Cure the Summertime Blues During Anti-Boredom Month

Stacey Anter

The Library Detective

Ready, People?  Sing it with me!  “Sometimes I wonder what I’m gonna do, but there ain’t no cure for the summertime blues...” This Eddie Cochran song may be an oldie but it says what’s on our minds...well, sort of...at least the verse I quoted.  Summer is here and the kids are out of school, and hey, even you might have some vacation time coming to you from working your fingers to the bone everyday.  So what are your plans?  Are you going on a cruise? (Take me with you!) Are you going to the Bahamas? (Please, take me with you!) Will you be hanging out at the beach? (Take me with you!  I’ll even provide the sunscreen.)  I’m sure you’ll be hearing the broken record, or even thinking it yourself, “I’m BORED! There’s nothing to do!”  Well, aside from the noted Independence Day, Cell Phone Courtesy Month, Air Conditioning Appreciation Month, and my personal favorite Ice Cream Days, July is also Anti-Boredom Month. The Chase’s Calendar of Events mentions that the Boredom Institute states “an extended period of boredom…[is] a ‘warning sign’ of problems that include depression, self-destructive behavior, and even suicide.”    Believe it or not, there are a number of things one can do for enjoyment during the summer.

Naturally, there is the Summer Reading Program at your local public library, and it’s not just for the youngsters in your life. This year’s themes are: “FIZZ, BOOM, READ!” for kids; “Spark a Reaction” for teens; and “Literary Elements” for adults.  There are various activities and contests happening all over the state, so visit your local library, or log on to the Coventry Library website http://www.coventrylibrary.org/  for upcoming events like performers and other fun programming for kids of all ages.  And while the kids are reading for summer reading incentives, you can also kick back with them or on your own, perhaps at the beach or by the pool, and read a good science fiction novel, mystery, romance, thriller, classic, or even some non-fiction.  Just in case you’re in need of some suggestions, you can check with your local librarian (one of the most read people to ask), or take on the July Book Discussion Group Selection, The Obituary Writer by Ann Hood. The July Book Discussion Group will meet on the 4th Monday of the month, July 28th at 1 o’clock in the Council Chambers.  

Believe it or not, there are actually many more fun filled activities such as borrowing passes to the Roger Williams Park Zoo and Providence Children’s Museum, computer classes, and craft activities, thanks to your local public library. The summer movie season is here and there will be quite a few blockbuster movies to see. Or if you’re a sports fan, you can always go to a PawSox game (visit http://www.pawsox.com). For more ideas, you can visit the Rhode Island Tourism webpage for family fun stuff, or if you’re looking for coming events (http://www.visitrhodeisland.com) or you might even want to be a little silly and find all the Mr. Potato-heads around the state. 

One intriguing yet fun-filled activity I’ve just heard about involves Letterboxing.  In case you’re like me and have never heard of this hobby until now, letterboxing is a lot like going on a treasure hunt, whereby you visit the website, http://www.letterboxing.org , and like a detective, follow clues to find boxes containing clues to the next box’s location and so on, all the while signing each box’s guestbook so to speak with a stamp (either personalized or otherwise).  Clues can be mysteriously cryptic or boldly straightforward, but the fun of this hobby lies in the pursuit.

So, you see, there are plenty of things to do this summer.  Now you have the cure for boredom and you can stop those awful summer blues from ever coming back. But don’t forget to keep cool and hydrated in the process. And don’t forget the sunscreen!

I call myself the Library Detective because I can find the answers to any question you can think of, or at least I can point you in the right direction.  To find out more about summertime activities and local events, visit your local library; there are more Library Detectives there, too. If you would like to read other blog posts, come visit my Wordpress blog at http://librarydetective.wordpress.com/