A Brisk Walk Is a Good Distraction for Boredom Eating

One of the benefits of being bored is the naturally creative state of mind that boredom can produce. Scientists say that you have a default neural network that turns on when you disengage from what it was you were doing. This mode actually fosters creative ideas while you continue working on a repetitive or boring task. A recent study suggests that boredom is actually linked to stress rather than a particular task at hand.

Unlike primary emotions, such as happiness, sadness, fear, anger, or surprise, boredom plays a secondary role alongside other social emotions like sympathy, embarrassment, guilt, pride, or envy and often goes undefined in the moment. In this high-tech age of information, your brain is often overloaded with distractions and a constant stream of information.

Boredom eating is not driven by actual hunger…

There are differences in actual hunger and emotional hunger that often triggers boredom eating. Food cravings can fully consume your thoughts, but just as easily as your mind gets into these situations, it can get you out. Check out the alternatives discussed below:

• Release Excess Energy – When you feel boredom and have food cravings allow yourself to release excess energy by doing something physical, such as a brisk walk.
• Eat without Distractions – Multitasking like snacking while you watch TV is a form of distracted eating that can lead to overeating with less satisfaction. Take the time to savor any food you consume.
• Prepare Snacks Ahead of Time – Try planning for all your snacks and meals ahead of time and don’t just consider what you are going to eat but also when you are going to eat it. This will support healthy snacking.
• Connect with Someone – It is no wonder that snacking can be a daily struggle. Whether you are working from home or stuck at the office, boredom can get the best of you. Try connecting with someone via a phone call or text message.

Always place the proper emphasis on the foods you eat…

What you eat is important but so is how and why you are eating it. Sometimes the strongest food cravings happen when you are not expecting to lose control of your eating habits. The desire for boredom eating can often be tempered by a simple distraction or a few minutes for your mind to reset.

Mindful eating places the right emphasis on food regardless of when or where you eat. It also transform your relationship with food by focusing on what it does and doesn’t do in nourishing your body. Snacks should be eaten sitting down without distractions. Moreover, it is critical to pay close attention to portion sizes and never eat food directly from the package.

At Metabolic Research Center, we personalize a plan that can lead to long-term success at making lasting lifestyle changes that address every facet of your health and self. Connect the MRC nearest you and get started today.