Why am I so bored with life? 5 Reasons You're Feeling Dissatisfied

Boredom may seem trivial, but it can be a powerful negative feeling. When it gets to the point where you start to wonder, "Why am I bored with life?" it may be time to take action and figure out what is causing you to feel bored, as well as how to make life interesting again.

Five Potential Reasons You Are Feeling Bored With Life

How To Turn Around a Boring Life: 13 Tips to Take Action

Does routine make life boring?

What other feelings relate to boredom with life?

Therapy Can Help

Five Potential Reasons You Are Feeling Bored With Life

There can be a number of causes behind chronic boredom. Here are some of the most common ones.

You don't feel challenged.

You may have hit a time in life where you're feeling bored because you aren't being challenged. Maybe you've been in a rut with your relationships, job, and leisure activities. If you've been doing the same things for a long time, then life can feel a bit too easy.

You lack fulfilling relationships.

As we get older, it can become difficult to make and maintain fulfilling friendships. Social interactions are incredibly important to our mental health, and too often we get so wrapped up in work and survival that we don't take the time to nurture strong relationships with peers.

You struggle to find time for your passions and hobbies.

In the same way we can end up neglecting relationships, we may also neglect leisure activities. Often, we become bored with life because we work, go home, and manage responsibilities, and we don't take the time to cultivate passions or hobbies to give our lives greater meaning or excitement.

You have unrealistic expectations of life.

Feeling bored with life can actually be a side effect of having unrealistic expectations. Many of us have the feeling that our lives should be continually full of adventure or plans with friends and loved ones. We don't often value quiet reflection or moments of peace. This is especially true in the era of social media and FOMO.

You may be experiencing depression.

Finally, boredom may be part of mental health issues. A major symptom of depression is anhedonia, a disinterest in your own life and in activities that used to interest you. Depression can be a serious mental illness, so if you find that your disinterest begins to affect your personal life and meaningful relationships, then in-person or online therapy with a licensed therapist can be essential for positive change and learning to enjoy life again.

How To Turn Around a Boring Life: 13 Tips to Take Action

To overcome boredom, there are some steps you can take. Which one works best for you will depend on the reason behind your boredom as well as your personal preferences.

Think about changing your career.

If your boredom centers around your work life, changing career paths may be a good way to shake things up. Or even just finding a job that utilizes your current skills, but applies them differently.

Find a goal and work towards it.

Setting meaningful goals can be a way to add interest to your life. Are there things in life you'd like to try but haven't yet pursued, like a new job, meeting new people, or traveling to a new country? Goal setting can get you there and offer interest in the meantime.

Spend more quality time with your loved ones and cut out toxic people.

When you feel bored with life, spending time with people who offer mental stimulation and joy can be helpful. If there are friends or family members that drain you or create a lot of toxic negativity in your life, then limit time with them or cut ties altogether. Life is too short.

Write down the good things that happened to you.

A gratitude journal can also help when you feel bored because it will bring to light all of the good things in your life and can shift your focus.

Stop doing things that don't excite you or bring you joy.

Persistent boredom can stem from a life where you feel disconnected from pleasurable activity. If you find yourself going through the motions of certain routine activities, cut them and find something new to enjoy.

Shake up your routine.

If doing the same things in the same way doesn't bring you joy, then you may want to break out of your comfort zone and shake up your life a little. Find a new activity, a new group of friends, or a new sport.

Take responsibility for your life.

If you feel that your feeling bored is tied to some other issue, such as mental health problems, then you can take action by reaching out to a mental health professional. Even if you have a busy life, there is online therapy available, so you can attend from home or the office.

Learn a new set of skills.

Self-improvement can be a fun way to add some joy to your life. Learn a new language, or take up rock climbing. It may not offer instant gratification, but if you feel stuck, learning can offer some interest in life.

Try one new thing each week.

You don't have to invest your time and focus on a whole new interest or hobby. You can simply try a variety of smaller activities to see what sticks. If you end up loving something, you can take it more seriously.

Develop new friendships in social settings.

Bringing new friends into your life can make you realize just how important it is to maintain relationships with others. If you aren't sure how to meet new people, you can join interest groups online or in person. Many communities offer things like hiking clubs, meet-ups, and hobby-based groups.

Set and pursue goals that will give you a sense of accomplishment.

More than simply goal setting, find something that will make you feel accomplished. A new hobby can be fun, but have you always wondered if you can achieve something like learning a language, writing poetry and performing it in public, or riding a motorcycle? Find something new to achieve that feels significant to your own life, and that bored with life feeling might dissipate quickly.

Get outside!

A systematic review found that being in nature is excellent for mental health, reduces cortisol in the body, and creates a feeling of general well-being. Doing activities in nature can make life less boring and promote happiness.

Get active and exercise.

Another evidence-based lifestyle habit for improved mental health is exercise. If you feel bored with life, taking up a sport in your community can help you get moving, make new friends, and offer an endorphin rush. Or you can join your local gym and try group fitness classes.

Does routine make life boring?

Routine isn't necessarily the root cause of boredom, but for some, it can contribute. Some people are in their comfort zone when life offers routine, while others become bored when they always know what is going to happen in their free time. These people may benefit from new hobbies, travel, and other mentally stimulating activities.

What other feelings relate to boredom with life?

When you feel bored with life, it can be connected with feelings of depression, sadness, and apathy. At best, these feelings can be unpleasant, and at worst, they can hurt mental health. If you are bored with life, feeling unmotivated, feeling overwhelmed, or if you just feel stuck, therapy can be a good way to work through these feelings and get a new lease on life. We only have one life to live, and it's too short to spend feeling bored, so shake things up!

Therapy Can Help

If you’re feeling bored with life, there is a good chance that a licensed therapist in Austin may be able to help.

Give us a call or book online with one of our world-class doctoral-level therapists, who will help determine why you are feeling bored with life and define the steps you can take to improve it.