How to Waste Time in Class

Co-authored by Kyle Hall

Last Updated: March 12, 2023 References

If you're bored in class, don't despair! There are lots of ways you can entertain yourself and waste time so the clock moves faster. All you need are some simple supplies you can find in your backpack.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Drawing and Making Crafts

1
Doodle in your notebook. Doodling is a great way to waste time in class because it just looks like you're taking notes. You can draw things like geometric shapes, crazy designs, or whatever you see outside the classroom window. You can even color your drawings in with colored pencils or markers.^{[1]
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- Make sure you have a page of notes to flip to in case your teacher walks by your desk.
- Make your drawing interact with the binder paper. Have a worm poke out of the binder ring hole, or a stick figure climb up the blue lines like a ladder.
- If you do plan on taking notes alongside your doodling, draw in the margins of your paper. This will free up the rest of the page for note taking.
2
Make origami with sheets of notebook paper. With origami, the possibilities are endless. Tear out a sheet of paper and try making an origami crane, an origami heart, or an origami turtle. You can even make your own origami wallet.^{[2]
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- Make the origami in your lap below your desk so your teacher doesn't see you.
- You can also tilt your notebook back and use it as a barrier to do your origami behind.
- Most origami designs are made from square sheets of paper, so you should turn your binder paper into a square first.
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3
Draw a fake tattoo on yourself with a pen. Write your name on your wrist or draw a symbol like an arrow or a heart. If you like henna, draw a fake henna tattoo on the top of your hand using a pen instead of actual henna ink.
- If you need design ideas, look some up on your phone, or print them out before class to be more discreet.
- If you want something more subtle, draw a fake ring on your finger. It doesn't even have to be your actual "ring finger."
4
Make a collage with sticky notes. Make the collage on a sheet of paper, the front of your notebook, or on your desk. You can make different shapes with the sticky notes, or do rows of different colors. When you're finished, you can draw on the sticky notes and rearrange them so they turn into a puzzle!^{[3]
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- For example, you could arrange the sticky notes in a square first, draw a picture, then take it apart. Try to put the picture back together again.
5
Draw on your nails with marker. Fill all of your nails in using the same color, or mix and match colors for a wilder look. You can also take a black marker and draw intricate designs on your nails.
- Use markers, not pens. Pens don't color on nails very well.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Goofing off with Your Classmates

1
Play mobile games like brawl stars,soul knight,durak online card game,minecraft,standoff 2, 2 3 4 Player Mini Games, Drive Ahead and etc into cooperative multiplayer mode with classmates. Tested in Russian schools.
2
Pass a note back and forth with the person sitting next to you. You can make plans for after school, write about how bored you are, or draw each other funny pictures. Fold the note up into a tiny square so it's easier to pass back and forth.
- Don't pass the note until your teacher isn't looking or you could get caught!
- The note doesn't have to be a square. It can be a heart or even an origami frog.
3
Make a paper airplane and play catch with someone. Use a sheet of your notebook paper to make the plane. Before you make it, write a note or draw a doodle for your friend on the paper. Then, toss it to them when your teacher isn't looking.^{[4]
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- You should only do this if you're certain that your classmates won't draw attention to it or tattle on you.
4
Play games with your neighbor. You can play tic tac toe or dots and boxes in one of your notebooks. You can also play 20 questions by passing the questions and answers back and forth on a tiny piece of paper. ^{[5]
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- Try playing "I spy." Pick a random object in the room, write a hint about what it is on a piece of paper, and pass it to your friend. They have to keep writing down their guesses and passing them to you. If they guess the object before class is over, they win!
- Another fun game to play is where you each write a sentence of a story. See how far you can get!
- If you are feeling more creative, you can pass a sheet of paper back and forth and add a doodle to it to complete a larger picture or scene.
5
Text your friends funny jokes and pictures. If your friends are in the same class as you, even better. You can see who makes the other person laugh the loudest. Make sure your phone is on silent, and wait for your teacher to turn away so they don't catch you.^{[6]
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- Don't stare at your phone screen for too long or your teacher might get suspicious.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Keeping Yourself Occupied

1
Make a to-do list. Write down all the things you have to do after school, or make a list of your plans for the weekend. Your teacher won't even notice — they'll think you're taking notes!
- A shopping list is another great option. If you want something more fun, try listing all of your favorite bands, songs, shows, or books.
2
Read a book. Open the book in your lap or hide it under a piece of paper on your desk so your teacher doesn't see. You might be able to get through a whole chapter by the time class is over.
- If you're worried about your teacher noticing, make a book cover for your book so your teacher can't tell what you're reading.
3
Do your homework for a different class. Even though you might not feel like doing homework, getting it out of the way now means you won't have to do it later. Also, if you forgot to do your homework for a class you have after this one, you can do it now so it's not late.
- If you're having trouble focusing because of the background noise in class, try putting in headphones or earplugs. Just make sure they're not visible and that you can still hear what your teacher is saying in case you get called on.
- If wearing headphones or earplugs isn't an option, work on the easiest parts of your homework that don't require a lot of concentration.
4
Play games on your phone. Turn the volume all the way down and hide your phone in your lap or behind a notebook. Play games that don't require a lot of attention so you're not staring at your phone screen the whole time.
- Use a stylus that looks like a pen to play the games on your phone so it looks like you're taking notes.^{[7]
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- If you are in a class where you are allowed to use laptops, you can play games on that instead. A simple card game will be more discreet than a fancy mmorpg.
5
Look out the window to see if anything interesting is going on. You never know what might be going on outside — maybe there's a bird building a nest or a storm rolling through. Try to find something interesting to focus on and before you know it, class will be over!
- If you aren't near a window, you could try looking out the classroom door. See if you can find something interesting going on in the class across the hall.
- Alternatively, you can always study your fellow classmates. Look only at the people in front of you; the teacher will notice if you turn around to look at the people behind you.