So much to do, so many things to worry about, so many people want your attention all day, so many obligations that the calendar can’t hold them all.  That’s a terrible problem. Only one thing is worse:

Having nothing to do, or being so bored with what is in front of you that you could scream.

It’s a common problem for boomers as we grow older. Children are grown and have their own lives. Your grandchildren probably have activities planned for each day of the week and rarely have time to visit you. Friends might live far away or not be in the best of health and it’s rare you can get together. 

Even your dog would just as soon nap as take that daily walk.

You’re bored.  

You thought retirement would be an emancipating, exciting time of life. After all, it is in all the commercials with the beautiful couples jet-setting off to exotic locations. Happy seniors learning to paint. Gray-haired law students showing the youngsters how to ask professors questions. Friends sitting by the fire pit with big smiles on their faces.

Yet, you’re just bored.  And you’re not alone. Between 30 to 90% of American adults experience boredom at some point in their daily lives, as do 91 percent to 98 percent of youth. Men are generally more bored than women.

Research says when people feel trapped, they are more likely to be bored.  You might be in a repetitive job. Or you can’t drive somewhere when you want a change of scene. Or maybe you had to give up your home and move in with family or into a community for supportive care.  It feels like everybody else is having so much fun at this point of their lives and you’re on the sidelines.

So the days get long, and you can feel left out of it all.

It’s hard sometimes, this whole getting older business.  We convince our parents and our elderly friends that if they move to a senior community they’ll have more fun and company while deep inside, we think we wouldn’t want to give up our freedom to do as we please.

Yet it happens. Whether through illness or injury, loss of a spouse, or simply advanced age, many of us wind up living a simpler, more narrow life—one in which we need to know how to keep ourselves engaged.  Because if we know what truly interests us, we can avoid being bored, or we can at least use our boredom to spark some creativity within ourselves.

What do you do now, when you are truly bored?  Those times when you actually have all the items on your to-do list checked off?  When the rest of the family has gone to the music festival and you’re at home for several hours alone?  When nothing on television interests you and you’ve read all your magazines and it’s a bit gloomy outside?

Maybe these are the times to rediscover what your interests really are.  Fight inertia:  get out there and explore!

A few suggestions:

  • Play a memory game.  Can you remember the capitals of all 50 states?  Can you name the crew of the original Star Trek show? What color were their uniforms? Can you sing the words to your alma mater? What were the names of the campus buildings?
  • Cook something new.  Pull out a few pans you never use.  Buy some fun spices.  Put on some music from another country and make something international. Eat by candlelight.
  • Get out of the house.  If you can, take a walk, or at least sit outside a bit.  Breathe some air, feel the sun on your face.  Listen to Nature.  Watch the clouds…really watch the clouds.
  • Make a gratitude list.  Get beyond the material things, think about the best times of your life, and the best people.  What do you like most about them?
  • Schedule a weekly lunch.  It can be with the same person, or you can improvise.  And if it’s just you, that’s okay!  Choose a wonderful restaurant and enjoy. If you can, overtip the server and make his or her day. Generosity makes us feel wonderful.
  • Visit an art gallery.  Take your time.  Learn about an artist.  Chat with the docent.
  • Take a class. Pottery. Scrapbooking. Pickleball. Investment planning. Try something you’ve never thought about.
  • Pick one drawer and clean it out. 
  • Really organize your closet.  Really.  Don’t be afraid. Letting go makes us feel lighter.
  • Pet a cat or a dog.  And watch the birds.
  • Volunteer, or organize a project that has you collecting shoes or books…maybe pull in a few friends.
  • Stop by a thrift store.  Walk around, look at the amazing array of things people have had. Maybe it will inspire you to write a story or draw a picture.
  • Change a room. Move a chair. Hang a painting on another wall. Get new throw pillows. Repaint.
  • Work a puzzle.  Try a hard one!
  • Take a nap.  It very well could be you are fatigued, and daily naps are good.  But try to plan a fun activity when you wake up.

One big thing is not to let some periods of boredom ever make you think you don’t matter.  It’s just possible that you finally have some time to wind down, and it can be hard to know what to do with that time when you’re coming off a life of non-stop obligations.  So be good to yourself.

You’re important.

You matter.

And chances are if you’re finding yourself bored a lot, you also have above-average intelligence.  So put that sharp noggin to work…find some new ways to rock the wrinkle!