Are you bored? Here's why and here's how to fix it!

Overstimulation is the culprit.

Are you bored? Is boredom a constant visitor in your life? If so, you could be suffering from overstimulation. Fortunately, the condition is curable. Here's how.

LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) - Most Americans are chronically bored. According to British psychologist and professor, Dr. Sandi Mann, we're bored because we're overstimulated. Nearly half of us are bored at school or at home, and two-thirds are bored at work.

Overstimulation is an understandable phenomenon. Our brains crave novelty, so they reward us when we discover something new. They also punish us when we repeat the same routine.

A great way to understand this phenomenon is in a car on a long drive. At the beginning of a drive, say entering the freeway, one notices the speed of their vehicle. However, after awhile, the drive becomes boring and looking out the window, the car feels as if its moving slowly, even though the speed is the same as before. The brain simply becomes used to the old speed, and craves a higher speed.

Today, we are bombarded by stimuli. Our phones are tremendous culprits. No longer do we have to ride the bus or the train, and be alone with our thoughts. We no longer have to talk to our classmates before class, or our families at reunions. Instead, we tap our way into our phones and escape the dreariness of the ordinary for something else. A game, a television show, a boast or a debate, gossip on a social network, or begin an affair, all this is offered to us through that little screen.

But the long-term payoff for this is always boredom.

Pope Francis, speaking to youth who gathered for a special event in Rome this past weekend told the kids that happiness isn't an app for your phone.

The more we interact with our smart world and the more entertainment we cram, the less effectively it entertains us. Beset by boredom, we either look for new novelties, or we become depressed.

It's no different than any other unhealthy habit which takes over our lives. Once addicted, it begins to destroy us. Often, the destruction is both physical and spiritual.

The solution is to unplug.

By going a short period without stimulation, the brain recovers and takes a renewed interest in things that are more ordinary. This can save more than just your sanity, it can save your career, your relationship, and even your soul.

Being absent from the things that bore us makes us crave them again. Even people with seemingly boring jobs find those jobs bearable after a vacation. Monks, who often have little stimulation, lead happy lives. Their brains are not hooked on media, so they don't suffer from constant cravings, or withdrawals.

Spending time in solitude is an excellent way to unplug. By solitude, we mean to be alone without any electronic distractions. Meditate or pray and or sit in silence for an extended period. Eventually, the things you found boring will regain some of their allure once more.

Reading books is also a useful way to engage the brain and excite it without overstimulating oneself. It also engages the imagination, but leaves enough work for you to do to entertain you.

When we learn to unplug as a matter of routine, we can regain control of our impulses and improve our lives. What a wonderful solution to a modern problem!

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