How Not to Get Bored when Listening to a Boring Speaker

Have you ever been forced to attend a meeting or a conference who happens to be led by a very boring and dragging speaker where you wish you could just walk out and hope that nobody catches you doing? Better yet, have you been caught sleeping through a meeting after which boss sent you a memorandum requiring you to "explain within 24 hours why you were sleeping on the job?" The fact that you have opened this article at the mere sight of our title would tell you that you have experienced at least one of the above-mentioned scenarios.

Is there are way to go about this? How do you plan not to get bored when the speaker or the one conducting the meeting seems very boring? Except if you have the power to change the speaker, the following suggestions might help you stay interested on what the speaker is saying and may even save you your job:

1.) Focus on the purpose
Ask yourself why you are in the meeting, what is the purpose of the meeting. What is the purpose why the speaker is trying to explain what he is explaining right now? If you keep on asking yourself the purpose of the meeting, or the speaking conference then your mind would not go bored. You would be reminding yourself of the importance of the meeting. You would stay alert since you have considered the importance of the meeting. A mind focus on the purpose of the speaker is most likely not to get bored.

2.) Be an active listener
Try to get involved. Make your mind work. If you can ask questions to the speaker or to the one who presided over the meeting, do so. This will prevent you from becoming bored. If you cannot interrupt the speaker while he is speaking write your questions on a sheet of paper. You can then ask these questions after the meeting is over. You should also considering taking notes or try to outline what the speaker is trying to say. This will give a grasp on what the speaker is trying to drive at. You might want to consider drawing cartoons on the subject or diagrams on the process that the speaker is talking about, or even draw the speaker's face. Whatever it is that you want to do, make sure it will force you to think about what the speaker is talking about.

3.) Take a walk
Sometimes you have been sitting for too long in your chair that you feel sluggish, drowsy and bored. Excuse yourself for a while, go to the bathroom and just try to exercise yourself. Do some stretching, perhaps about 3 to 5 minutes. A little physical activity can awaken your senses.

4.) Wash your face
This is probably one of the most effective ways in keeping yourself from falling asleep. A splash of cold water over your face will bring you back to your senses.

5.) Eat, drink and be merry
Coffee is probably the most effective thing that you can intake in order that you would stay alert during the meeting. You might also try munching on some candies or chocolates in order to stay awake.

6.) Sit up properly
When you start to slouch or assume a "hibernating" mode, you condition your body to go to dream land. Sit upright and do not lean on the back of your chair. This will force your body to stay alert for the rest of the meeting.

7.) Play with something
You could probably do something with your hands in order to stay awake. Bring a tension gripper in order that you could grip it with your hands in order to stay awake. You could also try playing with a rubber band or pinch yourself with a paper clip. Whatever it is you are planning to play with, make sure you do not annoy somebody or the speaker.