The recognition of July as National Anti-Boredom Month was developed by Alan Caruba in the 1980’s. He chose the month, says nationaldaycalendar.com because: “there’s not much going on and it’s the hotter part of the summer break from school.”
The purpose of the month is to help people stay interested and connected through a variety of activities. There’s plenty going on at the library, come and see us!
In the meantime, use these books to help you learn about and beat back boredom:
For Adults
Bored and brilliant : how spacing out can unlock your most productive and creative self by Manoush Zomorodi. Cutting-edge research as well as compelling (and often funny) real-life examples are used to demonstrate that boredom is actually a crucial tool for making our lives happier, more productive, and more creative.
How to be bored by Eva Hoffman. Lethargic inactivity can be debilitating and depressing, but in the modern world the pendulum has swung far in the other direction. We live in a hyperactive, over-stimulated age. Uninterrupted activity can seem exciting, but it can also leave us emotionally disorientated and mentally depleted. How can we recover a sense of balance and a richness in our lives?
Still bored in a culture of entertainment : rediscovering passion and wonder by Richard Winter. Though we have hundreds of entertainment options today — Western culture is battling an insidious disease, an epidemic of boredom. Intrigued by this ” deadness of soul, ” Richard Winter uses the latest historical, physiological and psychological research to probe the nature, causes and effects of boredom. He explores why some people are more likely to get bored that others, the indifference and the loss of meaning among youth, the attraction of extreme sports, how advertising promotes apathy, and the link between boredom and addictions to violence and pornography. Not satisfied with mere description and analysis, winter offers practical ways to counteract boredom by learning to live with passion and wonder.
For Kids
Bored by Meg Gaertner. Introduces the feeling of boredom and helps children understand what to do when they experience that emotion or encounter someone else who is experiencing it.
I’m bored by Michael Ian Black. When a bored girl meets a potato who finds children tedious, she tries to prove him wrong by demonstrating all of the things they can do, from turning cartwheels to using their imaginations.
Doodle Cat is bored by Kat Patrick. Doodle Cat is bored, until he finds something to capture his imagination.
For Animals
150 activities for bored dogs : surefire ways to keep your dog active and happy by Sue Owens Wright
The O'Fallon Public Library News 