How to deal with perpetual boredom?

I've had this problem with a while, and it's difficult to resolve. I'm bored at work, and although I have a few good friends I hang out with, I am almost always bored. I feel like everyone else is enjoying life more than me and that I'm missing out on something.

What do you think is the best way to alleviate this? Pick up more hobbies? Travel more? Go to business school?

 

Take riskier positions with your picks. Or get a girlfriend. Both have similar ups and downs. Also, consider doing a sport - I like brazilian jujutsu and karate. Its good to have something to devote yourself to. What have you done in the past that you really enjoyed? Do you have any dreams? Also, consider doing something constructive that you'll be able to see the progress in your making it. Like a business, or renovating a house.

“...all truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.” - Schopenhauer
 
seabird:
Take riskier positions with your picks. Or get a girlfriend. Both have similar ups and downs. Also, consider doing a sport - I like brazilian jujutsu and karate. Its good to have something to devote yourself to. What have you done in the past that you really enjoyed? Do you have any dreams? Also, consider doing something constructive that you'll be able to see the progress in your making it. Like a business, or renovating a house.

Thanks for the word of advice.

 

I fucking love my job. More than half of my energy is spent on trying to stay flacid.

Under my tutelage, you will grow from boys to men. From men into gladiators. And from gladiators into SWANSONS.
 

Flake, I spend half my time reading your posts trying not to grimace so hard my face gets stuck that way.

“...all truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.” - Schopenhauer
 
seabird:
Flake, I spend half my time reading your posts trying not to grimace so hard my face gets stuck that way.

It's 2:20am right now and I am sort of drunk. If you just made some kind of a gay move at me, I just wanted to let you know that...I accept.

Under my tutelage, you will grow from boys to men. From men into gladiators. And from gladiators into SWANSONS.
 
Flake:
seabird:
Flake, I spend half my time reading your posts trying not to grimace so hard my face gets stuck that way.

It's 2:20am right now and I am sort of drunk. If you just made some kind of a gay move at me, I just wanted to let you know that...I accept.

Dude, you're the man, no need to make him your bitch.

Seabird, seriously, I don't know what to tell you: half of your posts are so ignorant I want to cringe so calm down, ok buddy?

Dealing with boredom: if you can't find some way to challenge yourself at work (highly unlikely) then go out Friday night and get rip roaring drunk at the local blue collar bar and just TALK TO PEOPLE.......the rest will take care of itself.

m'kay cupcake? have fun. be safe, thx, bye

Get busy living
 

lmfao this went downhill... SURPRISE!

"You stop being an asshole when it sucks to be you." -IlliniProgrammer "Your grammar made me wish I'd been aborted." -happypantsmcgee
 
D M:
lmfao this went downhill... SURPRISE!
Dude, there is a MASSIVE mount of alcohol fueling this post. FUCKIT. I've been good for a long time and I snapped.

Sue me bwhahahahaha

Get busy living
 

Went out hard this weekend. Got bottles at some nice spots in the city. It was fun, but I was left very dissatisfied. It's the same shit over and over again; same types of bars/clubs, same types of people, etc. I want to do something totally interesting and meet accomplished people. Seems like going to a top b-school is the only way to accomplish this.

 

You can also do shit like join wine tasting clubs, maybe learn how to fence/play Polo/yachting/whatever the fuck it is.

B-school could be fun though too...

"You stop being an asshole when it sucks to be you." -IlliniProgrammer "Your grammar made me wish I'd been aborted." -happypantsmcgee
 

I know how you feel. My job is fucking boring. I'm the youngest there and I cannot engage them in any way after work. Working for the government, it has its perks (went to Dubai last week) but with most of my time spent there, I feel like I am missing out on life too.

I missed my graduation last week because I couldnt go. And I feel like I have lost most of my good friends because I just havent been able to make time for them.

Hopefully, this all sorts itself when I head back to school. Best thing I can tell you is find a girl. Its the only thing keeping me sane right now.

 
imnottheonlyone:
you're going to Dubai and Berlin and you consider your job boring? Dude, what job do you have? I WANT IT!

Working for the UK government, economic development. I went to Dubai for work but transitioning to Berlin for another job for a while. Job's not boring, in fact its great (I chose this over an internship at Credit Agricole) but the lifestyle, the people suck. Good with the bad I guess.

 
FinancialNoviceII:
imnottheonlyone:
you're going to Dubai and Berlin and you consider your job boring? Dude, what job do you have? I WANT IT!

Working for the UK government, economic development. I went to Dubai for work but transitioning to Berlin for another job for a while. Job's not boring, in fact its great (I chose this over an internship at Credit Agricole) but the lifestyle, the people suck. Good with the bad I guess.

Your job sounds really interesting. I would kill to have a job where i can do some travelling. I just sit in front of 8 computer screens for eight hours a day.

 
Brady4MVP:
FinancialNoviceII:
imnottheonlyone:
you're going to Dubai and Berlin and you consider your job boring? Dude, what job do you have? I WANT IT!

Working for the UK government, economic development. I went to Dubai for work but transitioning to Berlin for another job for a while. Job's not boring, in fact its great (I chose this over an internship at Credit Agricole) but the lifestyle, the people suck. Good with the bad I guess.

Your job sounds really interesting. I would kill to have a job where i can do some travelling. I just sit in front of 8 computer screens for eight hours a day.

That's like 64 screens a day. Seriously: hate traveling with work. The destinations are usually good, but all the airports, taxis and stuff kills the fun.

Never tell the truth, never pay in cash and never play by the rules
 
Brady4MVP:
FinancialNoviceII:
imnottheonlyone:
you're going to Dubai and Berlin and you consider your job boring? Dude, what job do you have? I WANT IT!

Working for the UK government, economic development. I went to Dubai for work but transitioning to Berlin for another job for a while. Job's not boring, in fact its great (I chose this over an internship at Credit Agricole) but the lifestyle, the people suck. Good with the bad I guess.

Your job sounds really interesting. I would kill to have a job where i can do some travelling. I just sit in front of 8 computer screens for eight hours a day.

It is incredibly interesting and enjoyable. I was working in a law firm first so this was a refershing change. But it has been taking a lot out of me, with family and friends taking a major backseat. Trying to find the balance. I didnt really expect it coming to this type of job though.

 
Best Response
Brady4MVP:
FinancialNoviceII:
imnottheonlyone:
you're going to Dubai and Berlin and you consider your job boring? Dude, what job do you have? I WANT IT!

Working for the UK government, economic development. I went to Dubai for work but transitioning to Berlin for another job for a while. Job's not boring, in fact its great (I chose this over an internship at Credit Agricole) but the lifestyle, the people suck. Good with the bad I guess.

Your job sounds really interesting. I would kill to have a job where i can do some travelling. I just sit in front of 8 computer screens for eight hours a day.

Maybe you should think about getting out of trading / finance / hedge funds entirely. Roll the dice and get a job at a startup somewhere. Leave Chicago. Small companies are awesome. They are dynamic, energetic, and provide a huge opportunity for creativity (which is probably a large part of what you're lacking and why you're bored at your current job). You may have to choose between maximizing money, and maximizing happiness. They aren't always mutually exclusive, but often they are.

 

Suppose you could use whatever savings you have and take a couple of months off, get lasek surgey, get in shape, then try out for the spec ops. Spend four years in there. Thatd be a boredom defeater.

“...all truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.” - Schopenhauer
 

Brady, you sound like you're obsessed with going to B-School. I've only been recently thinking about it, partly for social reasons like yourself, but I can't seem to justify the debt I'd have to take on.

That said, I totally get the exasperation with going out/hanging out with the same groups of people every weekend at clubs/bars etc. Nothing beats the shared experience of going to school together, that's where you'll make the best friends.

 

Pick up side interests. A lot of working people that are bored are the people who define their entire existence by their 9-5 (or in our case 7-10). After work, they mingle with the same people in the same venues.

I sell myself an hour each day. Right now, most days I spend that hour writing. While I enjoy my day job, its also awesome seeing a finished writing piece (or 2) at the end of the week. One of my goals is to be a good writer and this exercise lets me get there one hour at a time.

This can be applied socially too. Use the hour you sell yourself to go out and hit a different bar everyday. Don't just sit there but make it a goal to initiate at least one conversation while you are out. Pretty soon you will have struck up a conversation with tens and hundreds of people.

Take it one step at a time. Don't wallow in your misery. Start.

 

You definitely need to pick up some hobbies or travel, and ideally, a mix of both. If you've got cash you can easily pick up something new. Take flying lessons, learn to bake bread, take up woodworking, take dancing lessons, idk, find something you can learn to enjoy outside of work. Remember, boring people are bored: find a way to make yourself a more interesting person, and you will alleviate your boredom.

looking for that pick-me-up to power through an all-nighter?
 

Don't do that, Opeth is alright, but it'll probably just make you more angry

"You stop being an asshole when it sucks to be you." -IlliniProgrammer "Your grammar made me wish I'd been aborted." -happypantsmcgee
 
GoodBread:
The Drapery Falls is awesome live.

Just listened to the entire Blackwater Park album last night, seeing them in Hartford on the 20th. I'm stoked. :)

@DM: Opeth songs average 9-10 minutes! It's a great way to kill time.

Metal. Music. Life. www.headofmetal.com
 

Haha I know they do, just not as big of fan as I slowly age :-p

"You stop being an asshole when it sucks to be you." -IlliniProgrammer "Your grammar made me wish I'd been aborted." -happypantsmcgee
 

I like IM on occasion, usually when I'm looking for something harder I aim for Korn, Rammstein, Disturbed

"You stop being an asshole when it sucks to be you." -IlliniProgrammer "Your grammar made me wish I'd been aborted." -happypantsmcgee
 
D M:
I like IM on occasion, usually when I'm looking for something harder I aim for Korn, Rammstein, Disturbed

Rammstein! I've been a huge fan since freshman year in HS. Flake is actually the skinny/crazy keyboard player haha.

Under my tutelage, you will grow from boys to men. From men into gladiators. And from gladiators into SWANSONS.
 
D M:
I like IM on occasion, usually when I'm looking for something harder I aim for Korn, Rammstein, Disturbed

That's strange--most people I know find themselves listening to more Opeth and less Korn as they slowly age!

Metal. Music. Life. www.headofmetal.com
 
makeyourownluck:
perhaps get a GF to bug the shit out of you

ugh no this is the worst

my advice is to psych yourself up in the morning, say "I'm absolutely going to murder it today" and try to stay on task until you GTFO and go back to your hobbies in the afternoon.

Otherwise you end up like me, dicking around on the internet instead of boring ass work, which means I have to stay working later, which is in turn more boring and leads to more dicking around on the internet; a vicious cycle.

 
Brady4MVP:
I've had this problem with a while, and it's difficult to resolve. I'm bored at work, and although I have a few good friends I hang out with, I am almost always bored. I feel like everyone else is enjoying life more than me and that I'm missing out on something.

What do you think is the best way to alleviate this? Pick up more hobbies? Travel more? Go to business school?

if you want to trade jobs with me, PM me anytime.

 
Aviator:
I think you should try becoming a UFC fighter on the weekends, that'll surely spice up your life.

Id second that. I used to do a lot of karate and jujutsu. Fun time. Be careful though, one time doing jujutsu, I was fooling around because Id already beaten this one guy about 10 times in a row so I was getting sloppy. He got me in to a head lock, and he twisted my head a bad way and I heard the biggest pop. One of my molars just cracked all the way around. Had to get a crown. Lol.

“...all truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.” - Schopenhauer
 

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Under my tutelage, you will grow from boys to men. From men into gladiators. And from gladiators into SWANSONS.
 

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“...all truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.” - Schopenhauer
 

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Under my tutelage, you will grow from boys to men. From men into gladiators. And from gladiators into SWANSONS.

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