With the world rapidly moving around us, it is almost impossible to think that you will ever be bored. But, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced the world to stay at home. Even though many people are getting vaccinated and returning to work, most of them continue working from home. “I’m bored” is a phrase we have all either been using or hearing way too often. Therefore, it’s the need of the hour to identify things to do when bored.
You could have piles and piles of office work left, and a stack of assignments you need to finish and submit, but that can all get very, very boring at times. It can also lead to burnout. So, you need to strike a work-life balance and indulge in things you like to or want to do since long.
We’ve put together an elaborate list of the top 10 things you can do when you are bored – whether that means you are bored at home, at school, during your college break; we have got you covered!
Continue reading to rid yourself of boredom once and for all!
A Few Ideas For Things to Do When You Are Bored at Home
If you are stuck at home and don’t know what to do, we are here to help. You are probably wondering what you could do at home when you are bored, but trust us, the list is endless!
Wear an Apron and Cook Yourself a Feast
Okay, perhaps not a feast (unless you are up for it), but you can definitely put your culinary skills to use and cook a lovely, restaurant-style dish for yourself. You can also host your own cooking show. It doesn’t matter if you aren’t a professional at cooking – as long as you have gotten into the kitchen and are willing to make something for yourself, you are good to go.
Even if you make a bowl of noodles or bake cookies, it’s perfectly fine! If you have a new recipe or new restaurant dish idea, you can share it with us! There’s nothing more fun than meal prep.
Go on a Virtual Shopping Spree
Of course, we don’t recommend you actually shop, unless you want to. But sometimes, heading over to your favorite e-commerce stores and just browsing through the various different clothing pieces that they have, or even home décor, can help you feel better. Grocery shopping can also be a good idea. You won’t even realize how fast time will go by.
Perhaps you can pick out or choose a few birthday gifts or Christmas gifts from your friends and family, and pop them into your wish list. Therefore, if you have free time and some extra money, add virtual shopping to your to do list.
Bring Out the Painter Within You
We are sure that you won’t find a single child that doesn’t enjoy bringing out the crayons and markers and scribbling away. On the same note, we suggest getting a coloring book and coloring your way out of boredom. It might sound like a random act but it works wonders when you are getting bored.
As a matter of fact, adult coloring books have been recommended by many doctors and researchers as they are a great form of stress busters, and also allow you to calm down and forget your worries for some time. Let’s not forget to mention that they are a great way to pass your time, and you will be proud of what you create after. Also, it is one of the most fun things to do when you are bored.
Watch a Movie or Your Favorite TV Show
Watching a TV or show is one of the most common things to do when bored. This is almost a no-brainer. When bored, most people watch their favorite music videos, movie or TV show. This can be a great cure for boredom. You can also plan a movie night with your family and friends to get rid of boredom.
Solve a Puzzle
You must have surely seen those 500-piece puzzles around somewhere or the other. Have you ever tried solving one? Jigsaw puzzles are really fun (and frustrating at times), and help you to not only pass your time, but to also relax and distract yourself.
Having said that, our experts recommend doing the 100-piece puzzle first and then gradually stepping it up to 200-piece puzzles and then 500 and so on. If you start your puzzle-solving journey with a 500-piece puzzle, we are sure you will give up within the first 50 pieces! While it’s not safe to play an outdoor space sports game in the post-COVID world, nothing’s stopping you from solving puzzles, playing a board game in your living space.
Indulge in Cleaning
Cleaning is one of the most productive things when you are stuck inside your house. Consider cleaning your whole house, one room or whatever you like. Don’t let your house collect dust. A decluttered home helps declutter the mind too. Cleaning is one of the best things to do when bored. It’s a critical aspect of self care in the current pandemic scenario.
Meditate Your Way Through Boredom
Meditation is a great way to calm your mind and brain, and stop negative thoughts from clouding your mind. Play some calm and soothing meditation-related music, light your favorite scented candle and close your eyes for 10 minutes.
Practice deep breathing. Concentrate on your breathing and meditate peacefully. If you are up for it, you can listen to some guided meditation sessions. You will find an endless list on YouTube. Deep breaths can help in improving your lung capacity and improving your quality of life.
Read a Book
Whenever you are bored, start reading a book. Doesn’t matter if it is a research paper, a fictional book, a novel or even an encyclopedia – just read! You won’t realize how quickly time will pass.
Speak to a Family Member or Friend
If you are living with your parents, siblings or grandparents, now is a great time to socialize with them and find out what is going on in their lives. You will be astonished to uncover so much about them.
Why not solve a jigsaw puzzle with them? If you are staying alone, give your best friend or family members a call – you have no idea how happy they will be to hear from you. That too, when they are least expecting it. Plan some fun activities with your family and friends to get rid of boredom. Click family photos and make memories for a lifetime.
Take a Nap
Yup, that’s right. That’s all we have to say. Nap. As an adult, you will realize how much you love naps, but how infrequently you get a chance to sleep it out. If you are bored and don’t know what to do, sleep over it (or just listen to soothing music using the best headphones for sleeping).
One of the best ways to take care of your mental health in the current scenario is taking frequent naps. It’s the best time to give your body and mind the rest they deserve. Napping once or twice for a few days can help a great deal in fighting stress and relax your whole body.
Learn a New Language
If you’ve been thinking about learning a new language, now is the right time. It is one of the most creative things. Remember how you used to join language classes during your winter break? Well, you cannot attend offline classes right now; however, you can use Google search to find some interesting online language courses for yourself.
Consider Stargazing
If you are bored at night and can’t figure out what to do, pop your window open and stare at the beautiful night sky. Look for different constellations and shapes, using the stars. It truly is a mesmerizing experience and one of our favorite things to do when you are bored at night.
Journal Your Thoughts
A great way to get rid of your boredom is to pen down your thoughts as and when you like. Journaling is a wonderful outlet for one and all. Write about your day, share your thoughts with a pen pal, or build your own website or blog where you can share your thoughts with everyone. Write, write, write, and write to get rid of boredom.
Practice a Skin Routine
After a tiring day, there’s no better feeling than scrubbing away all the dirt and bacteria that accumulates on your skin. Put on a face mask, exfoliate your skin and do a little manicure or pedicure session. Your skin will thank you, and you will find that you will sleep better at night too. It’s the best time to bid goodbye to makeup brushes and shake hands with skin cleansers and moisturizers. Your skin deserves pampering too!
Take a Hot Bubble Bath
If you are unable to sleep at night and can’t figure out what to do because you are bored, we recommend taking a nice, warm bubble bath or shower. This will calm your body down and relax your muscles. You will find that you will gradually begin to feel tired, and will be able to fall asleep in no time. While you are at it, why not light some scented candles and treat yourself to a spa night?
Listen to Music
Is it just us or does music sound better at night? Play your favorite playlist, but ensure you’re using the most comfortable headphones or keep the volume low. After all, we don’t want to be giving anyone else a sleepless night just because we are having one. Also, there are many other interesting things to do when listening to music.
Go Through Old Photos
Look for old photos in your house. Live each moment one picture at a time. If one of your family member’s is also bored, get them to join you as you go down memory lane. If you don’t have a physical photo album, you can always go through photos in your phone. Spend one night looking at your old photo albums.
Clean the Junk on Your Laptop or Phone
Remove any unwanted documents and files from your laptop and place everything into their respective folders. On your phone, delete any images and videos that you no longer need, or even any games or applications that you haven’t opened in months. Clear your device’s memory and create space for more files.
Connect With Friends
If you have any friends on the other side of the world, drop them a message! We’re sure you will find that you’ve missed out on a lot in each other’s lives, and will be able to not only pass time quickly but also get in touch with an old friend. Even if you just want to discuss a cocktail recipe, don’t think twice before calling your friends.
Play a Video Game
Bring out the inner child in you. If you loved playing video games, just do it. However, don’t turn it into a habit. Ensure you’re just playing for fun and avoid making it a routine. Everything in life requires a balance. Also, don’t forget to use the best gaming earbuds.
Doodle
If you are bored at night, and aren’t really in the mood to do much but still want to find some way to keep yourself occupied, you could definitely give doodling a try. Play some soothing music, grab a piece of paper and a pencil and scribble your time away. Many of our team members find that doodling and aimlessly drawing on a piece of paper can help you distract yourself and in a way release your thoughts without any exchange of words. Don’t believe us? Try it out for yourself.
Write a Poem
You don’t need to be an established poet to write a poem. Sometimes, all you need is a pen, paper and your comfort zone. Who knows, you may end up writing an art piece. If your comfort zone is nature, consider visiting a local park and spend some time there while you write your poem.
Join Online Workout Sessions
The COVID-19 pandemic has even forced fitness centers and gyms to go digital. Therefore, now you don’t need to leave your home to become fit. You can easily find online courses or workout programs to stay healthy and fit. All you need to do is use Google search to find workout courses per your requirements.
Plan Your Next Vacation
You must be wondering why we’re talking about vacations when more than half the world is still under lockdown. Well, bad times never stay. So, you need to start planning your next vacation now. It is one of the best ideas to spend quality time with family and friends. Create a list of places you want to visit when COVID is gone. Start putting your ideas in one place. Sounds fun?
Practice a New Hairstyle
Since most salons are still shut, you can make the most of this time to practice a new hairstyle. Sick of your long hair? Why not give yourself a nice haircut.
Create a Bucket List
Now is the time to sit and introspect. Create a bucket list comprising dreams and goals you want to achieve in your life. Write everything in a diary.
Go For a Walk
If you’re feeling suffocated inside your home, consider going for a short walk. However, ensure you carry your care package comprising a hand sanitizer, some extra face masks, and a pair of gloves. You can also listen to a new podcast or your playlist while you’re walking.
Clean Your Junk Drawer
Come on, we all have that one junk drawer containing a wide range of items that we never want to throw. Maybe now is the right time to get rid of the junk bit by bit. If cleaning is your idea of fun, don’t think twice.
Write a Snail Mail Letter
A snail mail letter is not a thing of the past. People still use it to stay in touch with their loved ones. Even though it’s a lot slower than emails, it is one of the most traditional methods of exchanging letters. If you’re struggling to keep yourself occupied, write a snail mail letter to a friend for fun
Decorate Your Living Space
If you have some extra time on your plate, why not give your living space a makeover? No, we’re not talking about cleaning here; we’re talking about revamping your living arrangement. You can order beautiful home decor items from online stores and use them to decorate your home when you are getting bored.
What Can a 14 Year Old Do When Bored?
A 14 year old can make the most of all the activities mentioned above to keep themselves occupied. However, the two most interesting things a 14 year old can do when bored are playing video games and creating a bucket list for fun.
Final Thoughts
With so many things changing around us every day, the one thing that remains constant is boredom. No matter how busy and hectic your daily routine might be, you are bound to feel bored at some point of time. Try to keep yourself as occupied as you can in order to avoid falling into the deep pits of boredom. Of course, give yourself some time to just sit back and do nothing.
In fact, why not try doing some of these things when you are bored at work during your lunch break, or your summer vacations and school holidays? Bored at your grandparent’s house? We got you! Try these out and you will be amazed at how much fun you can have doing some of the simplest activities.
