Boredom and loneliness are two other emotions can that trigger eating when you are not really hungry. So, what do you do to avoid emotional eating when you are bored or lonely?
Hopefully, boredom and loneliness will be part of your life very often. These days most people can be entertained just by having a cell phone in their hands.
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Social media is right at your fingertips. If you are looking for something a little different, there are options for reading books, playing games or watching YouTube videos to learn something.
If you feel lonely, you can use that same phone to call a friend, family or other support to get you through the tough times.
Boredom
Being bored is defined as feeling weary because one is unoccupied or lacks interest in one’s current activity.
I get being bored in certain situations, but I don’t understand staying that way for any period of time when there is so much that you can learn and experience.
I am convinced that boredom is one of the greatest tortures. If I were to imagine Hell, it would be the place where you were continually bored. — Erich Fromm, The Dogma of Christ
My mother-in-law used to always say that an idle mind is a dangerous thing. Being bored leads to “comfort” behaviors.
Emotional eating is one of these behaviors. Think of something you always wanted to learn to do and find a free resource that will help achieve it.
Loneliness
Loneliness is defined as sadness because one has no friends or company and is another emotion that can lead to emotional eating.
Don’t get me wrong…there are times when a person is going to feel lonely or bored. They are both emotions and what would life be without emotions?
But staying in that state is on you. You should have a list of things you can do that will relieve stress in your life.
These are things that you enjoy that can change the way you feel when things are tense. This list of activities will work for boredom as well.
It is hard to imagine that people get bored these days, but I sometimes feel stuck and it feels the same way.
If you know you are going to find yourself in a situation where you can be bored or lonely, plan things to do ahead of time.
Would you go on a road trip with kids and not have an arsenal of things to keep them occupied? Make it easy on yourself by planning ahead and not being caught off guard.
Boredom is a choice. Like tardiness. Or interrupting. — Mike Rowe
Final Thoughts About Boredom and Loneliness
We will all be faced with loneliness and boredom at some time in our lives. The key is not to let either get the better of you.
Neither should be a reason for eating if you are not hungry.
Have a list of things that you can do if you find yourself feeling alone or with seemingly nothing to do.
You control your own destiny when it comes to boredom and loneliness.