Productive Ways to Counter Melancholy and Boredom as a SAHM?

[Pax2u]

We never had much money when our kids were small, so I did kinda silly, but fun things to pass the time. We all loved music (ELO was big at the time lol!) and I’d put on an album and we’d put on “rock concerts” using the kitchen wooden spoons and hairbrushes for our “microphones.” It was good exercise, too!! I remember wanting to expose them to classical music, and playing “In the Hall of the Mountain King” while we pretended to be trolls creeping up on Peer Gynt. Just kinda crazy, but fun stuff like that.

The Star Wars thing you mentioned reminded me of my grandson, who is really into making Star Wars origami figures. I think he found the directions online. You might want to check into that if any of your children are old enough.

I sure hope your stomach settles down. I was sick all 9 months of both my pregnancies, and it is rough. Will keep you in prayer.

 

[Annie39]

Hi everyone!
I am stuck in a real rut lately.
I am confined to the house so much lately, and the lack of intellectual stimulation or adult social interaction has made me feel dull, lazy, gloomy, etc. You name a negative emotion, I have struggled with it lately.
Beginning in early February, where we had to leave our house and seek shelter in the home of friends due to an ice storm that knocked out power and threatened many homes in our town, we have had one crisis after another. We have had nasty viruses that knocked each of us down hard, one or two at a time, until an entire month had passed. My oldest child had a very scary allergic reaction to her antibiotics. Numerous repairs to our home had to be attended to. We had to work hard to keep up with homeschooling in all this. Now we are potty training one of the children. Through all this, I have been secretly pregnant, dealing with horrible nausea and exhaustion.
While we have successfully dealt with each crisis or challenge as they arose, my emotional state and mental sharpness has deteriorated. I am in no danger of losing my faith, or anything serious like that, but I am tired of feeling so dull and sad.
Does anyone have any ideas of how to get myself out of this rut, even though my external circumstances are not going to change (I will still be confined until my potty training child masters her new skills)? The boredom is just killing me!

I recommend Jane Austin books to take you out of your doldrums. Do you own a Kindle reader of any kind? Most if not all of her books are free to download. Otherwise I’m sure that you can find very reasonable hard copies.

Annie

 

[mommamaree]

I recommend Jane Austin books to take you out of your doldrums. Do you own a Kindle reader of any kind? Most if not all of her books are free to download. Otherwise I’m sure that you can find very reasonable hard copies.

Annie

Yes, I do have a Kindle. I have read several of her novels. When I was growing up, I had a leather bound edition of all her most popular novels. I wish my parents had kept that for me after I went to college, but I think it must have gotten pitched or put in a garage sale. I remember watching Clueless as a teen and thinking “they just ripped off of Emma!”
I think I actually already have a couple Kindle editions of her books downloaded.

I recently read a James Patterson novel. It was okay. I couldn’t really see why in the world he is the world’s best selling author.

I am really having a hard time finding books that I am interested in lately. I will just have to keep looking, I suppose.

 

[Annie39]

Now I wish I had watched clueless.

 

[Cat]

I don’t know how helpful this will be, but I would love to be bored once in a while.

Usually my list of things to do is so long that it’s exhausting just to read the list.

But here’s my suggestion: try to free yourself up from the need to “do something,” and instead, try to learn to find enjoyment in just “being.”

Just sit and watch your children (or hold them, depending on their need).

So many of us have gotten used to multi-tasking, and so when we have free time, we have a hard time with it. I think we all need to learn to just sit. Feel the air around you. Become aware of your body, your breathing, your skin, your hair. Sniff and enjoy the smells, good and bad. Touch the chair that you’re in and marvel at the ability to “feel” (remember that those who are paralyzed usually experience numbness).

Talk to God.

My mother spent the last ten years of her life as an invalid, mostly in her house, and mostly in the living room/kitchen/bedroom/bathroom, because those were the only rooms she could access. She couldn’t do much of anything because of her arthritis.

But whenever I called her or stopped by, she would talk about all the things she did that day–listened to the birds, talked to the cat, ate a piece of bread…the simplest of things, but she treasured all these little things.

Try it! Take pleasure in just “being” on this earth at this time in history.

 

[mrs_katekista]

SING! I am definitely not gifted when it comes to singing but no one can stop me from singing my favorite hymns! I usually search my favorites or any hymn that catches my attention in youtube and save them in a playlist. I especially like those that show the lyrics.

If you can, try to get out alone,even for just a few minutes - go to adoration or take a quick walk around the block. Also, try to find a place to volunteer even for just an hour or two a week.

I also find it helpful when I spend some quiet time alone in my bedroom. I tell the kids that i’m going for my quiet time, that they should not disturb me and eldest sibling is in charge. Whatever they might need during this time, they have to ask their eldest sibling. My quiet time varies from 10 minutes to an hour.

Hope this helps!

 

[HopenHappiness]

Hi,

You might give some Gardening at try, you could work that into your homeschooling. Nothing like growing your own veggies, you don’t need to do anything big. Since your on Pinterest, try looking up container and Square foot gardening. Very easy and simple, plus give the kids something to do.

I second Volunteering, you can check Craigs list, Church, hospitals, nursing homes, and libraries. Also look in your local newspaper, they usually have a list once a week.

As far as the play group goes, it is rather said on their part to kick someone out. You are better off without them, rather then checking to see if there is something wrong they could help with, they just abandon you. It says a lot about their character.

Also if you could swing a babysitter, maybe you and hubby could go out on a date night once or twice a month.

 

[mommamaree]

Hi everyone!

I have been doing much better these past few days. My daughter who is potty training is making good progress, so that has really helped my mood. No more watching her non-stop in order to catch accidents. She is talking about how she is a big girl now, instead of insisting she is a baby.

Also I have had my mid-pregnancy ultrasound. We are having another girl! And my infant is officially toddling now. So lots of changes in a few days has really buoyed me up.

Our family and friends have all had only kind things to say (at least out loud) when we finally announced the pregnancy. And my husband and I have finally planned out our projects for the summer, so I have an idea of all the flurry of activity to begin this weekend and continue until we begin lessons mid-August.

I am getting involved in a new playgroup, too, that will meet twice a month. It is full of very nice ladies. It is like night and day compared to my last mothers group.

Things are starting to look so much better already, and I am so thankful. Thank you all for your ideas. They were very helpful and I am going to keep a list of these ideas for next time I start to feel down in the dumps or bored. I love my vocation, but sometimes I just get stuck in such a rut!

 

[mommamaree]

Oh, and I love the gardening idea. Unfortunately for me, it appears that I have a black thumb. I cannot seem to get anything to grow. It frustrates me to no end, so I have given up trying for a few years. I am determined to learn how to properly garden one day, though!

 

[heidi_storage]

Hi everyone!

I have been doing much better these past few days. My daughter who is potty training is making good progress, so that has really helped my mood. No more watching her non-stop in order to catch accidents. She is talking about how she is a big girl now, instead of insisting she is a baby.

Also I have had my mid-pregnancy ultrasound. We are having another girl! And my infant is officially toddling now. So lots of changes in a few days has really buoyed me up.

Our family and friends have all had only kind things to say (at least out loud) when we finally announced the pregnancy. And my husband and I have finally planned out our projects for the summer, so I have an idea of all the flurry of activity to begin this weekend and continue until we begin lessons mid-August.

I am getting involved in a new playgroup, too, that will meet twice a month. It is full of very nice ladies. It is like night and day compared to my last mothers group.

Things are starting to look so much better already, and I am so thankful. Thank you all for your ideas. They were very helpful and I am going to keep a list of these ideas for next time I start to feel down in the dumps or bored. I love my vocation, but sometimes I just get stuck in such a rut!

Yay! I am so glad. Luckily, you were able to keep some perspective and realize that this bad time wasn’t going to last forever; that’s so difficult for us to do.

 

[Xantippe]

Awww.

That all sounds great.