00:00I'm bored.
00:01I'm bored.
00:12Wow. It's really gotten bad, hasn't it?
00:18Yeah. Quarantine is boring.
00:20That's why we're going to show you 29 things to do while you're home in quarantine.
00:24We are? 29? That sounds like a lot.
00:27But first, let's talk to an expert.
00:29Hi, my name is Dr. Rebecca Lesser-Allen and I am a clinical psychologist at the Center
00:34for Connection in Pasadena, California.
00:37So I have to admit that I'm bored and I don't know what to do about it.
00:42Yeah, Annie, I think we're all getting really bored.
00:45And basically what boredom is, is our brains being understimulated and our brains really
00:51don't like that.
00:52Something that I have found really helpful lately when people are feeling bored is a
00:55concept called opposite action.
00:56And basically what opposite action is, is kind of getting in touch with your inner rebel
01:01and noticing what our impulse is and doing the exact opposite.
01:06Our thoughts, our feelings and our behaviors are intricately connected.
01:11The easiest one to change is your behavior.
01:13So the idea behind opposite action is if you change your behavior, your thoughts and your
01:17feelings will change too.
01:18So if my behavior of late has been laying under the covers watching hours and hours of Bravo,
01:25the opposite action would be...
01:28Just stand up.
01:30Often the hardest part is just getting started.
01:32I'll tell you where to start.
01:33Why don't you tidy up around here?
01:35But I'm in the middle of an...
01:38Well, this isn't fun.
01:40Okay.
01:41Then why don't you try to paint something.
01:44I'm an artiste.
01:46Or learn an instrument.
01:48Okay.
01:49Any instrument.
01:50Or learn to juggle.
01:51Any kind of juggling.
01:53Learn French.
01:54Peux avoir?
01:55Please.
01:55Learn to French braid.
01:56Do a makeover and zoom to show off your look.
01:59So how am I doing, doc?
02:01Do you like my new look?
02:02Wow, you look great.
02:04I love that you're doing so many novel things and you're definitely forming some new neural
02:08connections.
02:09Just remember, there's a concept that I like that is a good reminder that we need variety
02:13in what we do.
02:14It's called the healthy mind platter.
02:16And what it says is that we need a good balance of sleep time, physical time, focus time, connecting
02:23time, play time, down time, and time in.
02:26So should my activities follow these different categories?
02:29So the point of the healthy mind platter is basically that these are a bunch of different
02:33kinds of essential mental activities that optimize our brain functioning and create well-being
02:39by making new neural connections in all of the areas that are important.
02:43So think of it kind of like a brain buffet.
02:46And you don't want to load up on just one thing.
02:48You want to take a little bit from each so that you have a balanced plate.
02:51So get physical, do a workout routine, or a dance routine.
02:56Hula hoop, and stretch.
03:02Find your zen and meditate, or get into gardening.
03:07Boredom might be so intolerable because it means being left alone with our own thoughts.
03:11In a 2014 study, subjects proved they'd rather administer themselves electrical shocks than
03:16be left alone to think for just 6 to 15 minutes.
03:19The point is, we crave external stimuli, and I prefer succulents to electrical shocks.
03:25They're actually going to be sunflowers.
03:27But, same.
03:28Next, brush up on middle school geography, or still life photography.
03:35Then, learn Photoshop, hang art to decorate, or clean out your closet.
03:46Wait.
03:47You're getting rid of this?
03:48No, no.
03:49I'm keeping that.
03:50I'm keeping that.
03:51Fine.
03:51You have 10 more things to do anyway.
03:53Make a cocktail.
03:55Orange liqueur.
03:57Bake cookies.
03:58Sweet.
04:00Take a bath.
04:01Learn magic.
04:03Ooh.
04:06Or, learn video editing.
04:09How meta.
04:12Okay.
04:13This week, I went from total boredom to absolute overdrive.
04:16But, what I found was a balance, thanks to the healthy mind platter.
04:21If you're feeling stuck, a good place to start is by looking at those categories.
04:25From physical time, to creative time, focus time, to time alone, they'll give you ideas
04:29of what to do.
04:30Ahem.
04:31That was only 24 things, and I promised 29.
04:35Hello, my five acts of kindness.
04:37Which this week were...
04:39Supporting an after-school program, making a sign for essential workers, signing a petition,
04:45donating PPE to hospitals, and providing virtual daycare.
04:49Yay!
04:51Ultimately, the antidote to boredom is just getting started.
04:54So go out there and do something.
04:56Then tell me in the comments below how you're giving back.
04:59Thanks for watching Refinery29's YouTube channel.
05:01To see more videos like this, click here.
05:03And to subscribe, click here.
05:06Merci beaucoup.
05:07Yeah, I'm taking French lessons for real.
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