You Need to Get Bored Sometimes

During my blogging break I took a holiday to Fuerteventura.

Amongst the sun, delicious food and relaxation (well relaxing as much as you can with a three and five year old in tow) I gained a new found appreciation.

I’ve previously mentioned here, that when my wife and I go on holiday we have an unwritten agreement – no phones (except of course in an emergency and notifying family of safe arrival).

This creates a different, but pleasant uncomfortable feeling of walking around not having a glowing screen to grasp to occupy every second of attention.

It’s almost like a detox for the mind not to indulge in such distractions – I’ve had to find other things to do, I’ve had to be bored.

During the holiday I finished my first full book in 2023, (something I’ve not not managed to achieve in over two years), enjoyed moments with my family and sometimes taken moments to sit still for 10 minutes with eyes shut, awake, collecting thoughts.

On the day before we were due to fly home, we went to a beautiful beach front bar, my wife and I enjoyed sipping a drink over a sea view, while my kids seemed more preoccupied blowing bubbles in their orange juice complaining about all the bits in their freshly squeezed refreshment.

The important thing was we weren’t rushing to go somewhere, we didn’t have an appointment or that  sincere feeling of dread that what we were doing wasn’t fulfilling some greater purpose.

We just existed in the moment.

There was something pleasant about the moment and even my wife a self-confessed home bird confessed:

“You could get used to this”

I couldn’t agree more, there was something nice about having a leisurely stroll on a hot sunny day looking at the boats, watching the waves go by.

And it would be amazing to do that more often.

But the time away gave me clarity on how I feel about relaxing beach holidays of what I liked about them, and what I didn’t

I too often feel the desire to return home after a few days, but realised this longing isn’t for familiar ground so much, as a calling to go back to routine, purpose and meaning.

In the very unlikely circumstance an eccentric billionaire contacted me and said I’d never have to work again, and he would cover all expenses so I could enjoy myself without a care in the world to the end of days, I couldn’t do it.

I couldn’t just do nothing.

I like to think, I like to apply myself, I like to set my own purpose and meaning. I need to do something, which is how this post has come to be.

I’m not saying don’t take time to relax and do much of nothing that serves no other purpose than to be in the moment.

No, not that – take time to switch off from routine, put all the worries and troubles of day to day life aside, feel uncomfortable because you’re bored, and accept those feelings to begin an old life renewed, because you no there is more to this world than getting fat on all inclusive and sitting around a pool.

Let your mind fix your exhausted self, wonder, and have a yearning to enjoy rebuilding those creative feelings

2023 has been a creative drought for me, and taking time to stop, not worry about self-imposed deadlines, got my head ticking over to write again..

So after a struggle of barely being able to write for the last six months, this post is one of three things I wrote on the four hour plane ride home.

Now it’s time to sign-out because I don’t have a clever way to conclude this post, both my daughters are asleep aside, as this midnight flight prepares to land, and I feel an eagerness to tackle life next new problems.

Perfect.

Wishing you the best in your success

James @Perfect Manifesto

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