What I do in my downtime.

An idle mind is a devil's workshop, so the saying and that is the utmost truth. When your mind is idle, negative thoughts become your mind. In 2018, I faced a life-changing realization about boredom that was how I knew boredom can consume us faster than we realize. That year, my husband and I experienced a huge loss of our savings due to an unproductive project we encountered. As if that wasn’t enough, we lost our only asset at the time to an unknown person, (a piece of landed property). It felt like a nightmare that shouldn't have happened, and I was left reeling from the shock.

Myself

In the midst of that, I had forgotten I just put to bed. I could hardly comprehend what was happening because I was sad. My heart ached, and I found myself crying every now and then. Nothing seemed to bring me joy, even my adorable baby, who needed my care. I would sit for hours, lost deeply in negative thoughts, neglecting everything that could lift my spirits. It was a nightmare that almost sent me into boredom and you know boredom leads to depression 🤔

But eventually, the spirit of hope emerged within me. I reminded myself that as long as there’s life, there’s hope. I began to seek out things that I truly enjoyed to chase away the boredom that had engulfed me. To date, I do these things then when so much happens and whenever boredom surfaces. I don't want to die because 100 years is what I signed up for 🤣 I got out of boredom that year by doing these👇👇and that's what I do whenever boredom surfaces till today.

My number one antidote to boredom is seeing a movie. It was/is my escape route out of boredom. Whether it is a gripping Korean drama or an entertaining American film, immersing myself in stories on screen provided me with a necessary distraction and a way to forget my worries, even if it's just for a while. Please recommend a good Korean movie for me when you get to read this post😁

My second source of boredom is social gatherings like parties. As a proud Yoruba woman from the Western part of Nigeria, I also turned to social gatherings. Parties are an integral part of our culture, and attending them brought a joyous break from my stress. Being surrounded by friends and family, dancing, and celebrating helped me reconnect with happiness. Going to a party to me is to see beautiful dresses with different styles of head gears from both male and female genders, gazing my eyes at different outfits, and stepping on the dance floor to dance away your sorrow 🤣 You will forget your worries immediately. You can try this and thank me later 👌

Have you seen someone who is so happy when it comes to cooking? I guess ** Cooking became another cherished outlet for me during my boredom time. There’s something immensely satisfying about creating a meal from scratch and sharing it with loved ones. Each dish I prepared was a step away from boredom, a way to nurture both my body and spirit. I must be extra careful not to burn my hands, so no worries in the kitchen 🤣 cooking makes my life easy!

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Spending time with my husband, loved ones, and best friends in different environments has also played a crucial role in lifting my spirits. Our chats, laughs, and shared experiences serve as a reminder of life’s joys. And on days when no one is available, I do this alone by taking a walk even if it is just within my estate. Boredom is real!

And, I am so happy when it is said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord. This is my best way to run away from boredom. Anytime, I am in the house of the Lord singing praises and worshiping God, the atmosphere lifts my soul and all heavy burdens disappear without a trace. I do this at home too, worship and praise songs, my sure plug👌

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I’ve learned that boredom can be a gateway to deeper issues like depression, which can even lead to suicide

My response to the #hivelearners writing edition on the topic: An Idle mind.

     Thank you for reading.