[Question] Do you guys ever get used to the boredom of productive tasks like working out and studying?

Everything can become boring if it is done often enough that it becomes routine. Even world travel, even making a porn film, even having sex. Much of what makes something exciting is novelty.

But boredom also is very much a product of the mind. It's an inner state, not an external one. Learning to deal with and go beyond boredom is a big part of what the discipline of meditation is about. Boredom is a restless mind, lacking focus, seeking sensation. Part of what meditation is about is quieting the mind, learning to focus the mind and stay focused, discipline the mind, and see what is on the other side of boredom. Learn how to never be bored again.

Much of being productive is simply building strong habits. Much of our daily tasks we do every day without even thinking about it, no struggle, is because it is ingrained habit. We get up, brush our teeth and hair, shower, go to work every day, all habit. Brushing teeth is hardly exciting is it? But we do it--and it's not any kind of struggle, is it? Because it is a strong ingrained habit.

Staying focused on a boring task also is habit. It can be learned. It takes much practice. It has many similarities to meditation.

Also, what you are running into is a mental conflict. Part of you wants to get your homework done. Part of you does not. Part of you wants to work out. Part of you does not. This conflict is why it is a struggle.

Another thing meditation can do is help you understand the conflict. It can help you observe your own mind very precisely, to help you see the actual process of resistance at work. This in turn can help you resolve the conflict so that it isn't a struggle anymore.

Notice that you're not lacking in discipline in everything. You do lots of mundane tasks every day with no problems. Eating, drinking, shopping for food, and so on. That's because there's no inner conflict, no resistance. You do it, and don't even think about whether to do it or not. It simply needs to be done so you do it. It's habit, it's automatic.

It's only a problem with certain tasks. You may simply just need to develop the habit of doing them. The boredom is a kind of subconscious trick to stop you. So is feeling suddenly tired whenever you think about working out. Resistance. What's needed to overcome that...depends on a lot of things.

Overthinking things can also be a subconscious trick to stop you. Maybe all you need to do is just practice making it a habit.

Sometimes that may not be enough. You'll then need to study up on resistance and self-discipline and procrastination, observe what's going on in your head to stop you, then try various techniques for overcoming it.

/r/getdisciplined Thread