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Lesson Info

Post Type
Social Post
Level
Level 3 / B1
Published
Title
I Tried Boredom for 30 Days
Webpage
https://eslnewsstories.com/smposts/2026-02-06-i-tried-boredom-for-30-days/

In this lesson:

  • Warm-up Prediction task and general discussion questions.
  • Vocab List Useful words and meanings.
  • Reading Read the main text.
  • Comment Tone Check Read comments and identify the tone.
  • Listen and Fill Gaps Listen for missing words.
  • True or False Check understanding.
  • Put Events in Order Arrange events from the story into the order they happened.
  • Multiple Choice Check understanding.
  • Vocab Match Connect words to meanings.
  • Discussion Builder Think about how ideas relate to each other to choose connecting expressions.
  • Discussion Questions Open speaking questions for discussion (or writing practice).
  • Answers Answer key for the printed tasks.

Think Ahead: What do you think the poster learns from trying boredom?

a) Quiet time is harder than expected, but useful.

b) Boredom only works when other people join in.

c) Life without entertainment quickly becomes impossible.

A middle-aged man sits at a wooden dining table in a warm, sunlit room, quietly eating a simple meal of chicken, potatoes, and salad while looking out the window, no phone or other distractions in sight.
No phone in sight.

Ask: (1) How often do you use your phone? (2) When do you feel bored?

VOCAB LIST

Addicted (adj.) — Unable to stop doing something, even if it is bad for you.
Silence (n.) — When there is no sound; complete quiet.
Anxious (adj.) — Feeling worried or nervous about something.
Solved (v.) — Found the answer to a problem.
Focus (v.) — To pay attention to one thing.
Quiet (adj.) — With little or no noise.
Podcast (n.) — A series of audio episodes on a topic that you can download and listen to.
Thoughts (n.) — Ideas in your mind.

Reading

I was addicted to my phone. I checked it while eating, walking, and cooking. I hadn't been alone with my thoughts for years. When things got quiet, I felt worried and reached for my phone.

Then I read something interesting. Our brains need quiet time to work well. Good ideas come when we rest our minds. So I tried something new for 30 days.

Every morning, I drank coffee without my phone. No news, no podcasts. I walked for 15 minutes without headphones. I ate meals in silence. It was very hard at first.

On day three, I almost stopped. I was anxious and couldn't focus. I kept reaching for my phone, but it wasn't there. It felt like my brain was addicted to the noise.

On day eight, something changed. During a quiet walk, I remembered a song my dad used to play. I called him, and we had the best talk in months.

On day twelve, I solved a work problem that had been difficult for weeks. The answer came while I was washing dishes in silence. My brain just needed rest.

Now I enjoy the quiet moments. Try eating one meal today without your phone. See what happens.

I Tried Boredom for 30 Days

Level 3 Social

Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It

A middle-aged man sits at a wooden dining table in a warm, sunlit room, quietly eating a simple meal of chicken, potatoes, and salad while looking out the window, no phone or other distractions in sight.
No phone in sight.
Alex @quietmind

I was addicted to my phone. I checked it while eating, walking, and cooking. I hadn't been alone with my thoughts for years. When things got quiet, I felt worried and reached for my phone.

Then I read something interesting. Our brains need quiet time to work well. Good ideas come when we rest our minds. So I tried something new for 30 days.

Every morning, I drank coffee without my phone. No news, no podcasts. I walked for 15 minutes without headphones. I ate meals in silence. It was very hard at first.

On day three, I almost stopped. I was anxious and couldn't focus. I kept reaching for my phone, but it wasn't there. It felt like my brain was addicted to the noise.

On day eight, something changed. During a quiet walk, I remembered a song my dad used to play. I called him, and we had the best talk in months.

On day twelve, I solved a work problem that had been difficult for weeks. The answer came while I was washing dishes in silence. My brain just needed rest.

Now I enjoy the quiet moments. Try eating one meal today without your phone. See what happens.

likes · 3 comments

Comment Tone Check

Comment Tone Check

Choose the tone that best matches each comment.

  • DatFoneLife

    I think about this too. Phones are hard to put down. What if you need it for something important?

    Supportive Critical Neutral Worried

    Worried
  • TooShort

    I tried this before and failed after two days. You did better than me!

    Supportive Critical Neutral Worried

    Supportive
  • Sam1071

    I don't think this works for everyone. Some people work better with music or podcasts.

    Supportive Critical Neutral Worried

    Critical

Speaker: British Male  Duration: 1:31  Watch on YouTube

Two ways to use this audio:

  • Method 1: Listen for the main idea: what is the article about in one sentence? Listen a second time for more details, then try the Understanding activities below.
  • Method 2: Read the article first to learn the vocabulary and ideas. Then look at the gap-fill sentences to see what to listen for, and listen to fill them in.

Listen and Fill Gaps

Listen to the audio on eslnewsstories.com and complete the gaps below:

I was (1) to my phone. I checked it while eating, walking, and cooking. I hadn't been alone with my thoughts for years. When things got quiet, I felt worried and reached for my phone.

Then I read something interesting. Our brains need (2) time to work well. Good ideas come when we rest our minds. So I tried something new for 30 days.

Every morning, I drank (3) without my phone. No news, no podcasts. I walked for 15 minutes without headphones. I ate meals in silence. It was very hard at first.

On day three, I (4) stopped. I was anxious and couldn't focus. I kept reaching for my phone, but it wasn't there. It felt like my brain was addicted to the noise.

On day eight, something changed. During a quiet walk, I (5) a song my dad used to play. I called him, and we had the best talk in months.

On day twelve, I solved a work problem that had been difficult for weeks. The answer came while I was washing dishes in (6) . My brain just needed rest.

Now I enjoy the quiet moments. Try eating one meal today without your phone. See what happens.

True or False

Answer each question by selecting True or False, then click CHECK to see your results.

  • Before the challenge, the poster felt worried when things got quiet.
    The text says that before the challenge, when things got quiet, the poster felt worried and reached for their phone.
  • The poster gave up the challenge on day three.
    The poster almost stopped on day three, but they continued for the full 30 days.
  • On day twelve, the poster solved a work problem.
    The text says that on day twelve, the poster solved a work problem that had been difficult for weeks.
  • After the challenge, the poster still does not like quiet moments.
    At the end, the poster says 'Now I enjoy the quiet moments.'

True or False

1. Before the challenge, the poster felt worried when things got quiet. TRUEFALSE True

2. The poster gave up the challenge on day three. TRUEFALSE False

3. On day twelve, the poster solved a work problem. TRUEFALSE True

4. After the challenge, the poster still does not like quiet moments. TRUEFALSE False

Put Events in Order

Put the events from the story in the correct order from first (1) to last (5):

  • On day three, the poster almost stopped the challenge.
  • On day twelve, the poster solved a work problem while washing dishes.
  • The poster read that brains need quiet time to work well.
  • The poster remembered a song and called their dad.
  • The poster started drinking coffee without their phone every morning.
  1. The poster read that brains need quiet time to work well.
  2. The poster started drinking coffee without their phone every morning.
  3. On day three, the poster almost stopped the challenge.
  4. The poster remembered a song and called their dad.
  5. On day twelve, the poster solved a work problem while washing dishes.

Multiple Choice

1. What did the poster read that started this challenge?

   a) A book about phone addiction

   b) Something about brains needing quiet timeCorrect

   c) A story about someone who quit their job

   d) A study about coffee and focus

2. What happened on day eight?

   a) The poster called their father after remembering a songCorrect

   b) The poster solved a work problem

   c) The poster almost stopped the challenge

   d) The poster started walking without headphones

3. How long did the poster try this challenge?

   a) Three days

   b) Eight days

   c) Twelve days

   d) Thirty daysCorrect

4. What does the poster suggest readers try?

   a) Walking for 15 minutes every morning

   b) Drinking coffee without their phone

   c) Eating one meal without their phoneCorrect

   d) Calling their parents more often

Vocab Match

Loading vocabulary activity...

Vocab Match

Write each vocabulary word next to its matching definition.

1. Addictedf) Unable to stop doing something, even if it is bad for you.

2. Anxiouse) Feeling worried or nervous about something.

3. Focusd) To pay attention to one thing.

4. Podcastc) A series of audio episodes on a topic that you can download and listen to.

5. Silenceb) When there is no sound; complete quiet.

6. Solveda) Found the answer to a problem.

a) Found the answer to a problem.

b) When there is no sound; complete quiet.

c) A series of audio episodes on a topic that you can download and listen to.

d) To pay attention to one thing.

e) Feeling worried or nervous about something.

f) Unable to stop doing something, even if it is bad for you.

Discussion Builder

Discussion Builder

Choose the best phrase for each gap:

  1. The poster was addicted to their phone. they decided to try 30 days without constant phone use.

    So, / For example, / But, / To me,

    The poster was addicted to their phone. So, they decided to try 30 days without constant phone use.

  2. Many people think music helps them focus. the poster found that silence helped them think better.

    Also, / But, / So, / Like,

    Many people think music helps them focus. But, the poster found that silence helped them think better.

  3. The poster's brain needed rest to solve problems. the answer to a difficult work problem came while washing dishes.

    For example, / But, / So, / I think,

    The poster's brain needed rest to solve problems. For example, the answer to a difficult work problem came while washing dishes.

Discussion Questions

  1. What do you usually do while eating meals?
  2. Do you think silence helps people think better?
  3. When do you have good ideas? While doing the dishes, taking a walk, or doing something else?
  4. Do you listen to music or podcasts when you walk?
  5. Would you try a 30-day challenge like the poster did? Why or why not?
  6. Will the poster continue his new behavior or go back to his old habits?
  7. What bad habits do you have? What good habits do you have?
  8. What is one habit that you'd like to change?
  9. How do you contact your family members? How often do you contact them?
  10. Do you spend time looking at your phone even when you're with other people?

Answers I Tried Boredom for 30 Days / Level 3

Think Ahead: a

Tone:

  1. Worried
  2. Supportive
  3. Critical

Listening: (1) addicted, (2) quiet, (3) coffee, (4) almost, (5) remembered, (6) silence

True or False:

  1. True. The text says that before the challenge, when things got quiet, the poster felt worried and reached for their phone.
  2. False. The poster almost stopped on day three, but they continued for the full 30 days.
  3. True. The text says that on day twelve, the poster solved a work problem that had been difficult for weeks.
  4. False. At the end, the poster says 'Now I enjoy the quiet moments.'

Multiple Choice: b, a, d, c

Put Events in Order:

  1. The poster read that brains need quiet time to work well.
  2. The poster started drinking coffee without their phone every morning.
  3. On day three, the poster almost stopped the challenge.
  4. The poster remembered a song and called their dad.
  5. On day twelve, the poster solved a work problem while washing dishes.

Vocabulary:

  1. Addicted: Unable to stop doing something, even if it is bad for you.
  2. Anxious: Feeling worried or nervous about something.
  3. Focus: To pay attention to one thing.
  1. Podcast: A series of audio episodes on a topic that you can download and listen to.
  2. Silence: When there is no sound; complete quiet.
  3. Solved: Found the answer to a problem.

Discussion Builder:

Hints: 1) Result. 2) Contrast. 3) Example.

  1. So,
  2. But,
  3. For example,

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