Difference between Boredom and Loneliness

Key Difference: Boredom and loneliness are simply two different terms. Boredom is a subjective state when a person is not interested because of regular revelation or treatment. On the other hand, loneliness is the state when a person does not have anyone to share his feelings with, or it is the time when a person is internally weak and not able to cope with the emotions around them, does not wish to talk to them and requires a distraction.

Boredom

Boredom is the situation when a person is not at all in a mood of doing any activity. Boredom is when you have had enough of something and you need more of something else. The idiom ‘boredom’ was first expressed in 1852, in the novel 'Bleak House' by Charles Dickens. The term was mainly derived from the French word ‘ennui'.

Boredom is an emotional state when a person has control on his thinking, but his mind does not allow his body to respond. This state of boredom is like an emotional oxymoron. The type of endless boredom happens more to men and people with brain injuries and certain psychotic disorders. For drug addicts, fighting boredom can predict their success in kicking their habit as well.

Loneliness in simple terms means ‘to be alone’. Loneliness is when one feels that he is not enough. A person needs someone other than himself. As you know, you could feel loneliness even when you are with someone. However, basically you feel that you are not enough. Being lonely is a state that arises from a certain situation in a person’s life that leaves them discontent or heartbroken. Situations such as divorce, break up, fight with a friend, betrayal, etc. could leave a person feeling helpless which could give rise to feelings of loneliness. Loneliness is believed to be a negative state of mind, where a person is not sure of themselves, is not able to cope with the emotions around them, does not wish to talk and requires a distraction.

Many experts claim that the feelings of loneliness stem from the childhood of a person and their interactions with their family. Children that were not close to their parents are said to have feelings of being lonely more often, as compared to children that were close to their parents. A person faces loneliness one time or the other in their lives; however the trick is not to let it overwhelm you. It is a feeling that should pass and not be dwelled upon, making the person feel more depressed.

Comparison between Boredom and Loneliness:

	Boredom	Loneliness
Definition	Boredom is an emotional state, when a person is not interested because of regular revelation or treatment.	Loneliness is believed to be a negative state of mind, where a person is not sure of themselves, is not able to cope with the emotions around them, does not wish to talk to themselves and require a distraction.
Originated in the year	1852	1600
Lack	Lack of variety	Lack of connectedness
State	Temporary state	Temporary state
Synonyms	Blahs, doldrums, ennui, listlessness, restlessness, tedium, weariness	Being alone, solitude, aloneness, isolation, lonesomeness
Types	Indifferent – appear relaxed, calm and withdrawn Apathetic – helplessness; they show little arousal and a lot of aversion Calibrating – their thoughts wander Reactant – negative emotions Searching – experiencing negative feeling disagreeable restlessness	Interpersonal loneliness Social loneliness Cultural loneliness Intellectual loneliness Psychological loneliness Existential or cosmic loneliness
Extends to	Boredom may extend to depression.	Loneliness may extend to social, mental or emotional factors.
Overcome	Find Something to Do Play a game Write a list on any subject Listen to your favorite music and/or dance Write a letter, story, poem, or anything of your interest Get a part-time job if you are free for longer period of time Learn something new in your life Take a long drive Avoid day-dreaming	Work on improving and making yourself happy Consider joining a gym it gives mind a relaxation Learn a new skill Do something big Realize that you aren't alone Get involved in activities rather than sitting ideally Do social activities by yourself Call or get together with the people you know Spend time with your family Join an online community