Release Excess Energy to Avert Boredom Eating

Researchers speculate that increased feelings of boredom are also likely due to the constant flow of entertainment that people are bombarded with in modern life through online connections and smartphones. Whether you are at home or work, to prevent recurring boredom and keep it at bay, you may need to consider solutions that will prove challenging and provide more lasting meaning.

Boredom is an important signal that lets you know you are doing something that doesn’t give you satisfaction. However, 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.

Address your food urges before you take actions…

When you have sudden food cravings, it is important for you to address you urges, so never let your actions get ahead of your thoughts. Here are some alternatives to help you manage 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 – Cognitive interference can be useful in reducing or eliminating food cravings and the urge to eat. Next time the desire to reach for a snack hits you, send a text message and connect with someone outside your environment.

Mindful eating transforms your relationship with food…

Mindful eating places the right emphasis on food regardless of when or where you eat. However, sometimes the strongest food cravings happen when you are not expecting to lose control of your eating habits. It also transform your relationship with food by doing nothing to nourish your body.

Being more aware of your food environment will keep your head clearer and you will see how to make better choices based on your true patterns and behaviors for consuming food. The desire for boredom eating can often be tempered by a simple distraction or a few minutes for your mind to reset.

Metabolic Research Center offers a comprehensive approach that delivers health strategies tailored to your body’s specific needs. We help you create actionable solutions to manage boredom eating and other emotional challenges.