There was a story on the news the other night that hit me like a bad insult on a good hair day. It went on to explain to the viewers that in a recent study “experts say there's a possibility that the more bored you are, the more likely you are to die early.” Oh crap. Should I be going to the doctor? Apparently “people who were chronically bored should be worried.” This is one of the parts of this article that I question: “Someone who is bored may not be motivated to eat well, exercise, and have a heart-healthy lifestyle. That may make them more likely to have a cardiovascular event," said Dr. Christopher Cannon, an associate professor of medicine at Harvard University and spokesman for the American College of Cardiology.” Ok, I get this. But I question if the not eating well and lack of exercising does not come well before the boredom factor sets in. Kinda like the age old question: Which came first, the chicken or the egg? I can totally see how, once you stop exercising and eating well, you then become bored.
Isn’t everyone’s perception of being ‘bored’ different? How do the researchers decide if someone is chronically bored or chronically lazy? I know I consider myself bored if the show I am watching isn’t extremely captivating. Hence the simultaneous tv watching and book reading. I myself think the boredom that preceeds a nap is a gift. I know sitting around with nothing to do is ultimately boring but if you just add a nice glass of wine it’s suddenly a one woman party. Is that still boring? Who decides if the activity falls into the boredom category? To some sitting around watching your cats beat the crap out of each other is very boring, I on the other hand relish in this feline sport. May the best, most pissed off cat win! How about going for a six hour drive to Tim Buck Too? Boring? I suppose. Unless you spend that six hours shouting and trying your best to not tell people to shut up. Painful yes. Boring? Not so sure.
So I have to ask: Who was involved in this study and how did they measure boredom? I know a few teenagers who, unless they are constantly stimulated and are having a small fortune spent on them, are in a pepetual state of boredom. Do they need help or should we take out a loan for their entertainment purposes? Heaven forbid should we let them get bored and therefore depressed. Was the study riddled with teenagers who had their Xbox taken away?
The article went on to say that “boredom was potentially as dangerous as stress.” Well I’ll be. I know the last time I was stressed it certainly felt a bit different than practically being in a coma with boredom. I can’t say that I have ever noticed my blood pressure rising while I was bored. Wait, does your blood pressure rise because you are mad that you are bored? Do you then move from boredom to angrydom?
This part made me chuckle: “People who are bored also tend to eat and drink more, and they're probably not eating carrots and celery sticks." So why not strike a deal with youself: How about if I promise to eat carrots and celery while drinking and watching tv? That would be a multiple activity, right? What if I really go wild and eat vegetables, drink, watch tv AND yell at someone? That’s healthy entertainment, right?
Ok, I have to say it. Hello people, if you are that bored, pick up a book. (See list to the right if you know someone who is bored to death? Seriously, going to chuckle every time someone says they were bored to death. Oh you doooon't know the half of it! Call the medics!)
