If you keep saying I'm bored of everything, is it monotony, burnout or depression? Read how to understand this weariness and bring colour back into your life.
You have been working from home for three years. The desk where you switch on your computer in the morning, the table where you eat lunch and the sofa where you watch a series in the evening are only a few steps apart. You want to do something at the weekend, but the more you think about what to do, the less appealing any of it seems. Half an hour passes among short videos on your phone, then another hour. In the end, the same sentence runs through your mind: "I'm bored of everything." This weariness is sometimes simple fatigue from monotony; sometimes it is one of the first signs of burnout, and sometimes of depression. In this article we will talk about what boredom is telling you, when it calls for attention, and ways to feel interested in life again.
What Does "I'm Bored of Everything" Mean?
Boredom is an uncomfortable state we experience when we cannot find something to give our attention to, something that occupies and satisfies us. The person wants to do something but cannot work out what; or the things they do feel empty, repetitive and meaningless. In this state time passes slowly, restlessness increases, and the person feels as if they are "marking time".
It is possible to think of boredom in two forms. Situational boredom is linked to a particular setting: a long wait in a waiting room, a repetitive task, a dull meeting. It passes when the setting changes. Pervasive weariness, on the other hand, is not tied to any particular situation; the person feels bored with life in general, with routine, with work, with relationships, even with pastimes they used to love. The sentence "I'm bored of everything" usually describes this second type.
Boredom is a signal
Boredom is usually seen as a negative feeling, but it actually has an important function. It tells us that our current situation is not meeting our needs, that our attention or our abilities are being wasted, or that what we are doing holds no meaning for us. Just as hunger signals a need for food, boredom signals a need for change. The problem begins when we cannot read this signal correctly, or when we try to silence it with stimuli that are quick but do not satisfy.
The Causes of Weariness
Monotony and a lack of novelty
The human mind needs a certain amount of novelty. Taking the same route to work every day and sitting at the same desk, talking about the same subjects with the same people, spending evenings on the same kinds of activities gradually numbs the mind. Many people who switched to working from home after the pandemic, and whose social lives narrowed, describe how the days blur into one another and nothing sticks in the memory.
Abilities going to waste
Weariness also appears when the work you do falls far below your abilities. The experience known in psychology as "flow", in which a person becomes completely absorbed in a task and forgets how time is passing, occurs when the difficulty of a task and the person's skill are in balance. When the task is too easy, boredom appears; when it is too hard, anxiety. For someone who has worked in the same position for years without learning anything new, the sentence "I'm bored of everything" may actually mean "I can't develop myself."
An overstimulated mind
Short videos, constant notifications and content that changes every few seconds accustom the mind to intense, rapid stimulation. This habit can make slower activities that require effort, such as reading a book, cooking a meal or having a long conversation, seem boring by comparison. When the person puts the phone down, they think the world is colourless; yet the problem is not in the world but in the mind's expectation of stimulation. For details on this subject, you can take a look at the article on short video addiction.
Burnout
Working under intense stress for a long time gradually leads a person to distance themselves from their work and their life. When someone experiencing burnout says "I'm bored", they often mean "I'm exhausted; I have no energy left for anything." Here the problem is not a lack of stimulation but depleted resources. That is why the priority should be rest and reducing the load, not adding new stimuli.
Loss of meaning
Sometimes weariness stems from the things we do holding no meaning for us. When our life loses its connection with our values, even the most exciting activity can feel hollow. In this case, new hobbies or holidays bring short-term relief, but the boredom soon returns.
Boredom is very often the voice not of an emptiness but of an unmet need; rather than silencing it, it works better to ask what it wants.
Is Feeling Bored of Everything a Sign of Depression?
Weariness does not always mean depression; however, there is an important closeness between the two. One of the core symptoms of depression is a loss of interest in, and enjoyment of, activities that used to bring pleasure. In psychology this is called anhedonia, and from the outside it can look like intense weariness.
The following questions can help you understand the difference:
- Do you want to do something but cannot find what to do, or do you not want to do anything at all? In boredom there is usually a search and a restlessness; in depression, the wanting itself decreases.
- Does a new activity catch your interest? In boredom, novelty often creates a flicker of interest; in anhedonia, even the most interesting possibilities do not provoke a response.
- Is the weariness accompanied by other symptoms? A low mood, changes in sleep and appetite, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness and difficulty concentrating suggest depression.
- How long has it been going on? A weariness that lasts a few days is not the same as a lack of interest that has lasted for weeks and is gradually deepening.
If you would like to learn in more detail what loss of enjoyment is and how it works, the article on anhedonia may help.
How Weariness Shows Up in Daily Life
Prolonged weariness leaves its mark on many areas of life. At work, attention wanders, mistakes increase and tasks are put off. In relationships, the person may seem indifferent to their partner or friends; the complaint "We always do the same things" can turn into arguments. Some people turn to sudden, risky decisions to relieve their weariness: impulsive shopping, a sudden change of job, ending a relationship, overeating or drinking alcohol. These decisions may create a brief thrill, but they often give rise to new problems.
Among teenagers and young people, the sentence "I'm bored" is heard very often. This is not always a sign of a problem; however, if the boredom spreads to lessons, friends and everything that used to be loved, and if the young person's mood has changed noticeably, it calls for attention.
The seasons can also add to this picture. In small cities in particular, during the winter months it gets dark at five in the evening, the streets empty early and the options for social activities shrink. As the days shuttle between work and home, many people feel a marked weariness between November and February. During this period, taking care to make use of daylight, planning a change at weekends, however brief, and finding new pastimes that can be done at home can help ease the heaviness the season brings. If winter weariness turns into a marked low mood and recurs at the same time every year, it is helpful to consult a specialist.
Suggestions for Coping With Weariness
1. Allow yourself to be bored for a short while
Instead of immediately filling boredom with your phone, try sitting for ten minutes without doing anything. Look out of the window and let your thoughts come and go. The first few minutes may be uncomfortable; but very often, in this empty space, new ideas, unfinished wishes or unnoticed feelings emerge. Being able to tolerate boredom is the precondition for hearing its message.
2. Ask your boredom a question
At moments when you notice you are bored, ask yourself: "What do I need right now? Movement, rest, talking to someone, learning something new, or feeling that what I'm doing has meaning?" The answers to these questions show you what kind of change you need. For example, for someone working from home, the need may not be a new hobby but going to a co-working space two days a week or getting out at lunchtime.
3. Add small novelties to your routine
You do not need to change your life from top to bottom. Even small novelties revive the mind: taking a different route to work, cooking a dish you have never tried, exploring a neighbourhood in your city you have never been to, listening to a new genre of music. You might aim to experience one "first" each week.
4. Find a pursuit that stretches you a little
The experience of flow appears in activities that stretch your skill a little. A new instrument, a language, a craft, a sport or responsibility for a new project at work can replace boredom with curiosity. What matters here is that the activity is neither too easy nor too hard. At first it requires some effort; but this effort usually leaves a satisfaction that rapid stimuli cannot give.
5. Review your screen habits
You do not have to give up short videos and social media completely; however, limiting them to certain times helps the mind get used to slower pleasures again. For example, the first hour in the morning and the last hour before bed could be phone-free. Within a few weeks you may notice that reading a book or having a conversation no longer seems as boring as before.
6. Separate entertainment from meaning
To relieve boredom, we usually turn to entertainment. But sometimes the need is not entertainment but meaning. Make room in your week not only for activities in which you have a pleasant time, but also for those that make you feel you are "of use" or are "contributing something": helping a friend, making something, teaching something.
When Should You Seek Professional Support?
It may be helpful to see a specialist in the following situations:
- The weariness has lasted for weeks and is spreading to many areas of your life
- Nothing you used to enjoy interests you any more
- It is accompanied by a low mood, changes in sleep and appetite, and fatigue
- You are turning to alcohol, gambling, overspending or risky behaviour to relieve the boredom
- You have started to have marked problems at work, at school or in your relationships
- Thoughts that life is meaningless or not worth living are crossing your mind
These signs do not in themselves mean a diagnosis; however, they deserve to be assessed. If you are having thoughts of harming yourself or do not feel safe, please call 112 (emergency services) without waiting.
How Are Weariness and Loss of Interest Approached in Therapy?
In therapy, the first step is to understand what lies behind the weariness: monotony, burnout, loss of meaning, or a depressive process? This assessment is made by looking together at areas such as the person's sleep, energy, mood, relationships and working life.
In cognitive behavioural therapy, behavioural activation is frequently used, especially when loss of interest and enjoyment is to the fore. Daily activities are examined together with the person, activities that bring enjoyment and a sense of achievement are identified, and these are gradually added back into life. Thoughts such as "Nothing is fun" or "Even if I try, I'll get bored" are also addressed in this process.
The acceptance and commitment therapy approach, meanwhile, helps the person clarify their values and reorganise their life in line with them. From this perspective, weariness is not seen as an enemy but as a sign calling the person in a more meaningful direction. You can find information about the work carried out when depressive symptoms are present on the depression and mood page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is getting bored all the time a personality trait?
Some people by nature need more stimulation and novelty, and may get bored more easily. However, the tendency to get bored is not a fixed trait; living conditions, stress levels, screen habits and mood all have a marked effect on it.
Does going on holiday help with weariness?
A short change of setting can ease boredom that stems from monotony. However, if the weariness is linked to burnout, loss of meaning or depression, the boredom often returns after the holiday. In that case, lasting changes need to be made within daily life itself.
My child keeps saying "I'm bored"; what should I do?
It is natural for children to get bored from time to time, and it is even an opportunity for them to develop their creativity. Rather than immediately filling every moment of boredom with a screen or an activity, it helps to give the child room to find their own play. However, if the boredom is accompanied by withdrawal, changes in sleep and appetite or marked changes at school, it is a good idea to consult a specialist.
Does the feeling of weariness pass on its own?
Situational boredom usually passes on its own when the setting changes. Pervasive, long-lasting weariness, however, usually signals a need for change; when that need is not met, it can continue or deepen. Taking small steps can speed up this process.
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Eda Erkan Alapala
Klinik Psikolog. İstanbul Kent Üniversitesi Klinik Psikoloji Tezli Yüksek Lisans mezunu; bilişsel davranışçı terapi, çocuk merkezli oyun terapisi ve çocuk-ergen psikoterapisi alanlarında eğitimlerini tamamlamıştır.
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