Bored All the Time? Reasons, What To Do, Vulnerable Personality, and More

Bored All the Time? Reasons, Vulnerable Personality

Scrolling through reels on Instagram, watching YouTube shorts in a loop, or chatting/posting stories on WhatsApp are the go-to routine for people to keep themselves engaged nowadays, young or old. This way they always have something to do. So, the absence of it often results in boredom.

“The human mind has been conditioned to look for instant gratification and ongoing stimulation. Social media, short format content, and instant gratification all contribute to a reduced ability for peace or simplicity. Therefore, once external distractions are removed, people will feel inner unease, which manifests as boredom,” Dr Ambarish Ghosh points out.

He explains that on a “clinical level,” boredom can signal under-stimulation. “If your life is unmeaningful or unvaried, your brain is hungry for substance and novelty. This is especially true for those with high impulsive personality or high attention-seeking traits. These people tend to have trouble with slow environments, monotonous work, or quiet periods. Studies also show that people with certain Cluster B personality traits (those who are characterized by emotional, dramatic, or erratic behaviours) may feel bored or restless unless they’re at the centre of emotionally intense situations,” he highlights.

Dr Achal Bhagat, senior consultant psychiatrist and psychotherapist at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, Delhi, mentions about the "neurobiological basis" of chronic boredom. She says, it "involves dopamine pathways responsible for motivation and reward processing. When these systems function differently, individuals may require higher levels of novelty or challenge to feel engaged."

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So, it can be concluded that boredom is often not “the absence of something to do. It's the absence of mental or emotional investment in what is offered in front of you,” he says.

That apart, feeling bored can be possibly due to not engaging in activities that may challenge you or when you may have unclear goals and objectives. A few external factors mightbe social isolation (limited interaction with others) or a dull environment that fails to keep your brain cells active.

Is Perennial Boredom Detrimental?

“Boredom is not intrinsically detrimental. It serves as a psychological indicator that merits attention. This sensation may suggest a lack of emotional fulfillment or a disparity between one's current lifestyle and the elements that genuinely contribute to personal fulfilment,” says Dr Ambarish Ghosh.

So, how do you combat this? By meaningful engagement via:

• Cultivating a hobby that requires focus
• Learning a new skill
• Re-establishing order to the day
• Exercising as that is helpful in enhancing mood, attention, and energy
• Creating real-life connections
• Reducing screen time
• Even mundane habits such as cooking, reading, or writing can restore a sense of control and purpose

“Finally, boredom provides a reflection. It reflects what is lacking, and in a conscious manner, it can lead us to more self-awareness, intention, and presence,” wraps up Dr Ambarish Ghosh.

On her part, Dr Bhagat says, "While chronic boredom can sometimes accompany mood disorders or attention-related conditions, simple adjustments to daily patterns, combined with patience and self-compassion, typically yield positive results over time."

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