{"id":9392,"date":"2016-01-20T14:00:57","date_gmt":"2016-01-20T06:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.visakanv.com\/blog\/?p=9392"},"modified":"2025-04-14T14:11:10","modified_gmt":"2025-04-14T14:11:10","slug":"boredom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.visakanv.com\/archives\/2016\/01\/20\/boredom\/","title":{"rendered":"boredom is a 4-part bug of the mind; it can be resolved"},"content":{"rendered":"
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2023 update: I ended up writing\u00a0Introspect<\/a>\u00a0in part because of my obsession with this question. I feel like I have a good handle on it now; I haven\u2019t had the thought \u201cI\u2019m bored\u201d in years. There\u2019s always something to do. That was always true, but I used to obscure that from myself. The obscuring happens in part because of fear and other unresolved issues, which always sounds a little crazy to bring up. But basically it\u2019s easier to admit boredom than any of the less pleasant emotions, so we use boredom as a kind of shield.<\/em><\/p>\n

2025apr14: just noticed that I have a 2011 blogpost titled ‘demolish boredom<\/a>‘<\/p>\n

GOOD TWEET<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2731 \u2731 \u2731<\/p>\n

“I have nothing to do \/ wear \/ watch \/ read” is a bug we encounter when…<\/p>\n

1- a tired mind
\n2- attempts to find an optimal solution
\n3- in a cluttered space
\n4- with options that have poorly-defined utility-values.<\/p>\n

The solution, then, is to…<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. rest<\/li>\n
  2. satisfice<\/li>\n
  3. declutter<\/li>\n
  4. define your utility-values more precisely<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

    –<\/p>\n

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    Contemplating the phenomenon of clutter from a data\/information perspective. Begin with the common refrain "I have nothing to wear\/read\/do."<\/p>\n

    — Visakan Veerasamy (@visakanv) December 26, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n