Is Boredom Making You Fat?
10 Non-Food Ways to Beat Boredom
Author: Kathy Ferneau
Do you ever eat because you're bored? Lots of people do. It's
one of many emotional reasons for overeating. In fact, some
experts have estimated that as much as 75 percent of overeating
can be attributed to our emotions, not true hunger. Along with
stress, anxiety, and low self-esteem, we satiate boredom with
eating.
Bored on the job? Take a coffee break and grab a candy bar or
sweet roll.
Bored at school? Hit the vending machines for something salty.
Bored at home? Check out the fridge.
Why do we need to placate our boredom with food? Is an internal
stimulus the only answer? Obviously, no. But it's probably one
of the easiest and fastest. It doesn't take much thought to
stuff something in your mouth and the sensation temporarily
relieves the pain, or in this case, the boredom.
Eating affords a quick fix, especially when you munch down on
easily-consumed junk food while grazing through the kitchen.
You need to realize, however, that mindless eating damages your
body. That feel good fix works just like a drug addict's shot of
heroin.
You can combat boredom in many other ways:
1. Read a book. Okay, I hear you, who's got time to read a
novel? How about two pages of the novel, an article from a
favorite magazine, or five minutes reading today's newspaper?
2. If you have access to exercise equipment, spend five minutes
working on it. Or just take a walk around the block. If you're
working in an office building, walk up and down a few flights of
stairs.
3. Solve a crossword puzzle. Keep a book of puzzles in your desk
and when the insanity gets overwhelming, fill in a few words.
4. Have a hobby handy. Keep a bag of knitting near you and get a
few rows completed on that scarf. Take up origami and fold paper
birds. Paint water color roses.
5. Give yourself a manicure.
6. Organize a drawer.
7. Return a phone call that you've been putting off.
8. Write a thank you note.
9. Vacuum one room.
10. Plan your next vacation.
Limit yourself to 5 to 10 minutes. Surfing the internet or
watching TV for 45 minutes creates new problems.
Plan your boredom busters in advance, choosing what works best
for you. Keep a list of them close by.
The American artist, Saul Steinberg, said, "The life of the
creative man is lead, directed and controlled by boredom.
Avoiding boredom is one of our most important purposes."
So the next time you're tempted to eat out of boredom, stimulate
your brain, not your taste buds.
About the author:
Kathy Ferneau has created an excellent resource for information
on diets, healthy eating, and exercise. Get a free smoothie
recipe e-book just for visiting!
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