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It’s funny how often this has come up in my life and readings.⁣
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In my early college years, I took a couple year break from Powerlifting to train for and compete in Bodybuilding. I was always intrigued by it and had respect for those who did it because, outside of Powerlifting USA, all of the other magazines were Bodybuilding and you never saw PLUSA on any newsstand.⁣
While I started and trained as a powerlifter, I bought every magazine and book I could afford. I rarely, if ever, trained the way it was depicted in the magazines, but they were fun to read and look through.⁣
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When I got to college, I had access to a gym that had more than racks, squat stands, benches, and barbells. I wanted to use it all... leading to training partners who were both former Mr Ohio’s and training for the Nationals or the USA.⁣
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They taught me more than anyone ever has on how to build muscle with a big part of it being: learn to be bored. “It will help the discipline and recovery.”⁣
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Fast forward almost a decade later training at Westside Barbell, traveling to or from somewhere; Louie Simmons looks over to me and says, “Dave, you know what you need? You need to learn to embrace being bored.” Again, to help recovery and reduce stress from working long hours and training.⁣
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Fast forward again, more than a decade later, while dealing with some personal issues, I sought out some help and was asked the last time I was really bored. ⁣
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At this point, I started to get it. If I was bored, I was relaxed, less stressed, and more mindful. It allowed me time to think openly and more creatively instead of being task oriented. It allowed me to be mindful of how I really feel (yeah, mentally, but also my joints and body pains built up over the years). It allowed me to focus on the things that matter most. ⁣
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I set aside time - EVERY DAY - to be bored, and can’t begin to explain to you how much it helps. NO, it doesn’t make me more money, get me laid more, or even make me a better person. ⁣
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What it does do is ground me in who I really am, where I come from, and what’s most important. ⁣
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P.S. - In my reading today, I read how being bored can be a time management tool