Moving More Helps Release Excess Energy When You Are Bored

Studies have shown that people attribute boredom to being a problem in their environment rather than a problem within themselves. However, changing one’s perception maybe the solution to treating its negative effects. If you find that you are not always fully engaged in the present while performing your current task, or that there is little meaning to you in what you are having to do, you should recognize that it is a sign of boredom.

Boredom isn’t a choice you make for yourself, but it does require expending a certain amount of energy. Unfortunately, it does prove how hard it can be to hold your attention when nothing interesting is happening at the moment. Boredom can easily trigger a creative notion that you should eat something.

Don’t let your habits get ahead of your thoughts…

It is easy to slip into bad habits when your actions get ahead of your thoughts. Give yourself time to process sudden food urges and feel your true feelings. Check out the tips discussed below that can help you control boredom eating:

• Release Excess Energy – If you haven’t skipped a meal and don’t have a rumbling stomach, you are probably not physically hungry. Try taking a short walk to release excess energy.
• Eat without Distractions – There is a natural delay between when you consume food and when it reaches your stomach. That’s why it takes up to 20 minutes to feel full, so avoid eating when anything else is occupying your attention.
• 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 – There is no magic food that will cure boredom eating but there are better choices than mindlessly giving in to food cravings. Try connecting with someone via phone, text, or social media.

Being bored decreases your awareness of what you are doing…

Boredom eating can lead to an unhealthy cycle where your emotions trigger your food cravings that can cause you to overeat when you were not really hungry. Try give any cravings enough time to pass. Mindful eating is being present in the moment and thinking about the why, what, when, where, and how much food you consume each day.

Mindlessly engaging in boredom eating doesn’t require you to listen for hunger and satiety signals. For that reason, 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. What you eat is important but so is how and why you are eating it.

At Metabolic Research Center, we deliver health strategies tailored to your body’s specific needs. Personalized actionable solutions that lead to long-term success for your health and wellness.