Hey seafarer...ever been bored?
“I work 8 hours, then spend the next 16 hours waiting to work the n
ext 8 hours.” Sound familiar?
Boredom is more than nothing to do. It becomes an attitude that changes how we think and our relationship to our duties and others.
Boredom can come from repetitive work, feeling helpless or trapped, no available choices, low mental stimulation and poor diet.
It can show up as.......
APATHY: Loss of interest. “I only do what’s required.”
LACK OF MOTIVATION
Important duties are avoided. “I know I should, I just don’t feel like it.”
INDIFFERENCE
Loss of emotion or sympathy. “Ya, whatever. I have no opinion.”
RE-ACTIVENESS
Snapping at people. “Quit annoying me…Bye!””
RESTLESSNESS
Pacing the hallways. Fidgeting. “Nothing to do…it’s driving me nuts!”
We all have days like that. It’s serious when it stretches into days and weeks. It’s unhealthy physically, mentally and spiritually. We unplug our brain from everything around us. We’re unsafe in the workplace.
Here’s hope: “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 1:2
Chronic boredom can destroy you!
Chronic boredom affects our body, mind, relationships and spirit.
PHYSICALLY
We develop routines of laziness and oversleeping, unhealthy eating, lack of exercise and increased use of tobacco and alcohol.
MENTALLY
We develop deepening patterns of anxiety, depression, anger and short temper.
SOCIALLY
We avoid hanging out with crew members. Our work performance becomes below standard and unsafe.
SPIRITUALLY
We lose interest in Bible reading and prayer. We get farther and farther away from God. We might escape to substance abuse and pornography. It’s hard to enjoy God’s presence when our body and mind are numbed by boredom. Important point >>> Sin makes us ashamed to pray or face God.
Our body and mind get tired and our spirit becomes heavy and dark.
Here’s hope: Jesus said, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
Overcoming chronic boredom
We all get bored by the circumstances around us. But chronic, ongoing boredom is different. It’s not circumstances…it’s our mind. It’s emotionally painful. Sometimes we ease the pain with alcohol, drugs, gambling, risk-taking or pornography.
Habitual boredom becomes a way of life and thinking. It’s an escape. Overcoming it is like kicking drugs. We must withdraw, replace and renew our mind.
WITHDRAW
Sugar, tobacco and booze slow our brain. Stop the porn…just flat-out stop it. Drop it over the stern.
Put down the small screen! We usually watch the small screen alone in our own little world. It pushes sounds, light and ideas into our mind so fast we don’t have time to process them. They constantly attack our values. We slip into an alternate, unreal world and lose touch with ourselves. Our brain is overwhelmed. It can’t relax.
REPLACE
Our mind does not live in a vacuum. If we withdraw from one thing, our mind will replace it with something else. Eat healthy food. Cardio-vascular exercise gets blood flowing through the brain and stimulates endorphins. Socialize and laugh with crew members. (More endorphins!) Improve job skills. Replace screen time with reading, studying, drawing, writing or a hobby.
RENEWED MIND
St. Paul wrote, “whatever is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things.” Philippians 4:8
Read. Reading relaxes the mind. Information comes slower. Our mind has time to imagine the story, reflect on its message and values, and apply it to our life.
Read the Bible. Many of the Psalms are about personal struggles and God’s care. The Gospels show how Jesus lived rightly in the midst of chaos. Follow Him.
Pray specifically, “God, forgive me for ignoring You. Heal my mind. Put good stuff in front of me. Shield bad things and influences from me. Teach me to live like Jesus. Amen.”
Here’s hope: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will [know] what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2
Christianity is about a renewed relationship with God. Chronic boredom is a mental state that has to be beaten.
If we are truly committed to Him, we have the opportunity to overcome ongoing boredom. True, life isn’t perfect, even for committed believers, but trusting God for healing from negative habits, “stinkin’ thinkin’” and discouragement is the first and best step in recovery.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You died for my sin. You made it possible for me to be forgiven and come to heaven. If You can do that, You can heal me from the boredom that is hurting my relationship with You, my family and ship mates. Please change my thinking, heal my mind and help me to follow You. Amen.
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