00:00I'm bored.
00:01I'm bored.
00:03I'm bored!
00:12Wow, it's really gotten bad haven'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?
00:2529?
00:26That 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 for Connection in
00:35Pasadena, 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 under-stimulated, and our brains really don't like that.
00:52Something that I have found really helpful lately when people are feeling bored is a concept called opposite action.
00:56And basically, what opposite action is, is kind of getting in touch with your inner rebel, and noticing what our
01:03impulse 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 feelings will change too.
01:18So, if my behavior of late has been laying under the covers, watching hours and hours of Bravo, the opposite
01:26action 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, then 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.
01:57Do 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 connections.
02:09Just remember, there's a concept that I like that is a good reminder that we need variety in what we
02:14do.
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 time,
02:24play time, downtime, 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 kinds of essential
02:34mental activities
02:35that optimize our brain functioning and create well-being by making new neural connections in all of the areas that
02:42are important.
02:43So, think of it kind of like a brain buffet, and you don't want to load up on just one
02:48thing.
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, hula 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 be left alone to think for just
03:186 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, but same.
03:29Next, brush up on middle school geography, or still-life photography.
03:35Then, learn Photoshop.
03:40Hang art to decorate, or clean out your closet.
03:46Wait, you're getting rid of this?
03:48No, no, I'm keeping that.
03:50I'm keeping that.
03:51Fine.
03:51You have 10 more things to do anyway.
03:54Make a cocktail.
03:55Orange liqueur.
03:57Bake cookies.
03:58Sweet.
04:00Take a bath.
04:01Learn magic.
04:03Ooh.
04:06Or, learn video editing.
04:10How meta.
04:12Okay, this week I went from total boredom to absolute overdrive, but what I found was a balance, thanks to
04:19the healthy mind platter.
04:21If you're feeling stuck, a good place to start is by looking at those categories, from physical time to creative
04:26time, focus time to time alone.
04:29They'll give you ideas of what to do.
04:30Uh, that 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, donating PPE to hospitals, and providing
04:48virtual daycare.
04:49Yay!
04:51Ultimately, the antidote to boredom is just getting started, so go out there and do something.
