“I’m BORED!” I wish I had a nickel for every time I heard someone sigh, or cry out. I honestly can’t think of a time recently when that thought has crossed my mind. Boredom isn’t something I am accustomed to, but I know it’s a real problem for many. In a culture that boasts every form of entertainment and activity to address boredom, we are having a harder time really enjoying our time.
In Jeffrey Selingo’s book, There Is Life After College, he shares 6 qualities that employers are looking for in college grads. They are Curiosity, Creativity, Grit, Digital Awareness, Conceptual Thinking & Humility. As I have studied this list, these qualities aren’t just helpful for landing a job, but seem to be crucial for living a bigger life. The university experience is supposed to equip us for landing a job or hopping on a career track that warrants a college education. What it sometimes lacks is an intentional process for developing this combination of character, skills and abilities. It’s not always, or even usually the university’s fault. The teacher can only teach what the student is open to learning.
I want to offer some alternatives to boredom with these qualities in mind. These ideas aren’t an academic exercise, but can and should be viewed as more than entertainment. They are meant to be edutainment with a smile included. Some of these ideas are best experienced in a group, some are great for couples or even solo, but all of them are designed to hit one of the six qualities listed above. Most of the ideas are designed for active learning. There is one for every week of the year. The time invested in the activities varies, but typically can be done in 3-4 hours. The ideas can be adapted for your group size, or used as a jump start for your own creativity.
Use your favorite search engine (uhhh, Google it) to find a geographical culture you are unfamiliar with. Look for traditional foods or drinks and find a recipe. Shop and prepare a meal from that culture. Invite others into the fun and enjoy!
