NationStates Jolt Archive


The Long Dark Tea Time of the Soul

Mooseica
11-12-2005, 15:25
Douglas Adams references aside, I think I'm finding this to be increasingly true. For the uninitiated allow me to explain:

It's that time of day on a Sunday when - to cut through many examples given in the book - everything sucks. There's nothing on tv, you can be bothered to read a book or anything, you get so listless and apathetic that you can't even be bothered to do anything that might release you from the boredom. And, of course, there's always the soul-crushing prospect of Monday tomorrow, and all the vileness that entails.

This has been starting to kick in earlier and earlier for me lately, and I really need something to distract myself or anything more pleasing than sitting around doing nothing. Worse still, I even got it on a Saturday - yesterday in fact!

Does anyone else get this? If so, what are your methods for dealing with it?
The Emperor Fenix
11-12-2005, 15:28
I get this 90% of the time, my whole life is turning into one enormous 4pm on sunday, and no theres nothing you can do about it.
Pure Metal
11-12-2005, 15:31
try wanking. ;)

i used to feel like that like all the time at uni, though a fair bit of it was my clinical depression i'm sure :p :(
anyway, i got round it by smoking a lot of weed and drinking a fair bit. wouldn't do that if i were you cos it doesn't really help.

get a cool hobby you can devote yourself too at the weekend, maybe. like a sport or something *winces at the idea*
Safalra
11-12-2005, 15:32
Does anyone else get this? If so, what are your methods for dealing with it?
When I was a teenager I used to get the same feeling on a Saturday evening, but I've never had any problem with Sunday tea-times.
The Emperor Fenix
11-12-2005, 15:33
It's too late, once you have entered "The Tea Time" only massive willpower will draw you out of your apathy into a productive or at least diverting hobby.
The Similized world
11-12-2005, 15:33
I'm 'enjoying' my own right now. Set in yestoday as well. I can't even be arsed to sleep. No nice ideas for dreams.. Gaah..
Mooseica
11-12-2005, 15:35
get a cool hobby you can devote yourself too at the weekend, maybe. like a sport or something *winces at the idea*

Nah - tried that a few times, mostly when I was younger and actually could be arsed to do stuff. Now I'm just too plain lazy. Which is probably the whole problem.

When I was a teenager I used to get the same feeling on a Saturday evening, but I've never had any problem with Sunday tea-times.

Oh it's not tea times as such - more from early afternoon (say 2 o'clock) onwards.
Pure Metal
11-12-2005, 15:37
Nah - tried that a few times, mostly when I was younger and actually could be arsed to do stuff. Now I'm just too plain lazy. Which is probably the whole problem.


weed it is then :)

try goin out for a walk or sommat :confused:
The Emperor Fenix
11-12-2005, 15:37
Invite a freind over, then your boredom becomes their problem :D.
Mooseica
11-12-2005, 15:38
I'm 'enjoying' my own right now. Set in yestoday as well. I can't even be arsed to sleep. No nice ideas for dreams.. Gaah..

I know how you feel - pretty much all day yesterday I felt completely down. No reason at all, I was just really miserable. Maybe it's something to do with spending too much time on the internet.
[NS:::]Elgesh
11-12-2005, 15:40
Douglas Adams references aside, I think I'm finding this to be increasingly true. For the uninitiated allow me to explain:

It's that time of day on a Sunday when - to cut through many examples given in the book - everything sucks. There's nothing on tv, you can be bothered to read a book or anything, you get so listless and apathetic that you can't even be bothered to do anything that might release you from the boredom. And, of course, there's always the soul-crushing prospect of Monday tomorrow, and all the vileness that entails.

This has been starting to kick in earlier and earlier for me lately, and I really need something to distract myself or anything more pleasing than sitting around doing nothing. Worse still, I even got it on a Saturday - yesterday in fact!

Does anyone else get this? If so, what are your methods for dealing with it?

Feel glad you don't need to do a 3000 word essay by tomorrow, exams on Tuesday, and more essays for Thurs! I'd kill for some quality boredom!

Oh, also, American Footbal in a sports bar kills time from 6pm on on Sundays, you'd be surprised!
Mooseica
11-12-2005, 15:41
weed it is then :)

try goin out for a walk or sommat :confused:

Again, that would involve energy lol. This is th biggest bastard about the Tea Time. You can't do anything!!! It saps your strength until you just wanna cry...

As for weed... nah - I've spent too much time rolling my eyes and making disapproving noises at my friends for smoking to join them now. I'd die of hypocrisy :D

Invite a freind over, then your boredom becomes their problem :D.

Nah - I can't even summon up the strength for social interaction. Outside the minimal amounts I get from forums and such that is. There's not even anyone interesting on msn - at least that would be something. Msn is about as sociable as I feel I can manage right now.
The Emperor Fenix
11-12-2005, 15:46
PLAY PIKMIN 2 !!!

There's nothing that adorable little game wont cure, any malady of any kind i guarantee it*, cancer you name it anything.



*Not a guarantee
Pure Metal
11-12-2005, 15:51
i've got it!

stick on your favourite dvd and veg out. also, eat snacky stuff while you do it.

minimal effort for long term entertainment... and food! i'm a genius :cool:


ps: i advise something like futurama. you can really while away the hours with that...
Grace Lane
11-12-2005, 15:53
Read a book... honestly it's like tv but with way more choice... I read pretty much anything I can lay my hands on and I rarely suffer the dark teatime, despite the fact that I do suffer from depression.
Mooseica
11-12-2005, 15:57
Read a book... honestly it's like tv but with way more choice... I read pretty much anything I can lay my hands on and I rarely suffer the dark teatime, despite the fact that I do suffer from depression.

I've read everything worth reading in all my many book cases so many times that I really can't work up the enthusiasm to go through them all again. Hmm... I'm thinking Anchorman..
Pure Thought
11-12-2005, 16:32
Two things that work for me.

[1] When I have just about enough energy to push a button or two, listen to music. A lot of music. Pick stuff you can get spacey with, unless you have stuff that energizes you so much it can pull you out of the Long Dark Teatime and inspire you to do something.

[2] When I don't even have enough energy for that, I lucid-dream. It takes practice, but it's possible to learn to be asleep enough to enter a kind of dream-state while being awake enough to "script" the dreams. You can do all kinds of things you never could do in RL (or even in NS!) and it's a fantastic rush. You want to fly? Lucid-dream. You want to be able to breathe under water like a fish? Lucid-dream. You want to be invisible or walk through walls? Lucid-dream. You want to float on a cloud like a cloud? Lucid-dream. You want to play trumpet like Louis Armstrong or play guitar like Jimi Hendrix? Lucid-dream. You want to listen to that rare record you sold 20 years ago when you needed money and now can't find again? Lucid-dream.

Yeah, it really is that good. And it requires NO effort except practice (and you can do that during the week when you don't feel like you can't be bothered).

Of course, you could just sit here on the NS forums for awhile, until you feel ready to do something more demanding ...
;)
Mooseica
11-12-2005, 16:59
Two things that work for me.

[1] When I have just about enough energy to push a button or two, listen to music. A lot of music. Pick stuff you can get spacey with, unless you have stuff that energizes you so much it can pull you out of the Long Dark Teatime and inspire you to do something.

[2] When I don't even have enough energy for that, I lucid-dream. It takes practice, but it's possible to learn to be asleep enough to enter a kind of dream-state while being awake enough to "script" the dreams. You can do all kinds of things you never could do in RL (or even in NS!) and it's a fantastic rush. You want to fly? Lucid-dream. You want to be able to breathe under water like a fish? Lucid-dream. You want to be invisible or walk through walls? Lucid-dream. You want to float on a cloud like a cloud? Lucid-dream. You want to play trumpet like Louis Armstrong or play guitar like Jimi Hendrix? Lucid-dream. You want to listen to that rare record you sold 20 years ago when you needed money and now can't find again? Lucid-dream.

Yeah, it really is that good. And it requires NO effort except practice (and you can do that during the week when you don't feel like you can't be bothered).

Of course, you could just sit here on the NS forums for awhile, until you feel ready to do something more demanding ...
;)


Interesting ideas - and normally number one would work, but this is the real problem; lately I've even begun to get bored with my music. I've listened to everything on my playlists sooooo many times I just can't find it in myself to listen to many of them much more...

As for two... interesting idea... I'll let you know how it goes.
Eutrusca
11-12-2005, 17:04
Douglas Adams references aside, I think I'm finding this to be increasingly true. For the uninitiated allow me to explain:

It's that time of day on a Sunday when - to cut through many examples given in the book - everything sucks. There's nothing on tv, you can be bothered to read a book or anything, you get so listless and apathetic that you can't even be bothered to do anything that might release you from the boredom. And, of course, there's always the soul-crushing prospect of Monday tomorrow, and all the vileness that entails.

This has been starting to kick in earlier and earlier for me lately, and I really need something to distract myself or anything more pleasing than sitting around doing nothing. Worse still, I even got it on a Saturday - yesterday in fact!

Does anyone else get this? If so, what are your methods for dealing with it?
I use to get this way when I was working for Exxon years ago. Ennui is difficult to fight unless you're willing to take yourself in new directions. Take a course far outside your chosen field. Take a week off and hike through the nearest wilderness area. Start a strenuous exercise program. Try to make friends with people from radically different walks of life.

The point is ... it's YOUR life and it's probably the only one you'll have. Make the most of it!
Pure Thought
11-12-2005, 17:52
Interesting ideas - and normally number one would work, but this is the real problem; lately I've even begun to get bored with my music. I've listened to everything on my playlists sooooo many times I just can't find it in myself to listen to many of them much more...

As for two... interesting idea... I'll let you know how it goes.

I'll be interested to hear how you get on.

As for your music, could I respectfully suggest you open out your collection to some different kinds of music? There is a lot of music in the world. I can't imagine ever running out of new music to listen to.