Restful Sleep Keeps Hunger Hormones at Bay

Whereas boredom is sometimes caused by simply having nothing to do, that will not always be the case. You can be busy doing repetitive tasks and misinterpret what you are feeling as false hunger signals. For some, junk food is a band-aid that distracts them from whatever boring situation that is triggering their feelings. However, a distraction is not a solution and does not actually fix the problem.

When you are bored, it is easy to find yourself rummaging through the cupboards looking for a favorite treat. Unfortunately, empty calories can only satisfy you for so long. Whether you are stuck in a waiting room or just waiting for the workday to end, boredom can trigger an irresistible urge to eat something.

Healthy snacks provide longer lasting effects…

Awareness is the first step on the road to correcting problems with boredom eating. Plan your snack time and opt for smaller portions of healthy protein and fat. Check out the food and non-food strategies for better managing boredom:

• Get Plenty of Rest – Restful sleep helps keep hunger and satiety hormones working properly and you will have a lot more energy to avoid boredom eating. Healthy habits like getting plenty of rest are sustainable stress relievers that also revitalize your body and reduce your need to eat.
• Practice Mindful Eating – Mindfulness about what you eat can help you cope with emotions as well as better appreciate physical sensations of hunger and satiety.
• Plan Your Snacks – Eating can feel entertaining, especially if you lack pleasure from what you’re doing. Plan for healthy snacks and it can be a source of excitement.
• Move, Move, & Move – Boredom eating can be triggered by a host of negative emotions. However, it also leads to unconscious overeating. Before you give in to a sudden food craving, get up and move. Take a short walk, make up your bed, but do something to change up your brain chemistry.

Boredom eating occurs when you are in the throes of a stressor...

It is natural to gravitate toward comfort foods to escape dealing with your emotions by deferring them for a later time, but that strategy is usually less effective. Even though it can be hard to believe, studies have shown that being busy is a better alternative than being bored.

People who are focused on the task at hand are happier than those who are idle or have a more bored downtime. When your brain has fallen into a predictable pattern, you might feel bored, or even depressed. On the other hand, being bored can help foster creativity, which helps explain your unexpected food cravings.

By paying close attention to what you eat, you develop food awareness. At Metabolic Research Center, we teach you how to hold yourself more accountable, and reduce non-hunger eating that is triggered by negative emotions like boredom.