The Strains of Boredom
Usually my job requires that I be on the go for eight hours straight. I'm either teaching, watching someone who is teaching, or doing something to prepare for teaching. I don't really particularly mind; the day passes very quickly when I'm busy.
What I don't like are days like this one. Using myself as a case study, I have been able to categorize a few distinctive strains of boredom which I have experienced over the last six hours. Feel free to submit this information to the American Journal of Psychology on my behalf. Just don't put my name on it.
Apathetic Boredom
This is the type of boredom is encountered when someone has a lot to do, but no desire to do it. When the affected person thinks of her workload, she doesn't feel stressed so much as she feels a strong urge to go to sleep.
Black Hole Boredom
Also called Epidemic Boredom, this type begins as boredom in one area of a person's life and then spreads to other areas that were previously a source of interest. To reduce your risk of infection, never bring your work home with you and have your partner's gravity levels tested early.
Head-desk Boredom
Illustrated by either actual physical contact of the patient's head with her desk or the express desire to do so without the influence of outside stimuli. The most effective treatment involves either the removal of the desk or the head. In some cases, an actual desk may not be used as the point of contact, but another hard surface readily available to the patient is substituted. A surface-to-head action rather than a head-to-surface action is also common and considered a sub-type of this strain.
Watching Boredom
One of the most damaging strains. The afflicted is compelled to simply sit and watch a clock tick for extended periods of time. The observance does nothing to relieve any adverse desires and only serves as a reminder to how much more time the afflicted is to be detained.
Of course, I am just scratching the surface with these few categories, but as I have four more weeks of BOE time, I'm sure I will be able to document a few more strains.
Meanwhile, I have this Rubik's Cube and instructions on how to solve it. With any luck, I can amuse myself for the next hour until I'm free to go home.
Edit (15:42):
I have just discovered a new strain!
Vexed Boredom
In which the afflicted feels like smashing her new Rubik's Cube into very small pieces.
What I don't like are days like this one. Using myself as a case study, I have been able to categorize a few distinctive strains of boredom which I have experienced over the last six hours. Feel free to submit this information to the American Journal of Psychology on my behalf. Just don't put my name on it.
Apathetic Boredom
This is the type of boredom is encountered when someone has a lot to do, but no desire to do it. When the affected person thinks of her workload, she doesn't feel stressed so much as she feels a strong urge to go to sleep.
Black Hole Boredom
Also called Epidemic Boredom, this type begins as boredom in one area of a person's life and then spreads to other areas that were previously a source of interest. To reduce your risk of infection, never bring your work home with you and have your partner's gravity levels tested early.
Head-desk Boredom
Illustrated by either actual physical contact of the patient's head with her desk or the express desire to do so without the influence of outside stimuli. The most effective treatment involves either the removal of the desk or the head. In some cases, an actual desk may not be used as the point of contact, but another hard surface readily available to the patient is substituted. A surface-to-head action rather than a head-to-surface action is also common and considered a sub-type of this strain.
Watching Boredom
One of the most damaging strains. The afflicted is compelled to simply sit and watch a clock tick for extended periods of time. The observance does nothing to relieve any adverse desires and only serves as a reminder to how much more time the afflicted is to be detained.
Of course, I am just scratching the surface with these few categories, but as I have four more weeks of BOE time, I'm sure I will be able to document a few more strains.
Meanwhile, I have this Rubik's Cube and instructions on how to solve it. With any luck, I can amuse myself for the next hour until I'm free to go home.
Edit (15:42):
I have just discovered a new strain!
Vexed Boredom
In which the afflicted feels like smashing her new Rubik's Cube into very small pieces.