34 and bored out of my mind with life.

You are pretty spoiled and have no idea for those who struggle in this world. Why bother with social media if all you do is complain about it? Do you not have a mind of your own? You're very judgemental...saying 20-40 year olds pretend to have a great life...maybe so and maybe some of them do. What do you care? Misery loves company which is you! You want others to be in the same boat as you. And don't say you have listened to all the best music. You haven't based on your comments. I hope I never meet you because "you choose" to have the life you have. Worst of all is going on this stupid letsrun message board1

your problem is that you're entirely focused on how to make yourself happy, rather than your community.

humans are not evolved to live as islands. we're evolved to live in communities. for our ancestors, the greatest glory was in bringing glory to the community, not in propping up oneself for the sake of one's ego.

if you don't have a community in the first place, then that is your first problem. if you have one (maybe it's your running crew?) try to think how you can improve those peoples' lives.

I promise: the most fulfilling thing in life is simply helping other people. all true happiness stems from that.

you might dismiss this all as pedantic but I promise that one day you'll understand that it is true

I agree with those here who suggest finding your purpose in helping others. You seem like you have a lot to offer. Try turning your talent with physics (a rare ability) and math into tutoring students, for example. Be a volunteer youth track or cross-country coach, or at a local fun run. Check around your community and see where there seems to be the most need, and find a fit that aligns with your skills, education, and values. Try checking in with people you care about, and spend a little quality time with them. Go to a senior care home and drop some flowers and chocolates by. Write a thank you letter to a favorite teacher or mentor. These are acts of kindness that will come back to you tenfold in positive ways.

Take a one month holiday and travel around OZ. Being a Brit, you could immigrate to Australia like so many before you. Sydney is great but the housing is expensive. Maybe go up to the Gold Coast or nearby Brisbane.

Your boredom sounds like depression, which is no joke. Get some help or at a minimum, talk it out with people you trust who will listen. Social media and TV also toxic. Maybe a couple month cleanse would not hurt?

Take up as much responsibility as you can handle. Meaning will follow.

Try reading a book...and I mean that in all seriousness. Go to a library or somewhere you can get your hands on a tangible book. Read a variety of topics...it won't solve all your problems but I have found it can make the day to day a little more bearable.

Don't bother with social media or most of the "entertainment" available through a screen. Unfortunately, the way the modern world is going it is harder and harder to find real people to interact with. Everyone is stuck to a screen and can't think for themselves.

You’re in uk right? Go find keely hodge and hit on her. If that fails hit on jemma reekie, and on down til you get laid

Buy an electric guitar, learn how to play it, and start smoking we*d. Your life will improve significantly.

This may sound harsh, but you are bored because you are going against your inherent nature as a male.

at your age for thousands of years men were providing for their family/tribe. hunting for food, contributing to their well-being, having sex with partners protecting their family/tribe from threats etc. it kept men focused and busy.

you have no tribe, no kids, no partners. you have no reason to really work and contribute to the economoy outside of making enough money to support your own self interests (which at the moment sounds like you just run and play video games). no wonder you are bored.

can you be self fulfilled without kids/marriage...sure. but the ones that are have very passionate pursuits that keep them busy/occupied/obsessed (think people like a startup founder who is single).

either find a true passion that occupies ALL of time in such a way that you have a strong impact on society, or do what the rest of us do and find a family to take care of.

Fly to Europe, cross the border into the Ukraine and take up arms against the Russians. You will soon forget about your boredom. If you survive, come back to the States and you will find that your "problems" that you thought so important, are now just insignificant little things.

What do you really want? Who are you? Only you can answer.

Stop everything, get real quiet, and ask yourself.

If you cannot get a job that uses physics ( on the average those jobs pay better than most if not spectacularly well), maybe you do not understand physics that much.

I hated the commute and the grind too, but I was good enough as an engineer to spend most of my career as the top expert in my expertise. It is quite important to remember that when I had financial authority over other engineers, almost all of them were more expert than I in what their statements of work asked them to do.

Most of the replies here were very good. I disagree with the gambling to introduce thrill to your life.

If you are already 34 yo and have sufficient income, consider a single mother, Treat her and her kid(s) well, you will likely have an excellent life partner. In a dark bedroom, looks do not matter.

Read a book, volunteer, take a hike. You are stuck in your head.

Stay off the internet completely for 24 hours.

This is huge. I had a job offer for 55k in January and tons of perks but it was a 40 minute commute one way, and it was more call-based than I wanted, vs. writing-based. I said no thanks! I'd rather WFH at my EZ job, have tons of freelance writing time and do side work to boost income, and no gas $ expenses other than driving elsewhere. Even at $5.09, as bad as that is, I'm finding ways to drive less.

Yeah, don't do gambling. I did it for a few years and although I managed my $ well, I could see how chasing a win after a series of losses could hurt mentally. It did for a few days once, and those were only $10 bets!

How did you have financial authority over other engineers with more expertise? Or were you more of a manager?