The tedium of the pandemic is shaping what people buy and how productive they are nytimes.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from nytimes.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Are you buying more during the pandemic? Boredom could be the reason behind it
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Are you buying more during the pandemic? Boredom could be the reason behind itBy Sydney Ember, New York Times
Last Updated: Feb 20, 2021, 10:36 AM IST
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Synopsis
By limiting social engagements, leisure activities and travel, the pandemic has forced many people to live a more muted life, without the normal deviations from daily monotony. The result is a collective sense of ennui one that is shaping what we do and what we buy, and even how productive we are.
New York Times
“Because we’re spending so much time in the home, we’re investing more in the home,” said an analyst. “And the things that we’re investing in are things to keep ourselves busy.”
The Boredom Economy
The pandemic is terrible. It can also be tedious. And that tedium is shaping what people buy and how productive they are.
Credit.Matt Chase
Mark Hawkins is an expert on being bored.
When he was getting his counseling degree, he was fascinated by articles on the therapeutic benefits of boredom. He has written a book whose title is “The Power of Boredom.” In his spare time, he likes to sit on his couch and stare out the window.
“It’s very difficult, but I do try to be bored as much as possible,” he said in a recent interview.
Recent studies offer clues to why some people find it difficult to follow social distancing guidelines.
Written By:
Sujata Gupta / Science News | 6:45 am, Feb. 19, 2021 ×
Two similar yet independent studies found that people who frequently feel bored are more likely than others to flout social distancing guidelines. Those boredom-prone individuals also appear to be at higher risk of contracting the coronavirus. Pixabay
In recent months, journalists and public health experts have bandied about the term “pandemic fatigue.” Though not clearly defined, the general gist is that people have grown tired of the pandemic and keeping apart for almost a year and running. That fatigue can manifest as feelings of anxiety, hopelessness, frustration, anger and boredom.
In the social distancing era, boredom may pose a public health threat bemidjipioneer.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from bemidjipioneer.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.