How to Do Something when You're Bored

Being bored can be uninteresting (obviously), but there are some ways you can change that into a good time. All you need to do is find things to occupy your time and soon you'll find you're not bored anymore! We'll walk you through a whole list of activities you can use to pass the time whenever you're feeling bored at home, in class, or at work.

Method 1
Method 1 of 6:

Things to Do When You're Bored at Home

  1. Image titled Do Something when You're Bored Step 1
    1
    Bake or cook. The beauty of baking or cooking is that the act itself helps you pass the time and you get to eat something delicious (one hopes) at the end of it. Dust off your cookbook or look up fantastic recipes online and try one out.
    • Cookies are good because they are simple but delicious.
    • Cake or brownie mixes are also an option if you don't have enough ingredients/time to whip up a treat from scratch.
  2. Image titled Do Something when You're Bored Step 2
    2
    Glam yourself up. Try out different kinds of make-up styles to see how they look. Go through your clothes and put together outfits that you can wear for the next few days. Match up jewelry with clothes and make-up and figure out accessories.
    • Do your nails. Make funky designs with nail pens or paint each nail a different color.
    Advertisement
  3. Image titled Do Something when You're Bored Step 3
    3
    Watch a movie. You can find a movie online, watch a movie that is on TV, or go to a movie store and rent one to watch at home. You could even make a trip to it and go to your local movie theater. Maybe see something you wouldn't normally watch like a documentary or a mystery.
  4. Image titled Do Something when You're Bored Step 4
    4
    Practice for something. When you have nothing better to do, that is the perfect time to work on skills you're perfecting. If you play soccer, take a ball out to your backyard or nearby park and practice dribbling or shooting goals. If you play the piano, you can sit down and play a few pieces. You don't even have to practice scales, you could try out a favorite piece/song instead.
  5. Image titled Do Something when You're Bored Step 5
    5
    Clean your room. Make sure everything is looking nice and tidy. Having a clean room can help you feel accomplished and neat. A clean room can help give you the energy to get over your boredom and do other things.
    • Organize your wardrobe. When you're bored is a great time to do tasks you might not normally do, like organizing your wardrobe. Go through your clothes and see what you've outgrown or don't wear anymore. You'll feel good clearing out space for new things.
  6. Image titled Do Something when You're Bored Step 6
    6
    Start cleaning. Clean places you wouldn't normally clean. Go through your attic or garage and see what you can get rid of or clean. You might find something you've lost while you're cleaning.
    • The places that people often forget to clean are their remote controls, behind the refrigerator, the toilet roll handle, light switches, and the dishwasher. Grab a cleaning rag and give these places a good wipe-down.
  7. Image titled Do Something when You're Bored Step 7
    7
    Do a household project. When you have a little time on your hands, that's when you can do one of those household projects that you've been putting off. If you turn on some music, that'll make it fun and allow you to accomplish something!
    • Decorate. Hang up that picture that's been in your basement for half a year. If you're allowed to, redecorate your living areas. Move your furniture around, or repaint your walls.
    • Fix your household objects. Maybe your sink leaks and needs fixing, or the front steps sag. Take this time to fix that squeaky door and you'll feel accomplished instead of bored!
  8. Image titled Do Something when You're Bored Step 8
    8
    Do something with your pet. If you have an animal, pamper them by bathing them, or clipping its nails. Teach your pet a new trick to impress your family and friends.
    9. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 6:

Making a Video

  1. Image titled Do Something when You're Bored Step 9
    1
    Phone or text a friend. Ask them to pop around to make a video together. This could be a friend you always speak to or even a friend you rarely speak to.
  2. Image titled Do Something when You're Bored Step 10
    2
    Lay out your ideas. Explain to them, when they get to your house, any video ideas that you have. Say that you would rather do a 'What to do when you are bored' video.
  3. Image titled Do Something when You're Bored Step 11
    3
    Make a list of 10-50 things to do. The amount depends on how many you can think of.
  4. Image titled Do Something when You're Bored Step 12
    4
    Set up the camera. Whether this is an iPad camera, a camera that has video, or an iPhone, it will work. Make sure you have the apps required to edit it and put them together; there are plenty of apps that can do this in the App Store.
  5. Image titled Do Something when You're Bored Step 13
    5
    Record it. It's always best to get one friend to say what the activity is, and then get the other friend to act out doing the activity after the first friend has said it, by recording two separate videos.
  6. Image titled Do Something when You're Bored Step 14
    6
    Put the videos together using an app from the App Store. Remember, there are plenty you can download and try out, and if you don't like it or it's not what you thought it was, delete it and find another one.
  7. Image titled Do Something when You're Bored Step 15
    7
    Edit your work. If you don't like it, record the parts that you weren't quite happy with, or start over again. If you are happy with it, post it on a social media site like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or even YouTube, and show off to your other friends what you can do.
  8. Image titled Do Something when You're Bored Step 16
    8
    Watch the video in the future when you're bored. It'll remind you of all the great things you could be doing instead of being bored!
    9. Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 6:

Entertaining Yourself While Traveling

  1. Image titled Do Something when You're Bored Step 17
    1
    People-watch. One of the best parts of traveling is being in places where there are lots of people to look at. Whenever you're bored in a busy place (train station, airport, bus depot, cafe, and so on) look around you at the people you're sharing the space with.[1]
    • Make up stories about the people you see. That woman wearing the zebra print leggings? She's an international spy on her way to a meeting with her superior. She's wearing garish clothes to draw attention away from her face.
  2. Image titled Do Something when You're Bored Step 18
    2
    Eavesdrop. Listen to the conversations going on around you. Try to find the strangest conversations to listen in on and make sure that the people don't notice you spying on them. Act like you're reading a book or magazine, instead.
    • Write down what you hear[2] and turn it into a short story or a poem.
    • If you're traveling with another person, turn it into a game. See who can overhear the weirdest conversation or sentence.
  3. Image titled Do Something when You're Bored Step 19
    3
    Make up a new persona. When you're traveling you can be anyone you want to be. Come up with a mildly plausible persona and stick to it while you're on the airplane, at the bus depot, waiting for the train, etc. See if you can get people to believe your persona.
  4. Image titled Do Something when You're Bored Step 20
    4
    Make up games. Sometimes this is the only way to keep yourself amused, whether you're a child or an adult. You can do the usual "I Spy" games, which are especially good for kids in the car. You can also make up your games, depending on where you are.
    • Make up a points system for annoying people. This can help if you're stranded somewhere during the holiday rush season. There are always intensely irritating people and turning their annoying habits into a game can make them more bearable. For example, you get +10 points when that guy cuts you off in line or +5 for the child who screams through the entire plane ride.
  5. Image titled Do Something when You're Bored Step 21
    5
    Call or text a friend. See what everyone else is up to and relay your odd traveling experiences to them. You can brainstorm ideas for ways of filling your time. You'll have someone to talk to and you'll get to pass the time.
    6. Advertisement
Method 4
Method 4 of 6:

Entertaining Yourself Outside of the House

  1. Image titled Do Something when You're Bored Step 22
    1
    Exercise. A great way to cure boredom is to do some exercise. You'll get your endorphins going, which will help you feel better and make your body happy. Run, bicycle, take a walk, investigate the town or city you live in, yoga, jump rope, hula hoop.
    • Use this time to investigate the town or city you live in. You'll get exercise, fight your boredom, and maybe find out some secret spots.[3]
  2. Image titled Do Something when You're Bored Step 23
    2
    Go on an adventure. Get your car, your bus pass, or your bike and head out to your city or town. Take a bus somewhere you might not normally go, bike to that street that has all the wealthy houses and find a secret park.
  3. Image titled Do Something when You're Bored Step 24
    3
    Donate to a local food bank. Especially if you've used your time to go through your house and get rid of things you don't need, you can now donate these to a food bank; things like clothes you don't need (but that are in good repair, not stained or ripped), or canned food.
    • You can also donate your time to a food bank, helping to restock and or to serve food if they do that. It's a good way to help make a difference and to use the time that might otherwise be spent doing nothing.
  4. Image titled Do Something when You're Bored Step 25
    4
    Spend time at your local animal shelter. Help care for the animals, walk the dogs and keep them clean. Animal shelters often need volunteers to help out and it will be a great way to play with animals (especially if you don't have any) and you'll be doing something useful.
  5. Image titled Do Something when You're Bored Step 26
    5
    Ask a friend or parent if they need help with anything. You don't only need to help strangers, you can help out people that you know. Offer to help them garden, or clean their house. This will put your spare time to good use, give you somebody to hang out with, and you'll be doing something nice for someone else. Not a bad way to cure your boredom.[4]
    6. Advertisement
Method 5
Method 5 of 6:

Entertaining Yourself at Work or in Class

  1. Image titled Do Something when You're Bored Step 27
    1
    Doodle. This is a great way to keep your hands busy while your mind focuses on what the teacher or professor is saying. You can also do this at work when you're thinking about what project you should work on next, or if you're just trying to look busy for the boss.
    • If you're subtle about it you can even have doodling contests with your friend or coworker. Try to outdo one another with fantastic drawings, or add to one another's drawings, to create something wild.
  2. Image titled Do Something when You're Bored Step 28
    2
    Come up with a creative project. You want to challenge yourself at work or in class and if you're getting bored, you probably aren't being challenged enough. Try to come up with a project that would be challenging and interesting and propose it to your boss or teacher.[5]
  3. Image titled Do Something when You're Bored Step 29
    3
    Re-organize. When you have some free time at work or school, it's a great time to do a little, subtle organizing. Sometimes this can even help you to find your productivity again. Clean up your work area, or school binder.[6] Make sure that everything is in its proper place and can be easily found.
  4. Image titled Do Something when You're Bored Step 30
    4
    Clean your computer. Clean the screen, and clean between the keys. If it used to be white, do your best to carefully restore your computer to its former clean condition.
    • Organize your computer desktop so you can find things. Put pictures in the labeled picture folders and make sure all your documents are in properly labeled folders.
  5. Image titled Do Something when You're Bored Step 31
    5
    Meditate. If you have some time and you're bored, you can make use of it by meditating. This can help calm your mind and get you focused on the work ahead of you. It's a great re-energizing tactic.[7]
    • Sit quietly at your desk and close your eyes (or pretend like you're working). Take deep breaths in and out and pay attention to your breathing. If you feel thoughts come into your head, acknowledge them and let them go.
  6. Image titled Do Something when You're Bored Step 32
    6
    Read. Reading is fun and you could pick up a book, a magazine, or a newspaper. Reading something helps pass the time by giving you something to keep your brain interested. Some free time is a great time to try something new.
    • You can usually hide a book beneath some textbook in your class or beneath your desk at work. It makes it look like you're studying or paying attention to the material while doing something a lot more fun.
    • Read a mystery and try to guess the solution before the detective, or try some fantasy or science fiction. Look into something nonfiction or spiritual, philosophical, paranormal, or even holy topics like Bible, or the Qur'an.
    • Check out what books you can get from the library and pick them up on your way to or from your work or class. Some libraries even have online databases where you can check out a book without having to leave your house or work!
  7. Image titled Do Something when You're Bored Step 33
    7
    Learn something new. Having some free time is a great moment to learn something new and interesting. Then you can impress your friends and family. Learn how to do magic, discover how to breathe fire, or how to make chainmail!
  8. Image titled Do Something when You're Bored Step 34
    8
    Surf the internet. If you have your computer in front of you, you can use it to go online and surf the internet. Just make sure that your boss or your teacher won't catch you. You can use this time to amuse yourself or to learn something new.
    • Go on something like Craigslist or eBay and find the weirdest thing you possibly can. Post it on your Twitter, Facebook, or Tumblr account.
    • Go on Instagram, Facebook, or Vine. Upload photos, share stories, and check out other people's posts and photos.
    • Watch random YouTube videos. Pick comedy ones if you want a lift, and choose viral ones for entertainment and to stay trendy.
    • Use Pinterest. Choose a topic you like and make a board for it, and add pictures you like. Or look at other people's pictures.
  9. Image titled Do Something when You're Bored Step 35
    9
    Chat with a coworker. Sometimes the best way to amuse yourself when you're bored is to enter into a conversation with someone else. Pick someone you don't know that much about and ask them about themselves (where they are from? where they went to school? favorite thing to do outside of work?). You might even make a new friend.
    10. Advertisement
Method 6
Method 6 of 6:

Entertaining Yourself With a Friend

  1. Image titled Do Something when You're Bored Step 36
    1
    Compromise. Okay, so you can't agree on anything. Pick one thing you want to do and combine it with something your friend wants to do. Say you want to watch a movie and your friend wants to make a new game, so, what you can do is you can make the game while watching a movie or make the game and then watch a movie about the game makers (or whatever you want to).
  2. Image titled Do Something when You're Bored Step 37
    2
    Listen to music. Maybe there's something in your favorite song that will inspire you. This may seem like an odd idea, but try it! Try a song that describes something familiar to you, and work from there
  3. Image titled Do Something when You're Bored Step 38
    3
    Eat. This can turn into a calorie-laden habit, but cook something with your friend. Then, work off the extra calories in a workout. Eating when you're bored isn't a bad habit if you work it off, especially if you eat healthy food. But if you're going to exercise, make sure to hydrate properly before, and you can turn the exercise into a game! Bike-race your friend, or just run and race your friend.
  4. Image titled Do Something when You're Bored Step 39
    4
    Dare. Don't get carried away here. If you're in a crowded place, this is perfect. Dare your friend to go up to a stranger and ask if he or she would like your leftover lemonade, for example. If you're at school, a perfect way to make lunch more interesting is to dare a couple of friends to sit at a different table, with a few of their enemies or the opposite gender, and act naturally about it.
  5. Image titled Do Something when You're Bored Step 40
    5
    Create a dance routine with a friend. First, pick a good song, then pick your moves, and last, create your costume. Then pick a date to perform your dance routine and practice it daily!
    6. Advertisement

Expert Q&A
Did you know you can get expert answers for this article? Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow

  • Question
    Is it okay to be bored sometimes?
    Tara Bradford
    Tara Bradford
    Life & Mindset Coach
    Tara Bradford is a Brand Strategist, Life and Mindset Coach, and the Founder of The Bradford Institute, a life and leadership coaching company in New York City. She is also a guest lecturer at Fordham's Gabelli School of Business in the MS Media Management program. With over five years of experience, Tara specializes in personal branding, executive presence, and thought leadership. Tara brings her background in Neuroscience, Psychology, Biochemistry, and Social and Behavioral Sciences into her coaching practice. She received a BS in Nursing from the University of Arizona and studied Biochemistry at the University of New England. She is certified in high-performance coaching, neurolinguistics, hypnotherapy, success coaching, and emotional freedom and TIME techniques. Her podcast titled Handle Everything is dedicated to sharing this message.
    Tara Bradford
    Tara Bradford
    Life & Mindset Coach
    Expert Answer

    Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

    Absolutely. You're never going to be super engaged and excited all of the time. It's totally okay to just be a little bored sometimes.
  • Question
    How can I have more fun at work if my job is really boring?
    Tara Bradford
    Tara Bradford
    Life & Mindset Coach
    Tara Bradford is a Brand Strategist, Life and Mindset Coach, and the Founder of The Bradford Institute, a life and leadership coaching company in New York City. She is also a guest lecturer at Fordham's Gabelli School of Business in the MS Media Management program. With over five years of experience, Tara specializes in personal branding, executive presence, and thought leadership. Tara brings her background in Neuroscience, Psychology, Biochemistry, and Social and Behavioral Sciences into her coaching practice. She received a BS in Nursing from the University of Arizona and studied Biochemistry at the University of New England. She is certified in high-performance coaching, neurolinguistics, hypnotherapy, success coaching, and emotional freedom and TIME techniques. Her podcast titled Handle Everything is dedicated to sharing this message.
    Tara Bradford
    Tara Bradford
    Life & Mindset Coach
    Expert Answer

    Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

    Turn it into a game! So, let's say you're doing data entry or something. Create a scoresheet and try to time yourself whenever you finish entering a piece of data. Once you have a sense for that average time, try to beat your "score" by getting as many entries done as quickly as you can.
  • Question
    What's the most productive way to deal with boredom at work?
    Tara Bradford
    Tara Bradford
    Life & Mindset Coach
    Tara Bradford is a Brand Strategist, Life and Mindset Coach, and the Founder of The Bradford Institute, a life and leadership coaching company in New York City. She is also a guest lecturer at Fordham's Gabelli School of Business in the MS Media Management program. With over five years of experience, Tara specializes in personal branding, executive presence, and thought leadership. Tara brings her background in Neuroscience, Psychology, Biochemistry, and Social and Behavioral Sciences into her coaching practice. She received a BS in Nursing from the University of Arizona and studied Biochemistry at the University of New England. She is certified in high-performance coaching, neurolinguistics, hypnotherapy, success coaching, and emotional freedom and TIME techniques. Her podcast titled Handle Everything is dedicated to sharing this message.
    Tara Bradford
    Tara Bradford
    Life & Mindset Coach
    Expert Answer

    Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

    Try to connect and help your coworkers. If you're just not finding value in your work, try to build some rapport with someone at work and see if you can help them with something. If you can start breaking up the monotony by working on a variety of tasks, you won't be nearly as bored.
Advertisement

Warnings

  • Regardless of how bored you are, never try to cure your boredom by pursuing dangerous activities or doing unsafe things on the internet, work world, etc. Boredom should not be used as an excuse to pursue illegal activities.
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
Advertisement

You Might Also Like

Keep Busy when You're Stuck at Home
How to
Keep Busy when You're Stuck at Home
Enjoy a Lazy Day
How to
Enjoy a Lazy Day
Use and Improve Your Abilities
How to
Use and Improve Your Abilities
Teach Yourself a New Language
How to
Teach Yourself a New Language
Have Fun when You're Bored
How to
Have Fun when You're Bored
Lose Your Voice Fast
How to
Lose Your Voice Fast
Annoy Your Siblings
How to
Annoy Your Siblings
What to Do Right Now48 Things You Can Do Right Now to Beat Boredom
Eat Six Saltine Crackers in One Minute
How to
Eat Six Saltine Crackers in One Minute
What Do You Like to Do for Fun13 Ways to Answer "What Do You Like to Do for Fun?"
Advertisement

References

  1. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/fulfillment-any-age/201504/the-experts-guide-people-watching
  2. ↑ https://prevention.ucsf.edu/sites/prevention.ucsf.edu/files/uploads/goodquestions/section3/3b_field.htm
  3. ↑ https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/features/how-to-be-a-tourist-in-your-own-hometown/
  4. ↑ Tara Bradford. Life & Mindset Coach. Expert Interview. 16 September 2020.
  5. ↑ http://zenhabits.net/30-things-to-do-to-keep-from-getting-bored-out-of-your-skull-at-work/
  6. ↑ https://www.theorderexpert.com/how-to-organize-a-looseleaf-binder/
  7. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/sense-time/201603/the-case-boredom-enduring-empty-time
  8. ↑ Nicolette Tura, MA. Authentic Living Expert. Expert Interview. 23 January 2020.
  9. ↑ Nicolette Tura, MA. Authentic Living Expert. Expert Interview. 23 January 2020.
  1. ↑ Nicolette Tura, MA. Authentic Living Expert. Expert Interview. 23 January 2020.

About This Article

Nicolette Tura, MA
Co-authored by:
Nicolette Tura, MA
Wellness Coach
This article was co-authored by Nicolette Tura, MA. Nicolette Tura is an Authentic Living Expert who operated her own wellness business for more than ten years in the San Francisco Bay Area. Nicolette is a 500-hour Registered Yoga Teacher with a Psychology & Mindfulness Major, a National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) certified Corrective Exercise Specialist, and is an expert in authentic living. She holds a BA in Sociology from the University of California, Berkeley and got her master's degree in Sociology from SJSU. She constantly draws from her own wounds and challenges; with her training in the healing arts and sociology, she offers potent content, powerful meditations, and game-changing seminars on inspiring elevation on a personal and corporate level. This article has been viewed 2,352,035 times.
63 votes - 63%
Co-authors: 290
Updated: February 12, 2023
Views: 2,352,035
Categories: Boredom Busters
Advertisement