Boredom

[RacingJim]

As an affiliate, I find myself having periods where I am pretty demotivated and bored - I find my job now quite easy and I can earn decent income without having to massively exert myself. I work from home (on the edge of the city near countryside almost), so it's the same drill most days and I don't get out except for going drinking with my mates every couple of weeks who have normal jobs, so it's always weekend really when they're free.

I've fallen into a couple of bad habits recently that I'm a little bit worried about, which I think are mainly caused by boredom. Anyone throw some ideas at me? Any similar experiences of 'going a bit off the rails' due to boredom?

[chaumi]

It's a little difficult without knowing more about your situation in general, but here are a few off the top of my head:

1. Get a dog - 2 walks a day forces you to get out, and you'll get a friend for life. Though he/she will probably sit on your laptop when you're in the middle of a well thought out article.
2. Go down the 'help someone out' route (ie someone else in the game). It sounds like you have cracked it, and would be able to offer valuable insights into what to do to help someone else do the same (I'm in the queue!!)
3. Go down the 'help someone out' route. (as in some form of local voluntary work)
4. Identify another interest (outside gambling related) and build a site around that
5. If the name 'RacingJim' is derived from a love of horse-racing, find the angle that will consistently beat the bookies (or at least completely rule out the possibility that it can be done). I have some theories/ideas I could throw at you that need some time spent on analysis (though recognise one of the 'habits' mentioned may be the odd flutter - which you may want to avoid)....and if you want to talk horses I could talk you into the ground.
6. Widen social circle, get some new interests.

Need to go and check the dinner! Will add more if any come to mind.

[baldidiot]

You could always ramp the work up - do a new project, expand etc.. - to give yourself a challenge again. I think it's quite easy to get to a comfortable position and then stay there, but it also means you've got the opportunity to be bigger if you want to take it.

The dog idea is a good shout. Ours definitely keeps us busy. Get a puppy and you'll get no work done for 6 months though!

From a social perspective you could always go get involved in a group - join a five a side team, darts league etc...

Could even find out if there are other affiliates or self employed people in the area who are in a similar boat. There are meetup groups which can probably help you find the right people. Benefit of this is you may also be able to help each other out/learn from each other and so on.

[Triple7]

Everybody is different, but what works for me is walk with my dog, go to bike with friends and start some websites about other things than gambling. Websites about subjects that do interest me. For example now I am working on one about old, legendary discotheques, most of them bankrupt already. There's not decent documentation about it. Information is here and there. I try to find out what's now going on at the site where they were once. Sometimes I go to see myself, make pictures, etc.

[overthehill]

I got into a similar situation and I realised working from home was not helping, it was to easy to get distracted and just watch rubbish tv etc so I rented an office a few miles away from home and it worked perfectly. Actually having to get showered and dressed in the morning and go out really got me going again. Even just small things like getting a coffee and some breakfast on the way to work felt great and even things like that give you a bit more interaction with people. It also got me motivated to start a new project as I had eight hours in the office eachday where as at home although I thought I was working for eight hours I probably wasted four of them everyday.
That's about all the advice I can offer but as soon as I got out the rut of working from home I felt I had more energy and just felt happier in general and plus my new project whilst still in the same business is a niche I have a real passion for! I'm also thinking about building another site not gambling related as well so my days are now full again and I have a spring in my step again!

[vardan]

Some physical activity could help: swimming, gymnastics, bodybuilding, fitness, yoga etc.
3x per weak( just 1,5-2 hours) would be great for your health, body and mind.

[DanHorvat]

It's not very different than being unemployed. On one hand you feel like you just can't go on a vacation for 1 day, and on the other hand you feel like you're on permanent vacation.

We don't get to meet people. Most people just go out with their work colleagues and we have none. One thing really missing is a framework in which you can go up the ladder or advance somehow.

My way out is education. Without constant influx of new knowledge and skills my brain would just die. The other thing that helps is building a company. I'm actually in the business of building up my credit score, and affiliation is just providing the money.

Affiliation is great when you're 20 and you feel like you're getting free money, but now I wish I was doing something more difficult and more rewarding.

Plus I exercise. I run, go to a gym, play tennis. But it's not enough.

I'm seriously considering getting an office and it's good to hear that is something that can get a man back on track.

Men need conflict.

[Renee]

My way out is education. Without constant influx of new knowledge and skills my brain would just die.

This is what I would do if I was in the OPs position with lots of time on my hands. Think about everything I've ever wanted to know about in my life and take up some kind of tertiary study that allowed me to learn it. The saying "if you don't use it, you lose it" applies to your brain too.

If I could fund it, I'd probably also buy a small business (maybe a coffee shop?) that I could work in a couple of days a week just to get some socialising in.

Men need conflict.

I'm screenshotting this one. It's about time one of you finally admitted it

[sweetbet]

Whenever I get bored and don't feel like working, I'll read a book, see a movie, go for a drive, do a bit of gardening, etc. That seems to work for me.

[DaftDog]

I tried the working from home thing and hated it. The neighborhood dogs seem to bark more during the day when their owners are at work at this helped to drive me a bit bonkers. A lot of bad habits can creep in as well.

I hired an office in a small business district about ten minutes drive away. I think that this change of scenery five days a week is essential for my well being. You get to socialize a bit with other people. I also go to gym three to four days a week to help keep the the blood flowing. I find that exercising is very good for the brain too, not just the body. Helps with the creative juices and stress levels.

[pokeraussie]

Boredom basically just comes from staying at home and doing nothing. You need to get out when you work from home.

+1 to getting a dog that you can take for walks and widening your social group. And by that I don't just mean "drinking buddies" find people you can meet up with to do exercise, play games, whatever your hobbies/interests are. This alone has helped me immensely.

[TravG]

If you can get a dog I highly recommend it myself. My dog not only keeps me a little busy by taking her for a walk everyday but also instead of talking to myself, Im not, Im talking to the dog!

It is very easy to get in a rut and all of the sudden 5 oclock is now at 3 oclock which eventually turns into noon! I have been there... Taking naps started to be a real problem as well.

One thing that helped me is getting into a morning routine. I use to just get up turn on the PC and "start working". Before I knew it the day was almost over and I never even showered. So now in the morning I get up and shower and get dressed like I am going somewhere. Ill then either make a little breakfast or go to a local place right down the road from me. Just getting a shower and getting dressed has helped me tremendously.

I do struggle with the social aspect of it still a little since I dont work with anyone else either so I have a standing meet with people certain days of the week. Every other Monday I have wings with some buddys, Tuesdays I have dinner with my Dad and Thursdays I try to have dinner with someone of the opposite sex. I try to not miss any of them unless it is something else pretty important.

Good luck and hopefully you will find something that works for you. The bad thing is if we get to lazy and not do anything for a long enough time you loose your rankings and one thing that also keeps me motivated and working is the scare that if I dont do it I will have to get a 9 to 5'er which I never want AGAIN!

[Miles_FTA]

Get a Bike ( Mountain or Road ) and go for a ride each day .. wont keep you occupied but will get you fit and take up some time ..or i liked Renee Suggestion of a small side business that you can get involved in even if its doing some work for other affiliates ?

[sampendleton]

You need to have extra curricular activities.
Set a goal. Plan a trip.
Think of something that you will look forward to.
Anyway, how much time does your homebased work requires you?

[Mattbar]

Four day week?

[pokeraussie]

You need to have extra curricular activities.

Damn I haven't heard that word used since high school lol.

[AE-Stephen]

Hire a close friend, that way when you're off work you'll always have someone to drink / do activities with

[JackTenSuited]

I'm in a similar position. I do travel a lot for a change of scenery but find myself quickly getting bored (I don't even drink).
Hitting the gym is good especially if you set yourself goals such as running a 10k later in the year.
As others have said renting an office is a good way of getting back in to civilisation (I have worked at a number of co-working places)
meetup.com to meet other like minded people if you aren't too far out in the sticks

[agsgroup]

I agree about the office for sure. I rented a small office and it works better for me than working at home 24/7. Since you work yourself, you can choose when you go and how often you go I try to go to office at least 4 days a week, but it all depends on the week.

I agree with what ppl say about extra hobbies and exercise. Sometimes it's hard to get started and in a routine and then sticking to it (or maybe that's just me but goals are important for me, whether its fitness, trying new things or meeting another goal for work etc. etc.

Dogs are great, I walk mine 3 times a day so gets me out of the house if I'm not having an 'office' day

[Voids]

If you're really bored, feel free to write some content, or market my site for me. Cheers!