Before the advent of the Internet, free time did not mean thoughtless idleness—people deliberately sought ways to fill their days with meaning and energy.

Active Engagement Against Idleness

Before the advent of the Internet, free time did not mean thoughtless idleness—people deliberately sought ways to fill their days with meaning and energy. Even then, every minute was viewed as an invaluable resource, and active participation in public life became an integral part of character formation. Work, intellectual pursuits, and attendance at cultural events such as theater served as powerful tools to combat monotony and the passive perception of the world around them.

The main idea was that idleness could lead not only to a loss of vital energy but also to negative consequences. People strove to incorporate activity into their lives at all times, convinced that only through continuous work and self-improvement could one avoid moral decay or even the temptation to abuse. Theater evenings were not seen as mere entertainment, but as a true journey capable of transporting one into an alternate reality filled with aesthetics, movement, and social interaction. This attitude towards leisure emphasized that time is not an abstract succession of hours, but a precious experience requiring meaningful and active participation.

Thus, the cultural mentality of the past century clearly demonstrates that the fight against boredom was waged through labor, constant self-discipline, and the desire for change. This active approach to life not only helped avoid the negative consequences of idleness but also opened doors to a world of high cultural values and genuine self-expression, creating a solid foundation for future generations.

What methods were used to combat boredom before the advent of the Internet and how do they reflect the cultural perception of time?

Before the advent of the Internet, people combated boredom by actively engaging in cultural and social activities, as well as by training themselves to maintain constant work and intellectual activity. One such practice was to avoid “doing nothing.” One source ( link txt, page: 2609) emphasizes:

"Only then will we attain humility—if we do not strive for rest, for doing nothing, ... Why read a book? That requires thinking. Turn on the television—and everything is ready-made... And we must also get rid of that. We must continually urge ourselves to work, continually force ourselves to do something, and under no circumstances be idle. Because as soon as you start idling, that is when the devil approaches you. This is always to be remembered. Why does a person drink? Because there is nothing to do. Why do people gather in criminal groups? They do not want to work."

This position reflects the cultural attitude towards time as a resource that must be filled with activity, with idleness being perceived not only as a waste of valuable time but also as a source of character corruption and negative consequences.

Another notable method of combating boredom at the time was associated with attending the theater, which was regarded not merely as entertainment but as an entire journey in the culture of time perception. In another text ( link txt, page: 228) it is stated:

"Why did aviation, steam, television not help a person? The theater was, for him, synonymous with a journey."

This statement underscores that for many, the theater represented a way to escape everyday monotony, allowing them to receive not only aesthetic pleasure but also the experience of movement and change. Here, time became not an abstract sequence of hours, but a qualitative experience associated with physical movement and social communication.

Thus, the ways to combat boredom before the advent of the Internet were based on active involvement in life—through work, intellectual efforts, and socio-cultural activities such as visits to the theater. These methods provided not only entertainment but also reflected a cultural perception of time as something valuable that required active engagement and meaningful use, in contrast to the modern tendency for passive consumption of instant impressions.

Supporting citation(s):
"Only then will we attain humility—if we do not strive for rest, for doing nothing, ... Why does a person drink? Because there is nothing to do. Why do people gather in criminal groups? They do not want to work." (source: link txt, page: 2609)

"Why did aviation, steam, television not help a person? The theater was, for him, synonymous with a journey." (source: link txt, page: 228)