Please stop.

There is one phrase in the human language that frustrates me SO much...

"I'm bored."

First of all, boredom is a choice. No one makes you bored, but yourself. 

Second of all, I could easily list 1,000 things you could be doing right now (not exaggerating). 

And lastly, I'm sure there is at least ONE thing you "should" be doing... you just don't feel like doing it. That is called lazy/unmotivated/exhausted/whatever other excuse you may have... not boredom.

If you find yourself sitting at home and you are just "SO bored" that you feel like it's necessary to share this boredom with the world on Facebook, I'm going to help you out.

Here are some questions you can ask yourself BEFORE you get to that dreadful point where you just can't stand it anymore.

1. Have you cleaned your home/apartment/bedroom recently? Not just picked up the messiness, have you DEEP CLEANED...vacuumed, dusted, swept, mopped, organized, etc.? 

2. Have you read every single book in the library? There's lots of great ones. Novels, non-fiction, biographies, how-to's... learning never ends. And maybe you'll find a new hobby like web design, or fly fishing, or get lost in a beautiful fantasy world with exciting characters and far away places. 

3. Do you have a favorite TV series? Maybe you can start a new one, or watch an old classic. It's ok if you don't have cable. You don't even need to pay for Hulu or Netflix, most networks post the most recent episodes online that you can watch for free. 

4. Have you detail-cleaned your car recently? Including: vacuumed, washed the windows, wiped the dash, etc.? (I'm dreading this... but it desperately needs done.)

5. Have you hand-written a letter to anyone lately? Friends, relatives (grandma's especially)... everyone loves getting real mail. So be a cool person, and mail a letter. 

6. What about YouTube? Whether you're in the mood for something comical, or you want to learn a new skill, like how to french braid (on my to-do list), or how to cook a new dish... seriously, the options are endless. 

7. Speaking of cooking, have you tried any new recipes lately? Pick something super challenging, or experiment with one of those restaurant copy-cat recipes like for Wendy's Frosties, or Chick-Fil-A Sauce. 

8. Do you speak more than one or two languages fluently? You don't even need Rosetta Stone, just start memorizing new phrases and words and practice them. Label things around the house and watch videos in that language with English subtitles. 

9. Have you exercised today? Ride your bike. Take a walk. Jump rope. Pop in a video, or find one online. Try something new like Zumba, or Yoga, or XBOX Kinect Sports. If you need more motivation, try a 5K, a triathlon, an obstacle course run... whatever interests you, sign-up, pay the money and train for it.  

10. Have you thought about someone other than yourself? Find people who really NEED your time, a place you can volunteer like an elderly home, an animal shelter, or with a neighbor. I'm sure they can find something productive for you to do.

11. Could something in your home use a makeover? Maybe a piece of furniture, a clothing item, or a closet space. Start a project and allow the creative juices to flow.

12. Is your boredom actually a facade of loneliness? Make a new friend. Adopt a pet. If you don't have time for a dog or cat, get a turtle, or a bird, or a bunny... something to take care of and love.

13. Have you ever explored your town through the eyes of a tourist? Check out online reviews for parks, restaurants, museums and attractions. Or drive to a new town and just wander.

14. Do you have Pinterest? Actually DO something you pinned! It doesn't have to cost a lot of money, it could be testing out that crazy magic trick to cleaning your cookie sheets, or how to organize your closet with items found at the dollar store.

15. Is there someone in your life you care about? Do something really special for him/her. Write a note and hide it where they'll find it tomorrow, create a scavenger hunt that leads to a special treat.

16. Do you have a list of goals? Maybe they're monthly, yearly or all-time life goals. If you don't, write them down and display them in a prominent place. If you do, review them, update them and dream up some new ones.

17. Are you spiritual or religious? Sit down and study. Learn something new and share it with someone. Or find something that motivates you to be better, check out TED talks or find a motivational blog that speaks to you.

I could go on for days... but I like the number 7, so I'll stop here. Maybe my ideas sparked some new ones of your own. 

Apparently, you have the luxury of "free time." Yes, it's a luxury. There are people all around the world who work 12+ hours a day just to put food on the table and come home to also clean and work around the house, and they repeat this cycle for the rest of their life. They never get a break. They don't even know what boredom feels like. They aren't blessed with the freedom to choose from MILLIONS of things to do at every second. Do you realize how silly and selfish you sound when you say you're "bored?"

Seriously, people.

You're like those spoiled little kids who whine to their parents about how bored they are. They don't know how to make secret potion out of mud and leaves, or build a rocket ship out of a cardboard box, or ride a two-wheeled horse through the Wild West. 

Please don't let this generation of instant gratification steal your attention span, productivity, and imagination. And please, stop complaining about being bored. There's a big world out there, so go take advantage of it.