Read the article and watch the video at http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20181016-how-to-boost-your-mood-with-one-10-minute-exercise Discuss the presented ideas/concepts. Share with us your experiences and knowledge.
Owls are nocturnal creatures. They’re wide awake at night and they sleep during the day. If this sounds like bliss to you, then, like about 20 percent of the population who find themselves most active at around 9 pm, you may fall into the same category as our feathered friend. Night owls often have difficulty waking up in the morning, and like to be up late at night. Studies of animal behaviour indicate that being a night owl may actually be built into some people’s genes. This would explain why those late-to-bed, late-to-rise people find it so difficult to change their behaviour. The trouble for night owls is that they just have to be at places such as work and school far too early. This is when the alarm clock becomes the night owl’s most important survival tool. Experts say that one way for a night owl to beat their dependence on their alarm clocks is to sleep with the curtains open. The Theory is that if they do so, the morning sunlight will awaken them gently and natura...
Comments
This, reminds me about two things: First is a "micro habits" wich stands for adding a few activities for your everyday life that will make it a bit better and will also last less than 10 minutes. For example: doing 20 pull ups a day, taking 10 minutes of meditation, learning 5 new words of a language you are learning at this moment or whatever different thing - concept is quite easy to understand, I believe.
Second thing, which was actually mentioned by me is a meditation. A lot of us thinks that it's some kind of a religious activity, but it's not. For me, doing this for about 10 minutes a day is really great thing. I'm currently using mobile app called "Waking up" which is made by Sam Harris, author of book with same tittle, quite famous neurobiologist and thinker.
To sum up, I think that most of us can make little changes in our life that will make it a bit better ;) PS I know that for example being extremely "fit" while having job is sometimes really different, but adding 2 or 3 micro habits in your life is not that hard - just try. Cheers!
However, I really enjoyed the video about boredom. The whole idea to let your thoughts flow as they want accually reminds me a bit of meditation. It is proven that people nowadays need to give some more space for their mind in a constant flow of information. Learning how to cope with your free time might lead you to a healthier and more happy life. Put your smartphone on the shelf for a while :)
I was hooked by the
“If you find yourself stuck on a problem, just take some time out – to be bored – and you might find that creative solution pops into your mind,” Mann told BBC Reel. This is particularly important today, when we may always be tempted to turn to social media to occupy our minds.
Most people try to find a solution to the problem, but didn't start to get bored with the hope that the solution itself will come. On the contrary, creative solutions come because of stressful situations. This is my opinion and tested by me personally.
In a first week of new month i write:
What i felt bad or good, why i felt it, what i achieve or what i did, and what i want to do in that month.
But about a boredom i think that u cant find a solution to all of people, someone want to take a fight with a problem and get out from situation and it’s depends on the problem.
Boredom from an evolutionary perspective is an important concept. It keeps us advancing through technology and working when we have downtime. Is boredom a product of the mind? What feeling isn't?
Staying present is a great way to avoid being bored. When present, you'll find that most things are interesting. Even what you would normally find boring might be really intriguing.
I’ve never heard before about this exercise mentioned in the article, but I find it very useful. It is just a simple exercise of remembering a happy experience when we are struggling but it seems to me that it can be very helpful.
I enjoyed the video and I can relate to this. Just before going to sleep I usually try to sum up my day and remember the positive things. I like the moment of being alone, without using any electronic devices, just hearing my thoughts out loud. It really helps to calm my mind.
Personally I truly appreciate work that is done by psychologists who do researches that lead to improvement of people lives or that lead to better understanding of our bodies, minds or behavior.
The part about a boredom caught my attention even more as it brings up a case that I'm currently struggling with - filling my (almost non existing) free time with mindless scrolling through a web and not letting myself to relax and be bored for a moment. Let's put our digital life on a side sometimes and let our minds flow as it was described in the article. It could be really relieving.
On the other hand, as Sebastian pointed out in his comment, we definitely shouldn't fall into a long-term boredom as it is more harmful than helpful.
I have proven methods to boost my mood. I love swimming, so I go to the pool practicing almost every day. It gives me a lot of joy that lasts for the whole day. In addition, I am friendly guy, I often smile to others. If it's reciprocated (and it almost always is) then day or even days (!) become better.
Additionally, it is a great idea to write down your reflections. Numerous studies show that some of our ideas aren't through and crystalized until we have to put them on paper. Writing down notions make ourselves realize more than we thought. What is more, the possibility to come back later to our notes and see if anything changed gives us better overview of our progress.
I agree that boredom can increase creativity, however it also increases distress and anxiety. Too much analysis of our lives tend to make people sad, as they may overthink their mistakes. There is a reason to a saying that sometimes the best medicine for sadness is mundane work, because it takes your mind off of your sorrows.
About the boredom thing I think it is totally correct. Always when I am stuck on any kind of problem (especially programming one) I take a moment to relax and lay on my bed or go on a walk with my dog. It usually really helps, because after this few minutes when I’m back in front of computer my mind is much clearer, and ideas come to my head from nowhere. And if it doesn’t help it means that I just had enough of work for that day and need a longer moment to chill out and try to solve this problem the next day.
I absolutely agree that good disinterested acts bring happiness, I don’t even know how to explain it, but this is true.
I would spend my ten minutes on meditation, as I see in the comments, I am not alone. It actually improves your mood, moreover, it has a beneficial effect on overall physical health and reduces the need for a lot of sleep.
“If you find yourself stuck on a problem, just take some time out – to be bored – and you might find that creative solution pops into your mind,” - on personal experience felt it. The best ideas come at rest when you don’t think about the problem and are focused on other things, or are not at all concentrated and relaxed.
In my case, it contributes to reluctance to perform any tasks and causes depression.
For some time I have been trying to break the pattern and try to do something different every day, which causes more energy to act.
It seems to me that sitting in social media also causes boredom and repeatability. Maybe it's time to limit facebook :)
Stress sometimes interferes. It is necessary to protect yourself from this. I think you need to communicate more with people. Communication helps to understand that all is well.
Usually, bedtime analysis of the day helps me fall asleep. That way I can understand how my day went and how to make it productive.
On another note that point about boredom was certainly curious. I would like to provide a different perspective. Can’t say that I ever spent much time on social media. Honestly this course is my first-ever look at the moderating side of a blog, and if anything my mind tends to wander too much. I almost never get ideas about work when not working because I simply think about other things. What luxury would it be for ones work to be their escape. That’s the goal really, but for now I have to sit on things until they are done, else they simply drag out.