Freespace - Why are we bored?

MALAYSIA has the highest number of bored youths in the world, a recent survey has found. MTV Asia's "Break Boredom, Ignite Passion" research study surveyed more than 15,000 young people from 26 countries aged 12 to 24, and found that Malaysian youth (83%) were the most bored.
In addition, 97% of all respondents said they experienced boredom, while 60% said they hated being bored. However, 85% said they believe the problem of boredom can be fixed. The findings surprised the researchers. With technology and an entertainment-based culture that strives to keep us busy and engaged, why are we bored?
Boredom is defined as "feeling weary because one is unoccupied or lacks interest in one's current activity". Looking at the way most of us live today, there doesn't seem to be much room for one to be unoccupied.
If we're not busy working, we've got a long list of commitments. Family to take care of, friends to stay connected to, club activities and errands to run, the list never ends. In between all of that, there's our social identity to take care of so people don't think we aren't living life to the fullest.
Therefore I don't think many of our young people suffer from a lack of having things to do. They feel bored because they perceive that their activities, or lack of it, are uninteresting and therefore boring.
Maybe youth today feel bored because they are taught that unless they are doing something "worth" uploading on social media, or hanging out with "happening" people, their lives are plain boring. For instance, I recently received a promotional email with the subject heading, "Staying at home is lifeless | Go out". I thought it to be a rather careless statement.
Of course, if I was a couch potato who stayed at home every day and made no effort to live a healthy, balanced life, then it would be wise for me to get up and go out. However, I've found choosing to stay home at times very rewarding. It's my time to recharge, and I need it in my otherwise extremely busy life. I don't find it a lifeless activity at all.
When I was younger, I did feel the need to keep up with the times instead of trying to find out what really made me fulfilled. I then found myself disinterested in what I thought would be engaging, or simply confused because everyone was telling me where to throw my energies into. I became weary, tired and yes, bored. I wasn't unoccupied, but what I was doing wasn't making me happy.
We are unique individuals with different personalities and an approach to life shaped by many factors. I'm learning that what works for others may not necessarily work for me. For instance, my father can watch fish swimming around all day. He finds fish very interesting, and the activity therapeutic. For me, it's an absolute bore.
It's both a boon and a bane to live in a world that offers so many things vying for our time and attention. It's helpful because we have a list to choose from and information at our fingertips to help us along in our interests. At the same time, it can be tiring if we try to do it all. We need to filter what works for us and what doesn't. And it doesn't matter what everyone says.
These days, I'm rarely bored. I'm always busy, but I'm making it a point to take time to take care of myself, do things I enjoy and be with the people I love. It has meant a reshuffle in priorities and the odd label or two.
But I know what makes me happy, and at times, it does involve the very fulfilling activity of staying at home.
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