Gaming / Boredom / Alternatives?

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Genipher

Well-known member
Jan 6, 2019
2,330
1,728
113
#21
The OP's main issue is depression and lack of motivation. He also said in an earlier post that transportation is an issue.
Sounds like he's trying, though. Looking for ideas, at any rate. When I've been bad depressed I never would have asked for help in any way, shape, or form.
 
F

ForgiveMeGod

Guest
#22
or the I love your Face Challenge, I'd like to see that done, I mean...not that I'm going to do it.
Look at this face!
But I was thinking more in the lines of an search for the best "I love you" faces. It just occurred to me that the "I love you" spirit is missing in many photographs and... it'd be interesting to see what others might discern as what an "I love you" even face looks like... :unsure:
I think it’s a great idea! Better than spreading what society puts out there on social media.
 
F

ForgiveMeGod

Guest
#23
I’m 36, but sometimes I feel like the silent generation, who had to walk 20 miles in lightning tornado snow storms to get to kindergarten-12th grade, every morning but I did it anyway.
 

justahumanbeing

Well-known member
Mar 25, 2020
487
276
63
#24
Chess. You can play online and there is a great deal of free teaching.
Someone beat me to it. There you go. You can spend an eternity mastering the art of doing someone else mentally. You can communicate your dominance and test your mental endurance and build resilience through this amazing game. The oldest of board games. You will never get bored.

Old school arcade games that you used to play in the arcade machine are available online to play through emulators. Try them. Read free manga online and watch free anime online.

Learn new languages from Duolingo.

And so forth
 

Gideon300

Well-known member
Mar 18, 2021
5,782
3,511
113
Frankston, Victoria
christianlife.au
#25
I’m 36, but sometimes I feel like the silent generation, who had to walk 20 miles in lightning tornado snow storms to get to kindergarten-12th grade, every morning but I did it anyway.
Yeah, my dad had to walk to school with cardboard boxes for shoes. It was uphill both ways in his day.
 
Oct 8, 2019
61
53
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#26
I don’t know how much physical limitations would be part of the situation or not, but I do have physical limitations (hands and stamina) so here are some thoughts or ideas based on my experiences…..

Is Youtube really closed? I ask because I love going on there to watch tutorials. I suggest video tutorials because watching and hearing other people can aid in not feeling so alone. If youtube tutorials really aren't an option, then trying a local library to find books on how to make things can be good too. Often libraries also have events to join or sign up for.

I watch tutorials on how to knit and crochet because the teachers are soothing, but for you I had in mind small woodworking crafts. It might be interesting if you search online about simple woodworking projects or crafts for teens (even if they are aimed at younger audiences they can be engaging and still good for adults too but not require too many tools or expensive supplies).

There are also a lot of different model building ideas. Car models, train models, wooden ships, legos, etc.

Terrariums are really cool, fascinating to research and to make.

Find an art you like, be creative where you can make something and share pictures of your work. Digital art, phone photography, painting, pour painting, online searches for creative crafts.

Jigsaw puzzles, but the picture or piece size/shape can make puzzling fun or a flop, so try different pictures, pieces sizes, and brands to see if any are more your style. Understand puzzling isn’t only about the end result, it is about all those little pieces and the process of putting them together. So when looking for a good puzzle image, question if the tiny images on each piece would be fun to look at, is color fun to look at? Would pictures with geometric shapes be easy details? Are challenging puzzles better for a deeper immersion into the puzzle? I personally don’t like puzzles of dark colors because those details are too hard to see on the split up pieces, instead I like colorful puzzles with objects that would be easy to identify for the sake of the details being the main focus. Easy details are more fun for me, however some people prefer challenging details.

There are different ways to puzzle too. Dig out of the box, spread out on a table, spread out on foam boards, or get into puzzle piece sorting with puzzle trays (sort pieces while watching or listening to audio or tv to make that part go smoother). Some people didn’t like puzzles because they didn't have a good puzzle set-up but then fell in love with puzzles from simply changing images and using flat puzzle trays.

Online Communities
I think a struggle is finding a social outlet, which is why forums can be good. However, if we are feeling depressed we need to be wise of where we hangout on the forums, such as avoid threads that are negative or too heavy until we can get our own mindset in a place of healthy balance or not depressed. Instead it’s nice to hang out on the game threads, bookmark favorite threads, participate in the relaxing threads, or spark up threads of hobbies. Avoid arguing threads as the Lord does tell us to not be quarrelsome. Start our own threads of games or topics you have knowledge about and like to share, even start a thread just to be an open online journal others can read and comment about (you can share a note at the bottom of the post for comments to be kind, non-argumentative, and respectful.)

Digital Games
I understand you don’t want to drift too much into video games, but video games cover a large array of categories. I don’t know what you have tried, I can understand if some games don’t match the ideas of morals and values, such as violent shooter games or dark magical fantasy games, games God might not want everyone to engage with... HOWEVER there are a lot of different video games, trivia video games, tycoon video games, simulator video games (farming simulators are popular), as well as cards online or digital versions of board games. Farming simulator games are often solo player but some of the online card games can be found for both solo play and online multiplayer.

What to do without ourselves in our spare time? How about hygiene care? There’s a lot to the human body. How many elements and parts can we practice on giving positive attention to? Positive hair care, skin care, nails, exercise, vitamins, and getting into healthy things like vegetable juicing and fermenting.

Finally, if we are alone, here is a difficult suggestion but one that might be worth doing…..
The acts of practicing being positive. It is very hard to be positive, sometimes we just have to grit our teeth and try even if it feels shallow or superficial at first, but still keep trying anyway. Why? Because we are what we eat. If we only eat negative thoughts then we will remain in a poor state. If we try to find positive thoughts, or give positive comments, or positive affirmations, regardless of how we feel in the moment, they will be nibbles of goodness and the nibbles can turn into more and eventually we will be feeding our hearts positivity and then feel better.

Find positivity and write it down. No matter how small it might be. If it’s too hard to be positive then try an attitude of gratitude and see if God reveals anything.

I hope these suggestions spark at least something worth trying. :)
 
Last edited:
Mar 15, 2023
105
19
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#27
I don’t know how much physical limitations would be part of the situation or not, but I do have physical limitations (hands and stamina) so here are some thoughts or ideas based on my experiences…..

Is Youtube really closed? I ask because I love going on there to watch tutorials. I suggest video tutorials because watching and hearing other people can aid in not feeling so alone. If youtube tutorials really aren't an option, then trying a local library to find books on how to make things can be good too. Often libraries also have events to join or sign up for.

I watch tutorials on how to knit and crochet because the teachers are soothing, but for you I had in mind small woodworking crafts. It might be interesting if you search online about simple woodworking projects or crafts for teens (even if they are aimed at younger audiences they can be engaging and still good for adults too but not require too many tools or expensive supplies).

There are also a lot of different model building ideas. Car models, train models, wooden ships, legos, etc.

Terrariums are really cool, fascinating to research and to make.

Find an art you like, be creative where you can make something and share pictures of your work. Digital art, phone photography, painting, pour painting, online searches for creative crafts.

Jigsaw puzzles, but the picture or piece size/shape can make puzzling fun or a flop, so try different pictures, pieces sizes, and brands to see if any are more your style. Understand puzzling isn’t only about the end result, it is about all those little pieces and the process of putting them together. So when looking for a good puzzle image, question if the tiny images on each piece would be fun to look at, is color fun to look at? Would pictures with geometric shapes be easy details? Are challenging puzzles better for a deeper immersion into the puzzle? I personally don’t like puzzles of dark colors because those details are too hard to see on the split up pieces, instead I like colorful puzzles with objects that would be easy to identify for the sake of the details being the main focus. Easy details are more fun for me, however some people prefer challenging details.

There are different ways to puzzle too. Dig out of the box, spread out on a table, spread out on foam boards, or get into puzzle piece sorting with puzzle trays (sort pieces while watching or listening to audio or tv to make that part go smoother). Some people didn’t like puzzles because they didn't have a good puzzle set-up but then fell in love with puzzles from simply changing images and using flat puzzle trays.

Online Communities
I think a struggle is finding a social outlet, which is why forums can be good. However, if we are feeling depressed we need to be wise of where we hangout on the forums, such as avoid threads that are negative or too heavy until we can get our own mindset in a place of healthy balance or not depressed. Instead it’s nice to hang out on the game threads, bookmark favorite threads, participate in the relaxing threads, or spark up threads of hobbies. Avoid arguing threads as the Lord does tell us to not be quarrelsome. Start our own threads of games or topics you have knowledge about and like to share, even start a thread just to be an open online journal others can read and comment about (you can share a note at the bottom of the post for comments to be kind, non-argumentative, and respectful.)

Digital Games
I understand you don’t want to drift too much into video games, but video games cover a large array of categories. I don’t know what you have tried, I can understand if some games don’t match the ideas of morals and values, such as violent shooter games or dark magical fantasy games, games God might not want everyone to engage with... HOWEVER there are a lot of different video games, trivia video games, tycoon video games, simulator video games (farming simulators are popular), as well as cards online or digital versions of board games. Farming simulator games are often solo player but some of the online card games can be found for both solo play and online multiplayer.

What to do without ourselves in our spare time? How about hygiene care? There’s a lot to the human body. How many elements and parts can we practice on giving positive attention to? Positive hair care, skin care, nails, exercise, vitamins, and getting into healthy things like vegetable juicing and fermenting.

Finally, if we are alone, here is a difficult suggestion but one that might be worth doing…..
The acts of practicing being positive. It is very hard to be positive, sometimes we just have to grit our teeth and try even if it feels shallow or superficial at first, but still keep trying anyway. Why? Because we are what we eat. If we only eat negative thoughts then we will remain in a poor state. If we try to find positive thoughts, or give positive comments, or positive affirmations, regardless of how we feel in the moment, they will be nibbles of goodness and the nibbles can turn into more and eventually we will be feeding our hearts positivity and then feel better.

Find positivity and write it down. No matter how small it might be. If it’s too hard to be positive then try an attitude of gratitude and see if God reveals anything.

I hope these suggestions spark at least something worth trying. :)
I get your point and you put a lot of effort into this. Maybe you are young, but as you become older, most people simply throw all these things in the trash thinking they should have done something else with their time. Not always, but mostly. This is why monks do not have social-media accounts or code-camps or hobbies of making bird-boxes. They see it as waste for no reason except self-indulgence. I need something meaningful and purposeful and useful. Yet christianity has made me "stale" like old bread. Without heart to do anything due to the lack of direction and guidance and delivery on prayer. It has been a long time and the longer it has gotten the more bitter and annoyed I intermittently get at being addicted to "life" and not stale "christian death".

I have no friends, nothing to talk about, nothing to do, no money to do "it", and see only the years pass by with many left to go, as a loser "christian" with no hope or reason to continue except "fear of God", nothing else. Selfish right. But I am on my own trying to do it all alone with no help from God seemingly. Only the odd cheap pair of trainers, or a slightly easier work day, or a meal I like, or basically insignificant things that all die eventually. Nothing significant like really helping me is ever really recieved from God except salvation when I die. This is my experience so far for the most part. But I do know if I give up on all desire, I have no clinging to wanting a future and simply contently wait for death like a monk would.

But this is no comfort, as I feel robbed of "life", feeling I was promised more by christianity. Especially when every christian I see in church is not rich but basically very looked after. Either with money, family, homes, cars, holidays, phones, libraries, friends, skills, and more. With only the normal problems everyone suffers. And they are the ones who let the church die, yet they are still better than me as the wretch I am. Of no use because I was not spoon fed christian life like "the good ones chosen to live easy lives" generally speaking of course. Not including the ones that really suffer by choice, with guts etc. It simply seems God is not that bothered about saving people. Even I chose to go to church after watching televangelism years ago. No-one came and taught me, and they do not in most churches either. Cosy little unsupported chickens is what I see, but then again I see little like most people. They are obviosly better than me and doing more, they simply are not of the same cloth. So no one "fellowships" and if we did, it is awkward as pewk.
 
Oct 8, 2019
61
53
18
#28
The point of hobbies and activities is they become something we can do while alone but at other times they can connect us with other people. Our purpose is to have relationships and having interests isn't a waste of life if it connects us or acts as a building block for relationships. Many people might give up on hobbies thinking they are a waste, but turns out there's more pros than cons to letting ourselves become involved with things that interest us. We don’t need to be “most people”, we need to be people who live with love. God wants us to LOVE, if we give up on things that have us feel joy, then we likely lose the emotion of love too. Love is most important, love covers a multitude of sin (1 Peter 4:8), our focus needs to not be on giving up on life, but learning where we can feel love and share love.

1 Corinthians 13 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

I understand your position to some degree, as I live in solitude most of my days. But my situation is I have health disabilities, can't drive, and social phobia. I don't need to be old, when my body already feels and lives as if it is old. I feel the life of a monk would be ideal and perfect. But I can't get myself to live that way. It's just not me, it's not my true self. God made me, what does he want from me? I'm still trying to figure that out. However, the one thing I do know is relationships are everything to God. So I am always trying to come up with ideas that might help prepare me for relationships. It is up to God to open the doors, if He does open doors I will be more ready for those moments with other people, if He doesn't open doors, my life is still better by me seeking to improve myself and my environment, and it's then a win/win in the end.

I think to myself, what do I need to improve or change if I were to have better relationships or seek more relationships? Well, I need positive topics to talk about... so ok I want positive hobbies (negative or argumentative topics don't add to me, they just make me feel worse. Positive topics help me be a nicer person, and kindness is what God wants from us). In addition to positive hobbies to have a topic to connect with others on, I do need in general to be able to have positive conversations, not just disagreements, debates, or constant negativity, so I try to come up with search terms for helpful videos on youtube, such as videos that teach charisma and etiquette (etiquette is the actions of manners, manners are for the purpose of displaying respect, and respect is a form of showing love, which is why respect is so important to God). Another thing that is important to me for pursuing relationships, is I want a home I feel happy to invite guests over to, so I like home decor, pondering on home project lists, and reorganizing (again, I like youtube organization videos to help or inspire me). I then do 1 small thing, no matter how small, and eventually the small tasks build towards reaching goals. Many of my “self-preparation” ideas are always a work in progress, but I am at least exposing myself to things that I feel would put me towards a direction aimed for relationships.

I repeat, it is up to God to open doors for me to have relationships, but by seeking to be a better person, I feel I am at least doing my part at trying to be someone suited for the relationships God might bless me with. God tells us to store up treasures in heaven, and I believe he means relationships, as there is no greater treasure than a special and important relationship, just like for God a relationship with us was something so important to Him he re-connected with us through Jesus Christ.

So then, for the sake of relationships, I do like gaining for myself hobbies, because they connect me with others. There are youtube videos or online communities for most hobbies and I like to seek those connections. :)
 

Karlon

Well-known member
Mar 8, 2023
2,908
1,331
113
#29
I am a person who does not do well with boredom as I merely remember and mull over the depressing failures of my life or what others have done to ruin my life either by intention or ignorance or accident etc. I like many used to game a lot and that is the only place I had any what seemed like real friends. Even this post got cut off and I had to do it again.

I do not game because God stopped me doing so. And I do not want your excuses saying "it was not God" so you can feel better.

I do not want to do anything girly or lame that is not engaging. I have done study over the years and find it dull and painful to force study. There is nothing to do in my area. I am 40ish and have no help in church as we are not alike and have totally different lives.

Anyone have anything useful that is engaging alone or online other than discord or zoom bible studies / audio books / sermons, because this is simply dull and depressing to sit in silence waiting to die. I tried a youtube channel but this seems blocked either permanently or temporarily by God, and so is evangelism. There seems only a life like a non-thinking monk.

Any help appreciated, and hopefully not with too many words or opinions. Thanks.
yes, i have help for you but it's a lot of words. i can't avoid it. sorry. do what i do: read, exercise, ride a bike, study the Bible, praise, pray, share testimony, chat with Christians, listen to Christian music, listen to pastors on the radio, watch pastors on tv, make Bible notes, give alms, assist the elderly & handicapped, gather friends & volunteer in the community, cook, clean, do laundry, shop, partake of gourmet dining, social around with friends, go skydiving, visit the Caribbean, Bahamas, Florida, Hawaii, etc., sell coins, sell antiques, play an instrument, play games, sing, think about life & try to figure the world out, play chess, work more, read your local history, attend parties, be involved in landscaping your home & get to know people who know how to get things done now. blessings to you.