Boredom Can Be a Good Friend, Use it Wisely

You found yourself once again bored.  Searching the 'Net, you don't find nothing much that interests you.  You log off, reach out to a loved one or friend and they appear to be bored like you.  You open the fridge and what's inside is boring!  What to do?

Treating boredom like it is a bad thing to experience will not lift your spirits.  Rather you will start to behave negatively and you might take out your feelings of boredom on the unsuspecting family and friends around you.  That's not good!  What might be driving your boredom especially if it has become a routine with you?  Knowing the answers as to why you often become bored might help you feel better about yourself.

Bored people usually become this way because they simply don't bother to break habits.  They don't think that trying a new way of doing something, going out on an adventure, or shopping at a different place is necessary.  However, it becomes all-too important to make swift changes when unfortunately you lose out on someone or something.  But there are some great things ahead for those who treat boredom as a friend that comes for a visit but has to go sooner or later.  Here's what you can do.

1) Don't force yourself to do anything when you are bored.  For instance, stop surfing the net or playing a game that you know you are so over! 

2)  Sit still, breathe, and quiet your mind.  Welcome serenity! 

3)  If you have a personal faith, take the time to pray for yourself and others, give thanks, confess sins, and repent.

4)  Write down how you feel along with problems you would like to solve.

5)  Share with someone you trust how you have been feeling lately.  Be open and honest, but don't share too much about anything negative that you might be feeling toward the person you are talking to.  The last thing you need is to argue.

6)  Pull out your calendar and search for things to do out of your typical place of comfort.  Too often people miss out on some great community events, seminars, grand openings, shopping deals, movies etc. because once again they are stuck in their routines.

7) Make phone calls and write emails you have been putting off.

A moment of "I am so bored with..." can lead to some wonderful things, so take the time to discover what they are!

Nicholl McGuire

On Getting More Out of Internet Experiences - Personal Testimony

In the past, I didn't quite connect my offline problems with online solutions right away. There were times that I would still think about going to the library, calling someone, or looking at one of my old books on a shelf to get answers. I had to keep reminding myself, "Just go on the web..." I don't quite remember when I went from saying web to the Internet, but as times change so do we. This might be something that some of you readers still do. You forget about the Internet or talk yourself out of going online in the hopes that you can solve a problem without need of it. Then before long, minutes or hours have gone by and you end up going online anyway.

As I became more experienced using the computer and Internet, I was often surprised by the new activities that seemed to pop up over night. During my early Internet experiences, online banking was one of the best features to make life so much simpler when it came to paying bills. We online bill payers learned to set and forget. However, if one wasn't too careful and your paycheck was not consistent, you just might overdraft or some weird thing once in awhile would occur where one needed to check with his or her bank. Despite the hiccups, even now, I still love the convenience and not having to worry if my check made it to a company or individual while wondering when he or she plans to cash it (sigh).

When photo uploading and downloading came along, I enjoyed this so much too. I could share photos with my social networks that they hadn't seen in years. Some viewers cried with happiness while others complained about the way they looked in the images. I was so happy to be able to download photos from online photo albums and social networking sites that I would have never been able to get had I visited relatives' homes. When I made my first photo printer purchase I was ecstatic, because I could print out what I wanted when I wanted and send to whomever. That is until I started noticing how quickly the cost of buying ink cartridges added up. Prices have come down somewhat, depending on your printer, but I don't print like I used to. For many photos, it is just better to select your photos, upload online and then go to the local photo development center in your neighborhood to pick up. You will find in this guide many things you can do creatively.

When blogging came on the scene, I was in my heaven. Being a writer that participated in contests, published newsletters, and wrote diary entries, this was just the outlet I needed. I also liked some interesting features like being able to type on a black screen rather than a white one online. I soon discovered that I could play free music online while I wrote or listened to audio books without having to work my computer's CD drive. Funny, CDs are a thing of the past as I write. They are like audio tapes, 8 tracks, vinyl records, as well as other recording products, although the items are dated and not considered the best and the greatest. But anyone who likes to save money doesn't want to keep buying media over and over again, so you tend to keep your players around.

Those days of renting VHS and DVD movies at the local Blockbuster had stopped for all of us previous members when we started choosing to watch movies online rather than leave home during the mid-2000s. Documentaries were readily available on video sharing websites as well. I couldn't imagine having to stand in line ever again to rent a movie (that is if I am at a theater or library).

I realized the benefits of using the Internet mentally, physically and spiritually more so when I started having children. The Internet was my escape from boredom at home, fussy babies who would eventually fall asleep, and a place to go to ease my mind when I needed to know something. For instance, I couldn't always get out to the doctor and oftentimes there wasn't anything so bad occurring with me or my children that required a doctor's visit, so I can't tell you how much money I saved just looking up symptoms on WebMd and other similar sites.

When I discovered there were videos and pictures I could view online related to symptoms, I felt so relieved. In addition, when the children needed certain items, I didn't hesitate to look online for a coupon, once again saving more money. Then I found sites that could help with reducing medical expenses and save on prescription costs. I also learned about alternatives to prescription medicines that worked just as good depending on the health ailment. Not all old school remedies were outdated and ineffective and I learned this after spending time reading many comments about different products in forums and websites where products were being advertising. So from this example, you can see how one task started a chain reaction to other tasks I could perform on the Internet. This is what you will find throughout this guide.

The Internet was also a life saver when I worked on certain tasks on jobs. I could simply look up whatever I needed or collaborate with others online. If I didn't know something and even still to date, I learn about it and work with the available programs right online.

When I started learning to drive, I used the Internet to take quizzes and watched videos to help understand road rules. I found useful information about what cars were considered the safest to drive, cost less money to insure, and had the best features for me. Some sites offered many images and videos to help with making a choice. I chatted online with sales representatives who were eager to meet with me.

My Internet experiences I shared with you was just a small fraction of the many things I have done and still do online, but the book you are about to read will get into some more ways to best use the Internet and get the most out of each task you create for yourself and it all starts with good research! Tips are also presented in this guide.

When seated in front of your computer, browsing from one site to the next, you might sometimes feel like you are missing out on something, because you are stuck in routines, and you are. Every time you sit in front of your computer screen, you need to have some idea what you want to learn about, how long you are going to be online finding out about it, but also you have to have the discipline to know when to leave too. Don't overlook any opportunity online or off that might make your life a little less stressful. I sincerely hope this book, What Else Can I Do on the Internet by Nicholl McGuire, helps you get even more out of your Internet experiences!

Nicholl McGuire has written other books including: When Mothers Cry, Too Much Too Soon Internet Dating Blues, Laboring to Love an Abusive Mate, Say Goodbye to Dad, and other non-fiction books.

What Else Can I Do on the Internet? Idea Generating Book

Take your current Internet routine to a whole new level with a informative guide entitled, What Else Can I Do on the Internet? by Nicholl McGuire.  Just when you think you know as much as you need to know about the Internet along comes yet another and another new invention, website, app and more.  How can you stay on top of it all and how do you know whether something is indeed useful to your lifestyle?  This practical guide inspires you to search for things you may not have thought of, seek out new ways to do things you often do, and inspires you to create stuff that might add to your wealth or save you both time and money.  The sky is the limit!

What Else Can I Do on the Internet? by Nicholl McGuire

This book is written for novice as well as mature users in a comprehensive writing style.  You may know of someone stuck in a boring routine or might want to spice up one's Internet experiences.  Send that person a copy.  This inexpensive guide jam-packed with much interesting information, you just might be on the Internet for a long time!  Have this handy printed book placed right next to the computer for quick reference.  Order your copy today!  What Else Can I Do on the Internet? written by Nicholl McGuire

Before the Internet...15 Things To Do When You Feel Bored

So you're bored and can't think of anything worthwhile to do.  What do you think people did before before the Internet, cell phones, and portable games?  Following are some memory joggers for some of our mature visitors and those young ones who just don't have a clue what to do with their time.  Have some fun in the real world with real people!

1.  Get off your butt and do some chores in and around the house.
2.  Ask your neighbor if he or she needs some help with his or her chores, projects, tasks, etc.
3.  Offer to babysit.
4.  Set up a yard sale or on hot days a lemonade stand.
5.  Visit your nearby relatives.
6.  Ask some kids in the neighborhood if they want to come out and play.
7.  Do your past due homework or ask teacher for some extra credit. (This works in college too).
8.  Write letters or send cards to distant relatives.
9.  Take photos or record videos.
10.  Play board games (Some people still do this and enjoy it).
11. Call people you haven't talked to in awhile.
12.  Meet relatives or friends at a popular local restaurant or mall.
13.  Take a walk.
14.  Sit on your porch, your neighbors, on a park bench, and relax.
15.  Check out local events (sporting activities, plays, arts and crafts shows, street fairs, etc.)

Spend enough time on any electronic device and you will get a headache and become irritated. Before your eyes get weary, your head hurts, and you become frustrated when your device doesn't work right,  take some time to live amongst the living.  Keep in mind, life is too short, better value loved ones while they're still here.  Feel free to leave comments.

Nicholl McGuire shares spiritual insight on YouTube channel: nmenterprise7 

The Internet Can Be a Time Waster: Do Some House Cleaning

It's late at night and you can't sleep.  Most people turn on the TV or surf the Internet.  But that can get boring, surfing from site to site, and how many times does one have to check his or her email?  Meanwhile, there are some things around the household that need to be done.


1.  Clean off your dusty entertainment center and wipe off your TV screen.  While your at it, organize your videos and get rid of those you no longer watch.  Do you even have a VCR anymore?  Why save the VHS tapes?

2.  Upload all your photos from your digital camera.

3.  Organize your digital photos.

4.  Scan your photographs.

5.  Scan your awards, certificates and other keepsakes.

6.  Sort through your old stuff.  Bag the trash items.  Box the things that are in good condition and give them away to a local charity.  Get a receipt because your donations are tax deductible with certain establishments.

7.  Take pictures of items you want to sell online or offline.

8.  Create fliers.

9.  Manage your money.  Check out how much money you have been spending lately.  Create a budget.  Research ways to invest and save money.

10.  Write someone a letter you haven't contacted in awhile.  They will be glad to hear from you.  People get tired of looking at bills in the mail.

11. Catch up on some offline reading. Try reading the Bible and praying.  You never know what kind of wisdom you might find that may help you through one of your dilemmas.

12.  Organize your cell phone and other gadgets.  Delete old phone numbers, messages, etc. 

The Internet can take away from many duties you may have to complete offline.  Take advantage of your free time now before you get busy again.

Nicholl McGuire