Is it normal to feel like I get bored after staying somewhere too long?

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 19:58:57 -0500

Ever since coming home from my last deployment after getting used to doing one every couple months now I feel like residing in one spot a long time starts to mess with my head. That is Despite how Good I may be doing where I'm at currently. Anyone else get this feeling?

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2016 8:02 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 20:02:09 -0500

Yes. I moved twice last year but I'm glad to say I plan to move again next year. I like what I get from jumping out of my comfort zone, especially when it's helping me achieve all my short and long-term goals.

Response by PO3 David Fries made Feb 24 at 2016 8:03 PM

PO3 David Fries — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 20:03:16 -0500

I used to feel the same way. Moved around a lot after I got out.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2016 8:11 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 20:11:30 -0500

Being deployed can be a shock to your system, the same way that coming home is different. The best way to adjust is to stay very busy, so you do not have time to be bored.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Feb 24 at 2016 8:22 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 20:22:27 -0500

Yo to Phib One! Normal, yep. MIL cycling of deployments combined with PCS equates to your "normal" being on the move. Your brain gets used to varying input. Then if you have to squat in one place for a bit, the brain pushes back on you for the stimuli it's missing. That's boredom which means you're looking within and not looking outwards. You fight boredom by moving off the couch and doing side activities. So instead of changing the place all the time, you're changing the circumstances and activities. Then you take those activities with you to your next location so you're creating a foundation of what is consistent in your life wherever you may be. Always moving is like 5 Hour Energy. You crash if there's nothing to replace it. So my wife and I had/have hobbies and side activities we'd do together and those we did by ourselves when separated. For us it was ballroom dancing, camping, traveling. For me alone it was hunting, fishing, and later on becoming a soccer referee. Wife got into making blankets for everyone and then some.

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Feb 24 at 2016 8:34 PM

SGM Mikel Dawson — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 20:34:42 -0500

I understand, I get antsy as well. Got hobbies? Get one. One thing which helped me is writing. Write stuff down. It kind of mulls stuff over in your brain and settles it down a bit. Worked for me.

Response by PO1 Kerry French made Feb 24 at 2016 11:02 PM

PO1 Kerry French — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 23:02:10 -0500

Comes from moving a lot. You probably need to find a good group/project/hobby/non-profit to get involved with and put down some roots when you get to your final duty station.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 25 at 2016 7:12 AM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 07:12:01 -0500

hmmmm ... maybe you still not settled down in your heart. :) I never have that feeling, because life ... always move on ... until you truly lose something .... you will never understand what that thing really mean to you.

Response by SCPO Jason McLaughlin made Feb 25 at 2016 7:46 AM

SCPO Jason McLaughlin — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 07:46:09 -0500

It doesn't end when you retire. My wife wanted to buy a new home (for no reason) after being in our current home for only 3 1/2 years. Her subconscious was telling her it was time to move.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 25 at 2016 7:47 AM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 07:47:45 -0500

Got out after 14+years in 1975. Was married 29 days before getting out. We are now in our 24th address. Restless? Maybe. Better opportunities or changing priorities for sure.

Response by SSgt Dan Montague made Feb 25 at 2016 9:49 AM

SSgt Dan Montague — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 09:49:42 -0500

YEP!!!! I would never tell my new wife, but my last deployment was in 07. Ive been itching to deploy since 2008. My friend just finished a float last Dec. I was very jealous of her. I would have traded places in a sec if I could.

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 25 at 2016 11:58 AM

CW4 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 11:58:53 -0500

Very normal. I don't know what I'm going to do with myself once I retire and settle down in my retirement location.

Response by CWO2 Eric Peterson made Feb 25 at 2016 12:27 PM

CWO2 Eric Peterson — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 12:27:04 -0500

We moved 13 times in the last 15 years of active duty. We learned to travel light!

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Feb 25 at 2016 12:57 PM

LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 12:57:06 -0500

Wanderlust is normal if you're used to it. Many people celebrate the ability to settle in one place, others like new experiences...

Response by SA Harold Hansmann made Feb 25 at 2016 2:43 PM

SA Harold Hansmann — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 14:43:20 -0500

I have transitioned to the settling down in one spot, but, I become bored and agitated at the monotony and repetition of my job.

Response by MSG Wally Carmichael made Feb 25 at 2016 2:58 PM

MSG Wally Carmichael — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 14:58:28 -0500

I guess it is normal. It's nice to know I'm not the only one.

Aside from multiple deployments, my family and I were never in one place more than 4 years, and that just once out of 25 years of service. Most of the time we spent 2-3 years at an installation between each PCS. Now that I'm retired, we have been in Hawaii for 5 years. We are ready to move again. Our plan is to buy a home in Texas and get an RV so when we get the itch, we can just take off for 3-6 months. Who knows, we may just end up moving again.

Response by SGT Larry Prentice made Feb 25 at 2016 3:47 PM

SGT Larry Prentice — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 15:47:32 -0500

Is it that you are bored or that you are not challenged in that position? If it is job related that you are talking about, then it may be that you are not challenged enough to feel satisfied. If its at home, then maybe a hobby? For me, it was job related...I bounced from job to job because nothing was a challenge. Once i found that out, I bounced. It took me years to realize what I was doing was harmful to my future and then fought through it and stayed in one spot. Hope this helps.

Response by CPO Gregory Smith made Feb 25 at 2016 7:44 PM

CPO Gregory Smith — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 19:44:55 -0500

That's why we became Sailors shipmate!!! There's an old saying in our Navy; Sailors belong on ships and ships belong as sea. Ahhh to be young again.....

Response by PO2 Molly Burton made Feb 28 at 2016 9:20 PM

PO2 Molly Burton — Sun, 28 Feb 2016 21:20:11 -0500

I remember that feeling. I felt that way only when I started to either feel overburdened or not needed. When all my duties that I was used to doing were taken over and left me with nothing to do, rolling in another direction to feel needed again showed a strong pull. That is human nature to have a sense of belonging.

Response by CMDCM Richard Moon made Feb 29 at 2016 1:52 PM

CMDCM Richard Moon — Mon, 29 Feb 2016 13:52:50 -0500

Yes, it's normal. Now that you recognize it, it's time to challenge yourself before that feeling becomes destructive (it will if you let it fester).