I Can't Remember the Last Time I Was Bored

Olivia and I were chatting while prepping breakfast the other day, and she turned to me and said,
“I can’t remember the last time I was bored.”

“We always have stuff to do. Even when we’re not working, we’re exploring, training, and learning. I can’t think of a time where we are bored.”

And she’s right — we don’t have dead time…

Part of that is a personal philosophy of mine where I believe time is the most valuable asset we have, and I refuse to waste it. But part of that is that we live the Raise the Bar mentality every day.

We’re always searching for ways to improve ourselves.

Now, let’s be real — I don’t want you to be a perpetual self-help, bio-hacking weirdo. We still watch TV, we still take time to read for pleasure, we still relax on vacation and disconnect…
But we’re never “bored” because there is always something we are doing with purpose.

That last part is important:
“With purpose.”

I want you to ask yourself:
Am I living with purpose?
Am I acting with purpose?

Before you answer, remember — the goal is not to shout a resounding “yes!”
The goal is to create awareness.

Boredom, to me, is a precursor to many of the behaviours that set us back.

Think about it...

• When you’re bored, you stress eat.
  

• When you’re bored, you hyperfixate on the future (anxiety).
  

• When you’re bored, you scroll social media.
  

• When you’re bored, you get tired and lazy and miss workouts.
  

• When you’re bored, you simply do not operate at your highest level.
  
  

So, what’s the solution?
Find a purpose. A goal. A hobby.

For me, I love my work, I love training, but now that I’m not competing at a high level, I didn’t have a cognitive outlet to get obsessive over. So, I picked up a hobby!

That hobby is shooting.

I’ve become obsessed with it since we moved, and I’m diving deeper down the rabbit hole of marksmanship, gunsmithing, and even might pursue competitive shooting in the future.

All of my “downtime,” with the exception of time Olivia and I spend together, is spent on my new hobby.

Not only is it fun — it’s a challenge.
And I think all hobbies should challenge you.

Your homework this weekend:

If you’re struggling with a health and fitness goal, ask yourself:

• How often do I feel bored?
  

• What are some things I’ve always wanted to try?
  

Write a list.

Then, pick one and make a plan to try it this week.

I searched for years for a hobby. Before this, my only hobby was work.

I’ll tell you one thing for certain:
When I’m on the range, my mind is free, my body is calm, and I am fully in the moment.

Then I get back to work or back in the gym — and I’m ready to crush it for my clients and myself.

Report back to me with how it goes. You can email me at [email protected]

Stay Strong,

Paul Oneid, MS. MS. CSCS

Founder and Head Coach