Boredom is not a state we are willing to tolerate for long. Most times we would keep ourselves busy by looking to people, social networks, computer games, and a hundred and one other activities. But what if you are bored and you are caught in this limbo where you can’t think of anywhere to go or anyone to talk to? You can try to be creative, for that is the surest cure.
Once you try it-whether writing, painting or crafting- you will be hooked. In addition to the fun and the sense of achievement, it will also help you become more conscious of things. This is because just knowing about how something feels or looks is not enough, you have to know how to build the feeling or the look.
Study any three-dimensional object, and you will notice that there are many sides that makes the whole. Turning it one way will give you a different perspective of the same object. You cannot just look at one perspective; you have to look at all sides in order to build your vision. In fact, to make the object come alive in your painting or writing, you must be able not just to represent its physical shape; you must also recreate the ambience or the atmosphere surrounding it. This skill of representation is taken so much for granted that we don’t realize how difficult it is to go through the transition from being an art lover to becoming a painter, or from being an avid reader to being a writer. That is because both acts require different sets of skills.
What has that got to do with curing boredom?
We are humans, and being human we have an inborn capacity to enjoy learning new skills. In short, we are meant to be creative. History has proven to us that the hunter gatherer was not idle, for when he was not looking for food he made tools and weapons. When humans began to live in settlements and to rely on agriculture, they learned new skills to adapt to that life. This act is not just limited to one group of people but to many civilizations that had never met one another. Out of their creativity we get different forms of weave, fabric, tools, pottery, metals and building structures as well as music, song, dance and folklore. For all we know, the need to create might even be a part of our evolution.
If you make a list of everything that you have ever seen or used which are manmade, you will realize that these can be separated into two forms, those that respond to a need or those that entertain. You will also find many things that will fall into both categories. For example, tools, weapons and shelter came from need. Art and music are for entertainment. Yet there are also things within those categories that can be used for either. For example, the needle is used to both sew clothes and sew wounds.
So creativity is dependent on external pressure?
Not necessarily. Humans also have an inherent need to express themselves outward. For that reason we are rarely satisfied to be confined to only one area. Depending on our psyche, the need for exploration may be physical, emotional, intellectual or spiritual. People will go through great lengths to explore out of their area and step into the unknown just for the hell of it; for example, the Vikings of Northern Europe, the Watermen of the Pacific Islands, Indian and Chinese traders as well as religious teachers who had traveled far and wide.
How and where to start?
If you don’t know where to start, think about what you want improved, and your mind will begin to give you ideas. Maybe a pencil holder, a box for your books, a cover for your dresser, a poster for your wall or even a photo frame for your favorite picture. If you stare long enough at a plain wall, you might even be inspired to be artistic.
The interesting thing is, when you hit a barrier that prevents you from moving forward, your mind will come out with extremely creative ways to solve your problem. For example, I have problems remembering facts, so I come up with the idea of using an old floppy drive holder that I filled with 3.5in x 3.5in (9cm x 9cm) memo pads, which I then split into categories with index cards. Turns out to be really useful because I can carry a dozen or so pieces of paper with me everywhere I go, and jot down information as and when they turn up. Best of all, when I get home, I can put them away into their proper categories. It is a lot more convenient than having to guess which notebook I jot down the information into.
Dissatisfaction with the color palette you have might make you experiment with other materials. Frustration with your stories will make you study work from other genres. A mental block in the middle of your sculpting will make you notice all forms and shapes around you. In other words, the very act of creating something new will help you appreciate life more. Suddenly the life you used to think was boring and pointless will become a rich source of ideas and materials. That alone, I believe, is excellent reason to be creative.
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