the max!

3. Start expanding your circle of friends to bring new ideas and activities into your life. Invite some casual acquaintances over for coffee or volunteer at your favorite charity.

4. Change your diet by exploring foods you never ate before and experiment with new recipes to excite your stomach and palate.

5. Change your appearance. Cut your hair, get highlights or revamp your wardrobe. What you are striving for is not super stardom, but to feel attractive and refreshed. You may not be aware of the many hair, cosmetic and fashion secrets that are available to enhance your appearance and make you look and feel younger. When the compliments start coming in, you’ll know what I mean!

It’s all about reinventing yourself. Think of it as a new adventure to explore all the possibilities that would make you more exciting and fulfilled. The changes you make are innovative and fun and will make you feel more renewed and revitalized. There are no limitations on what you can do. Stay open and flexible and you will find your forget about boredom and are living your much desired dreams.