Emotion: Boredom

When you want to write the emotion boredom, it's important to "show" the emotion your character is experiencing through their physical reactions and dialogue, rather than "tell" it. In this article we provide you with inspiration so you can avoid showing emotions and immerse your readers in your story.

Boredom is a feeling of weariness or dissatisfaction that arises from a lack of interest or stimulation. It's a state of mind that occurs when we feel unengaged, uninterested, or unchallenged by the activities we're currently engaged in or our surroundings. Boredom can manifest itself in many ways, such as restlessness, irritability, or a desire to escape the current situation. As a writer, understanding the nuances of boredom can help you create more relatable and believable characters who experience this emotion.

Different Types of Boredom

Here are some different types of boredom:

• Mild boredom: A feeling of restlessness or dissatisfaction with a situation or task, but with a low level of intensity.
• Chronic boredom: A long-lasting feeling of boredom that can lead to apathy, lethargy, and disinterest in life.
• Reactant boredom: A feeling of boredom that arises when someone is forced to do something against their will or has their freedom restricted.
• Search boredom: A feeling of boredom that arises when someone is seeking stimulation or novelty but is unable to find it.
• Aesthetic boredom: A feeling of boredom that arises when someone is uninterested in their surroundings or finds them unstimulating.

Situations Associated with Boredom

Here are some situations where a character might experience the emotion of boredom:

• Lack of stimulation or challenge in their daily routine or work
• Repetitive tasks or activities that offer no variety or excitement
• Being stuck in a place or situation with nothing to do
• Long periods of waiting without any entertainment or distraction
• Feeling disconnected from their surroundings or the people around them
• Being forced to participate in an uninteresting or unengaging activity
• Lack of motivation or inspiration to pursue their goals or interests
• Being in a relationship or situation that has become stagnant or predictable

Physical Reactions to Boredom

Here are some physical reactions a character experiencing boredom might have:

• Yawning frequently
• Heavy and slow movements
• Slumped posture
• Lack of eye contact
• Fidgeting or tapping fingers
• Checking the time or phone frequently
• Sighing or groaning
• Daydreaming or zoning out
• Lack of interest or enthusiasm

Thoughts Associated with Boredom

Here are some thoughts a character experiencing boredom might have:

• I can't wait for this to be over.
• Why am I even doing this?
• I've done this a million times before.
• There has to be something more interesting than this.
• Time is moving so slowly.
• I wish I were somewhere else right now.
• I'm so tired of this routine.
• I need something to break up the monotony.
• Is this all there is to life?

Atmosphere of Boredom

Here are some ways that you might reflect the emotion of boredom in the atmosphere of your scene:

• Use a monotonous setting that lacks stimuli, such as an empty room or a deserted street.
• Set the scene during a routine activity or a mundane task, like waiting in line or doing laundry.
• Describe a character's lack of interest in their surroundings or actions, using phrases like "half-heartedly" or "with a sigh".
• Use a slow pace of narration and dialogue that reflects the feeling of lethargy.
• Incorporate sensory details that emphasize the dullness of the setting, like the ticking of a clock or the droning of a fan.
• Show characters resorting to mindless activities, like scrolling through social media or mindlessly flipping through TV channels.
• Use interior monologue to reveal the character's thoughts of boredom, like "I'm so bored" or "This is so tedious".

Verbs Associated with Boredom

Here are some verbs commonly associated with the emotion of boredom:

• Yawn
• Slump
• Daydream
• Fidget
• Zone out
• Nod off
• Sigh
• Stare blankly
• Shuffle
• Drag
• Laze
• Languish
• Dull
• Numb

Emotions Before Boredom

Here are some emotions that may come before a character experiences boredom:

• Anticipation
• Excitement
• Curiosity
• Hope
• Enthusiasm
• Eagerness
• Intrigue
• Frustration
• Disappointment

Emotions After Boredom

Here are some emotions that may come after a character experiences boredom:

• Frustration
• Restlessness
• Apathy
• Disinterest
• Irritation
• Discontent
• Dissatisfaction

Telling Boredom Examples to Avoid

Here are some examples of telling the emotion boredom in a sentence. You should avoid things like this:

• Alice was bored out of her mind.
• John couldn't wait for the meeting to end, he was so bored.
• The lecture was so boring that Sarah felt like she was going to fall asleep.
• Emily was feeling bored with her life and needed a change.
• The movie was so dull that even the action scenes couldn't keep Tim from feeling bored.
• Boredom was gnawing at Jane's insides as she sat through yet another day at work.
• Mike tried to stifle a yawn as he listened to his friend's boring story.
• The book was a real snooze-fest, making Ann feel incredibly bored.
• Being stuck in traffic was always a bore for Tom, and today was no exception.

Practical Examples of Showing Boredom

Here are some examples of showing boredom in a sentence:

• Sarah drummed her fingers on the table, her eyes glazing over as she stared at the blank page.
• Mike let out a long sigh, scrolling through his social media feed for the hundredth time.
• Emma yawned and stretched, the monotony of the day slowly wearing her down.
• John checked his watch for the umpteenth time, the minutes dragging on like hours.

Exercises for Showing Boredom

Here are some writing exercises to practice showing boredom:

• Have your character engage in a mundane activity, such as watching paint dry or counting ceiling tiles
• Describe the environment in a monotonous, repetitive way
• Show the character's lack of interest in their surroundings or the people around them
• Use internal thoughts to convey boredom, such as "I wish I was anywhere but here" or "This is so dull"
• Have the character fidget, yawn, or look around aimlessly
• Show the character's attempts to alleviate their boredom, such as playing with their phone or doodling on a piece of paper
• Describe the passage of time in a slow, tedious way, such as "Minutes felt like hours"
• Use dialogue to convey boredom, such as "This is so boring" or "I can't believe I have to sit through this"
• Show the character's lack of energy or enthusiasm, such as slouching or speaking in a monotone voice

Want more help with showing emotion instead of telling? You find more help in our full emotions thesaurus.