How Did Boredom Affect Me?
As an engineering student, maintaining a strong focus on studies is essential, especially with the added pressure of being in my final year. After many exhausting academic days filled with sleepless nights and endless activities, I often felt barely able to survive. Once those intense days were over, I told myself that I deserved some dopamine-boosting activities. During my vacation, one of my plans was to watch anime and catch up on things I couldn’t do during college. I even created lists based on “Things I want to do most” and “Recommended TV series.” These lists were meant to help me enjoy my vacation while waiting for graduation.
My vacation routine:
- Wake up: 6:30 am
- Doing Household Chores: until 8 am
- Breakfast: 8:30 to 9
- Checking my phone and starting to be addicted in different series: until 12 pm
- Take a Bath: 1 to 2 pm
- Review few items about engineering subjects: 2 pm to 3:30 pm
- Sleep time: 10:30 to 11 pm
One month later, I was browsing the YouTube feed for updates on the series I was watching when I unintentionally came across a video. In the TedTalk video “A Simple Way to Break a Bad Habit,” a man appears standing in front of the crowd with a pen in his hand and a sense of confidence. I was thinking about “What I am doing right now” and other dumb stuff as I was lying in bed.
Now, I want to share about the things I’m doing to develop myself and combat boredom.
- Instead of scrolling, what are the things that make me proud?
Everyone has unique abilities and capabilities, which allow us to discover our strengths and limitations. For instance, I excel at writing and visual design. Graphic design is versatile and applicable in various fields, including writing, beyond just artistic effects on paper and other platforms. By merging these abilities, I can use my artistic creativity to produce engaging content.
To make it even more fulfilling, I can utilize these skills in more exciting activities, such as earning while doing them. Actually, after my academic days, I became a technical writer in the engineering field. I was familiar with this type of work because I knew some of my seniors who were already in it. I often say, “It’s great that I am improving and earning at the same time.” Engaging in these pursuits not only brings me satisfaction but also allows me to earn an income from my work.
In addition to this, James Clear’s book, ‘Atomic Habits,’ emphasizes the principle ‘Make it Satisfying.’ It asserts that we are more likely to repeat a behavior when the experience is satisfying. This statement holds true in my experience; after submitting my work, I often receive gratifying compliments such as, “That’s neat work” and “I’ll work with you again,” which reinforce my behavior.
Chase passion, not the impossible and senseless imaginations.
From this, there are more productive activities I can engage, instead of addictive scrolling, which yields no progress.
2. Listing the Things I Need to be “Who I Want”
Since academic commissions are infrequent, they might not be sufficient to make my day more productive. I seek more opportunities to make my day more driven.”
Mario Cuomo, an American politician said,
“There are only two rules for being successful. One, figure out exactly what you want to do, and two, do it.”
To address my boredom, I’ve been watching self-help videos and reading books on productivity and the habits of successful people. Through this exploration, I’ve embraced a key strategy: setting goals and developing plans to achieve them.
I suddenly remembered a question our professor always asks when we introduce ourselves in class: “How do you see yourself 5 or 10 years from now?”
My typical response was, “I have a decent job and provide for my parents’ needs and wants, build a family, and so on.”
Looking back, I realize that answer was rather uninspired. At the time, I wasn’t even aware of the distinction between long-term and short-term goals, let alone how to achieve them step-by-step.
At 23, it’s the first time I’m seriously considering my future, despite having graduated with a degree. My current goals are much more specific than they used to be. I’ve listed what I want to achieve after 30 years, 20 years, 1 year, and even for an undefined timeline. While writing down these goals, I realized that maybe, I should pursue something different from what my family has traditionally done. For instance, I could start a business (other than farming), become a writer, or work as a secret freelancer.
From this list of goals, I am driven by a strong “why” to find improvement every day.
Plan for tomorrow. Do it with discipline, not only when you are motivated.
3. Progress plan based on the goals I wrote
Let me ask you something:
Do you use to-do lists or set reminders on your calendar?
T o be honest, during college, I relied on sticky notes — either handwritten or on my laptop. This method was somewhat effective, as it helped me see what needed to be done the next day. However, something always seemed off. Despite my efforts, some tasks remained incomplete, leaving me frustrated and stuck in a cycle where my activities didn’t seem to progress. This feeling persisted until I eventually experienced burnout. If you find yourself in a similar routine, let me share some statistical insights with you.
Based on recent data, 47% of people have long to-do lists daily. However, 44% with shorter, prioritized lists feel they have enough time for their tasks, compared to only 14% with longer lists.
One issue faced by those with long to-do lists is the difficulty in determining which tasks should be prioritized, leading to simultaneous efforts on less critical activities. By narrowing our daily focus to essential priorities, we are more likely to allocate our time effectively to these critical tasks.
I decided to stop using to-do lists and instead started utilizing a tool often underestimated: the calendar. Each day, I make specific plans rather than vague intentions. For example, instead of simply saying, “I’ll do some exercise,” I specify, “I’ll do 20 push-ups after meditating to get my body fit.” Similarly, instead of stating, “I’ll study,” I clarify, “I’ll read 10 pages and answer 10 practice problems.”
Based on my goals, I’ve recently incorporated a calendar into my life. If you’re not fully utilizing your calendar beyond just checking the date, start making it work for you. It helps me feel more prepared for the next day.
I want to highlight that, make a firm plan. Stick to it. Create detailed plans based on your goals, list them, and revise as needed.
4. Think again: Is it necessary?
Reflect.
Reflecting on my goals, I often find myself questioning the necessity of certain tasks during my routine. If I determine that a task isn’t essential, I take a moment to pause and reassess.
Like for example:
I want to improve and showcase my skills as an electrical engineer. To achieve this, I plan to incorporate the practice of using various software tools relevant to my career, such as 3D modeling and other design applications, into my routine. While engaging in these activities, I evaluate whether they are contributing to my goals or merely consuming my time. If I determine that they are not beneficial, I reflect on this before removing them from my daily schedule. Instead of discarding them, I opt to modify these activities to make them more satisfying and aligned with my goals.
Switching up my routine helps me stay engaged in my personal development. If you’re re-evaluating what you want out of life or if you no longer feel passionate about a routine that once held significant meaning, it’s important to reassess. Take a moment to reflect on what you have accomplished so far and consider whether adjustments could enhance your progress toward your objectives.
“Sometimes it’s the smallest decisions that can change your life forever.”
– Keri Russell
5. Consistency and Discipline
Consistency often surpasses talent, and it can effectively integrate you into a productive system. There are, undeniably, days when the motivation to rise early and stay focused seems lacking. Thinking this can lead to feelings of depression, overthinking, and at the end, doing nothing.
Consider the example of my friend Ray. We both studied engineering in college, and Ray was exceptionally skilled in design and excelled academically — qualities well-recognized by our classmates. Despite his natural abilities, he did not seek opportunities for improvement. This sometimes led to procrastination, burnout, and missed deadlines. Although his work was outstanding compared to others, his luck eventually ran out. During one examination, while the rest of the class diligently reviewed for the challenging subject, Ray relied on his intelligence and chose not to study. Consequently, he was among those who failed.
Ray’s experience underscores the importance of a consistent mindset for growth and improvement. Consistency, though challenging, involves persistently reminding yourself to make progress towards your goals. By being consistent, you not only advance towards your objectives but also hone your skills over time.
After reading James Clear’s book, “Atomic Habits: Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results”, it becomes clear that developing habits is not just about the individual actions themselves. Rather, the process involves creating a system that fundamentally strengthens you and distinguishes you from others.
Conclusion:
These are the experiences and routines that I have encountered and continue to follow daily from the boredom I had experienced. With each passing day, I strive to make gradual improvements. We all have a strategic plan in place, which we are actively implementing, with the aim of achieving our long-term goals.
“I’ll be the person that no one is expecting.”
