I've been home for a few weeks now and I've been experiencing something that I hadn't experienced in a long, long time. At home, I have chores (picking up my siblings from their summer things, washing the dishes, and laundry), work (dish washing at a restaurant and serving), and all my personal creative work (which has seen no progress since the start of this summer break), but other than that I have nothing else on my plate. No plans, no set appointments, no homework, no tight schedule. As a result, boredom has crept up on me and taken over.

It's a weird feeling that I almost forgot how it felt. My brain is pretty much on default mode and has no energy to make the effort to think harder than the things that I have to be doing to survive (eat, sleep, work, repeat). I wake up and have no thoughts to contribute to the day really. I work out in the morning, which is spent thinking about nothing but my breathing and body. The rest of the day is spent finishing the chores, then I watch a lot of T.V. (comprised of Japanese comedy and variety shows and Netflix) and laugh a little bit too much. Work comes around, which isn't particularly interesting. Then, I lay around not thinking about anything again. It's a very strange feeling: staring at the blank wall and having nothing particularly interesting to act upon.

I'm not sure how many other people are experiencing this in their summer, but I've realized that none of this is bad.

My body is simply storing all my brain power for when I really need it when the school year starts again. I used to think this boredom was a complete waste of time; I could be planning my schedule for next year (already? but yes, I could), I could be creating my online portfolio that I've been meaning to make (do I really want to figure it out?), I could be emailing and networking (this could really help later), I could be working on creative work (this would also help), I could be doing so many other things with this time. But as long as the boredom and the stillness are intentional, there is a purpose within that blank slate.

We always beat ourselves for wasting time with things likes boredom and stillness, but I don't think we should. Of course, I still beat myself up for not finishing the things that I initially set for myself to do that day. I see on social media, what all my other friends are doing: going out, traveling, and doing things that matter. The key to enjoying the lack of those things in one's own life at that moment is to simply be happy for your friends that they are doing those things and not compare yourself. Just accept that at this particular time, you need the stillness.

Enjoy it, savor it, and I think something can come out of that boredom.