what to do when you are bored – Surobi Scribbles

How To Be Happy Alone

Surobi Mohammed — Wed, 05 Jul 2023 09:47:45 +0000

I feel sad that my generation cannot stay still and simply be alone. They cannot simply be alone without any distractions, people and entertainment. Two years ago, I used to be that person who would constantly need someone to go out with me and I didn’t like spending time alone. I used to tell myself that I can’t stay alone because I am an extrovert.

But now, I no longer shy away from being alone. I love taking myself out to new places in London, I have my own me-time to recharge daily and I am whole on the inside and outside.

So how did I become happy alone? Here are my secrets.

But first, what does it mean to be happy alone?

Being happy alone does not mean that you have no family and friends. Being happy alone does not mean that you isolate yourself all the time. Having no people in your life and isolating yourself, especially when you are not feeling your best is actually unhealthy. What being happy alone means is that you have a choice. You are your own individual person and you can choose to be alone and spend time alone, but you can also then choose to talk to others.

You don’t talk to others out of urgency or desperation or thinking that others will perceive you as ‘lonely’, you talk to others because you want to talk to them.

So, how can you be happy alone?

Love and accept your emotions

The first step is always self-awareness. You have to be aware of your thoughts and what emotions these thoughts create. When you are alone, listen to what you are telling yourself. If you tell yourself ‘I am so lonely. I have no friends. How comes every other person has friends except me?’, this will create feelings of sadness and an urge to be with others. You may even make yourself get into the wrong crowd purely to get away from these thoughts.

In reality, you should not compare yourself to others. Don’t try to run away or fix your emotions because you cannot fix your emotions. What you can do is love and accept these emotions, but don’t follow them.

Know the advantages of being alone

I know that school can be the place that made you feel like if you sat by yourself at lunchtime, you are a loser and a loner. But that is absolutely not true. You are only lonely if you don’t have the choice to be alone. But right now, you can choose the second thought and remind yourself that you choose to be alone.

There are so many advantages to being alone. For example, the people that have friends that you are comparing yourself to may not have the best friendships. Some people get into the wrong crowd purely to feel accepted. Luckily, you are living your best life alone without any gossip and drama which is far better than having toxic friendships.

Being alone means that:

You can do whatever you want that makes you happy long term without needing to compromise or sacrifice for others
You can prioritise yourself
You get to be comfortable with sitting with your own thoughts and emotions and knowing yourself, it makes you more confident
You can make good memories with yourself and know that you can make yourself happy without needing it from someone else
You can be your own best friend

Have loving and supportive relationships

As I mentioned earlier, being happy alone is having the freedom and choice of who to speak to. You should have the choice to speak to people that support you and love you unconditionally. It is absolutely okay and recommended to reach out to others once in a while when you are alone and this can help strengthen your relationships. It can also make you feel grateful for the people you have in your life when you give them space. So yes, find a small group of people who you trust and love who love you back.

Don’t be afraid to be the first person to show care and reach out to old friends but only within your boundaries and values.

Find hobbies and things to do in your schedule

I want you to wake up every day feeling excited about life. You should have things in your schedule, whether it is two things or ten things that make you happy long term. Not only will this make you focus on yourself, but it also means that others who align with your high energy will be attracted to you.

Some examples include journaling, meditation, travelling, cooking or even making art.

Remember Allah

Even when you are alone, remind yourself that there is Allah watching you. Allah is always there from when you are outside in the busy markets during the day to the darkest of the nights. This is the time for you to up your private acts of worship (Ibadah) with sincere intentions by praying, doing some Dhikr (remembrance) or even praying to Allah to guide you to a better company. Allah is always there so never feel lonely

Many people seek spirituality and religion when they reach the darkest points of their lives in adulthood when they have no one to talk to. Why not start talking to the Creator now and build a healthy relationship with Him?

Those were the five tips that I had in order to really start being happy alone. Remember that this is a process that takes time and consistency and makes perfect.

I challenge you to assign some time this week to do something fun by yourself, whether it is going to your favourite coffee shop and smelling the coffee or whether it is meditating at home. You don’t want to do something short term that you will regret, do something that will make you happy long term.

The bottom line:

Being happy alone is a choice and use that time to invest in yourself long-term.

That is all! I hope you have enjoyed reading this article and I hope you benefitted from it! Please share this article with others, because what you share with the world comes back around to you!

Thank you for reading, and have a lovely day!

P.S I would really appreciate it if you followed on me on my Medium blog and also on my TikTok account.

COVID-19 Lockdown Secrets | How To Make The Most Out Of This Time

Surobi Mohammed — Mon, 23 Mar 2020 16:35:00 +0000

We have come to a difficult time. From 23rd March 2020, as I am writing this, there are about 353,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases with about 15,000 deaths worldwide. And cases are increasing every day… I am sure you know about this.

The government recommends that you should quarantine to protect your health and others’ health, specifically the vulnerable people such as the elderly or with underlying health conditions. But with my school being closed, I have a lot of free time in my hands at home so in today’s article, I will share with you many ideas of how you can make the most out of your time while quarantining. It is your choice on whether to follow these tips. Please avoid non-essential travel and avoid social gatherings.

Tip #1: Study

For those of you who still have exams in the future, you should still try your best to study. I know it is unfortunate to not have a teacher to help but do try your best. I am privileged to have teachers who set tasks while I am at home for each of my subjects every day so we are not falling behind. Do some revision but don’t stress.

Tip #2: Read a book

After having a productive day, instead of lounging straight into your bed and going on Netflix, I recommend that you enjoy some creativity with a good old book. If you don’t have many books at home, try finding online ebooks or if you want, subscribe to audiobooks like Audible or Kindle.

Tip #3: Watch movies

Yes, this is controversial to what I said before but after reading a chapter of the book, you may want to go and watch a show. It is fine to do this as long as you are allowed and have done your work but I still recommend not to be glued to a screen all day. We have better things to do.

Tip #4: Organise your room/house.

It is good to organise your room so you feel fresh and especially now that it is coronavirus time, it is useful to disinfect objects in your house, have a clean and also wash your hands regularly for twenty seconds.

Tip #5: Clean up your devices.

Update your phone and backup everything to make sure your information is safe. Delete any unnecessary photos and other apps you don’t need. This will make your phone and your devices feel brand new.

Tip #6: Watch TED talks and documentaries.

This is the perfect time to develop yourself so I recommend watching some empowering relevant TED talks free on YouTube and gain knowledge. Truly, knowledge is power.

Tip #7: Practise self-care

After lots of work, you may want to relax by putting on a face mask, getting your sleep and practising self-hygiene. It will make you feel refreshed. That me-time is important.

Tip #8: Produce content

We should hopefully, In Sha Allah survive this outbreak and come out of it as a stronger, developed person. In order to put ourselves out like that, we should produce content such as possibly starting a YouTube channel, starting your own website or creating an Instagram account about something that you are passionate about.

Tip #9: Talk to your family at home

If you and your family are at home and have nothing to do, talk to each other. As teenagers, it can get boring at home by ourselves without much social interaction so talk to your loved ones and have a chat.

Tip #10: Call your friends

If you still feel bored at home, phone your friends rather than texting as it is better communication than texting where you can’t hear your friends’ voices. This will help you to express your feelings.

Tip #11: Learn new skills

Have you always wanted to learn how to play an instrument, apply henna or learn how to sing? Then do not fear, this is the time for you to subscribe to courses on Youtube or maybe even on websites like Skillshare or Udemy and learn something today.

Tip #12: Look outside the window.

Don’t be tempted to go outside. Just enjoy the weather from your window.

Tip #13: Have time for your hobby.

If you haven’t picked up your camera to make a video or played your guitar, relive those good memories and enjoy some time doing what you love to do.

Tip #14: Exercise and eat well.

You don’t necessarily need to go outside to have a good workout- just do some simple stretches or a workout at the comfort of your house (make sure you are careful though) and also stay healthy to boost your immune system. Drink lots of water. Remember, you are what you eat.

Tip #15: Pray

COVID-19 is concerning for all but do not worry. As a Muslim, I try to protect myself and others around me by washing my hands regularly and quarantining but also by asking help from Allah to protect all of us. Your mental health is important at this time and if you have issues with it, seek Allah’s help and also go to websites such as Kooth if you want someone to talk to. Overall, focus on yourself and your family’s well being.

I hope this article gave some insight into some ideas of things you can do at this time. I have also linked some sources for more information.

Sources: https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-51951914/coronavirus-uk-schools-to-close-to-prevent-virus-spread

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

As I said, I know this is a concerning time but do not be afraid, just protect yourself and focus on being positive and having hope that In Sha Allah the world will overcome this. If you enjoyed this article, please share it with your family and friends and check out my other articles:

The Three Different Planning Systems I Use 2020

Thank you for reading, and have a lovely day! Stay well!

What To Do When You Are Bored (On A Rainy Day)

Surobi Mohammed — Fri, 02 Nov 2018 21:26:49 +0000

We have all been at that situation where we planned to go out with our friends or family on a sunny Saturday afternoon, when all of a sudden, the weather changed in one second. Rain started pouring heavily and your plans have been cancelled. What do you do now? This is where I will answer that question.

In today’s article, I will be sharing with you 10 fun and productive ideas about what to do when you are bored. These can even be applied on a sunny day. I am sure that these ideas will spice up the rest of your day!

Organize your room.

Clean and organize everything in your room to instantly feel productive and give you a fresh state of mind.

Have a relaxation/self-care day.

We all get caught up in our busy lives and some me-time is always necessary! Put on a face mask, play some soothing music in the background and wear a smile on your face.

Do some coloring.

Colouring has been a method to de-stress and escape into another world. So grab some coloring pens, take your old coloring book and start coloring.

Create some art.

Whether you love doodling, putting on a full face of makeup, applying henna to your hands or painting, they are all amazing ways to spend your time.

Play/learn an instrument that you know.

If you know how to play an instrument, play some songs and entertain yourself. If not, try learning an instrument and accomplish a new skill.

Have a coffee/hot chocolate date with a family member.

If you haven’t had the time to talk to one of your family members, then this is the perfect time to do so! Make a mug of warm coffee, sit down and bring back your old memories.

Catch up with one of your friends.

I am pretty sure that everyone has that one friend in their phone who they haven’t talked to for the past couple of weeks. If so, catch up with them and start a long conversation.

Watch a movie.

Everyone loves watching a movie or two. During these hours, you can finally watch that movie which all your friends have been talking about. Trust me, it’s worth it.

Invite someone home.

During a rainy day, you may not want to get out of the house but someone else might. Call one of your friends home and have a nice chat with them.

Cook something new.

Everyone in this world has one recipe that they have not tried before. Get researching on the Internet for that recipe, grab your ingredients and start cooking! You even get your yummy food in the end.

These are just 10 of the fun ideas I came up with. These definitely cheers me up on any rainy day. If you enjoyed this article, and if it helps you, please share it with your family and friends. Also, check out my other articles:

How To Prioritise Your Tasks: The 5-step Method

9 Tips For Everlasting Motivation

Thank you for reading, and have a lovely day!