How to cope with boredom?

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I'm unemployed and although I've tried to get a job, I'm the kind of guy who's too qualified for most jobs. I've got a degree and that automatically disqualifies me from a host of menial jobs. Other jobs require training and experience I don't have. I'm going back to college in September to do a post-graduate diploma in IT as this is where my talents lie. My degree is in an arts subject so I can't go straight to a masters.

I'm getting really bored with not doing anything other than playing video games, watching downloaded TV progs and reading. I've been trying to teach myself how to use MS Office and its so easy it's boring me even more. I'm thinking of trying to learn a computer language, Javascript or C++. I feel like I need some sort of useful project or I'm going to get depressed. Does anyone know a useful language to start with? I am pretty good with computers, both hardware and software but I don't know anything about programming.

Any other suggestions for how to occupy myself would be welcome. I'm interested in computers, psychology, physics, biology and philosophy. I also love videogames and movies.

Everything feels a bit "meh" at the moment.

what about looking around the different games developers for unpaid games tester jobs? it's not easy to get,as the waiting lists can be so long.

That's quite a good idea. I hear it can be boring work but repitition doesn't bother me at all. Thanks for the suggestion, I'll look into it.

I won't be able to post anymore answers for about 9 hours as I have to sleep now. I know how fast this site can move so if I don't answer, its not because I being rude or ungrateful.

Well, maybe you could learn C/C++/Java/PHP/etc and take on an open source project. Get other programmers to join you and use Sourceforge to take donations.

There's a possibility. You could even join an existing project.

Or even take a few hacks at the Linux kernel. A guy in medicine did a bit of hacking with almost no programming background, just a love for tinkering. He even developed the framework for a new CPU scheduler for the kernel before got annoyed with the lack of desktop development and quit.

The Minix project could use some more developers. A microkernel-based system could really be a goer once it gets to production quality.

Take your pick, there's heaps more.

Python is a good langauge to start with

It's powerful and the syntax is not that fussy so you can start learning programming concepts and ideas without getting distracted by desperatly trying to work out where you dropped a bracket. Once you understand the concepts and methods in programing it's alot easier to teach yourself other languages and work out how to do stuff.

VBA is also a good idea cause it's so ubiquitous - no matter where you end up working they'll have VBA.

I think I'll keep an eye on this thread, as I've also been having a few run-ins with boredom lately as well. Reading books gives me a headache, playing games over and over again causes them to loose their flavour and teasing people makes me feel the inevitable wave of remorse, even if they deserve it.



Anyhoo, I think it's a good idea to pick something to learn. Go for it. I don't know squat about computer programming, so I can't help you there.

Look at me. I really should listen to my own advice.

Ruby On Rails looks cool.... very intuitive.... and apparently doesn't feel like a programming language at all.

Your interested in psychology...well psycho-analyze whoever you live with [thats if you live with anyone]. I'm only joking, people don't appreciate others doing that and i've learn't the hard way lol.
Seriously though...maybe read and post in the philosophy, politics and religion forum here if your not doing so already. Theres always debates going on there...something to stimulate your brain and make you think.
Your interested in biology...well take a first aid course. It's interesting and useful. I've completed one and it was fun and I learn't a lot from it. Even had a real life "emergency" to practise my first aid skills and was thankful at the time that I even did the course, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to help the other person. It also would look good on your CV to say that you are a qualified first aider.

If you are serious about learning computer programming, I would recommend starting with C. C is fairly easy to pick up on once you get started and a good number of other languages are based on the syntax of C. It's also easier to go C->C++/C#/Java than it is in reverse.

Lots of good suggestions. Thanks to all. I will look for some e-books about C and python as I am serious.