I'm exactly in the same boat although I'm your elder (by a year!). I know it's not the best, but I bring a book to read. I don't read it constantly, but it does help me overcome the boredom and makes me less fidgety. I read and listen intently while I do. I also do a total careful visual scan every page, so it's probably not a serious detriment. A huge majority of the deer I've shot have been heard before seen (fall, thick woods, leaves are down)... but that could just be because I'm not a great hunter and just don't see the quiet ones.

My experience tree stand hunting is that I see most deer within 3 hours of sunrise (maybe because that's when I'm stillest?). Second most - just after sunset, if I'm lucky it's still light enough to shoot, but rarely. Third: mid day, but walking, or mid-day when others are walking around and I'm still in the stand. Therefore, mentally, it's easiest for me to be dead still and quiet for a couple hours after daylight and the last couple hours of the shooting day.

My other problem is falling asleep. This isn't just hunting. Anytime I sit, whether it be at a movie, play, tv at home, airplane, I tend to do the 10-20 minute powernap thing. I can't help it. Wonder how many big ones paused to listen to me snoring?