Navigating Downtime: What to Do With Boredom

Having a lot of time on your hands is always a good thing. However, we often forget what we can do with that time, so we sit bored, waiting for something interesting to come up. Luckily, there are so many things you can do whenever you feel bored. You can put on a face mask and re-watch your favorite TV series or go for a day trip with a friend or family member.

The ideas from this article can help you use your free time more creatively and efficiently. Find endless opportunities to learn new things or enjoy the ones you already forgot about, and make sure you're enriching your life with exciting experiences.

1. Make a Five-Year Career Plan

Maybe your to-do list wouldn't necessarily include an activity that is related to your job, but why not? Our careers are a great part of our lives, and understanding what you want to focus on in the future can give you good ideas on how to achieve it as well.

2. Redecorate Your Home

You can redecorate your entire home or only parts of it. You can start with one space, for instance, the living room. Even changing small things, such as couch cushions, can make a huge difference in your space. Take a moment to check what you would like to get rid of, improve, and what you want to keep. Depending on your budget, you can also repaint your walls, buy new plants, and add art to the walls. Choose colors and patterns that make you feel comfortable, and avoid those that make you feel irritated, uncomfortable, stressed, or distanced.

3. Clean Out Your Closet

If you're not perfectly organized, chances are your closet needs some reorganization. Start by deciding which old clothes you want to donate and which pieces should be worn more. Most of the time, we use only certain clothing items and ignore everything else we bought, so cleaning out your closet is a great alternative to shopping. Start by organizing piles on the bed or floor and put each clothing item onto its pile. Consider adding scented sachets to your closet and feel mesmerized every time you open the doors.

4. Get a Head Start on Birthday And Holiday Gifts

Regardless of the time of the year, planning birthday and holiday gifts for your friends and family is a great solution to feeling bored. If you find great price deals, you can even go ahead and buy all these gifts, but you'll notice that just by looking for them, whether in person or online, you will have plenty of fun. Make sure you have a list of the gifts you've come up with so you don't forget about them and buy them on time. A bit of good advice is to buy them when they are on sale, whether during the summer, Black Friday, or the holiday season.

5. Organize Your Kitchen Cupboards

When discussing fun activities, organizing your kitchen cupboards may not be the first thing on your wish list, but you'll be grateful for it later. How many times have you forgotten where you have left that new Italian pasta you just bought or that new spice you were looking to try out? Well, once you organize kitchen cupboards and create a space for all your things, it will be easier to find them. For instance, you can have a separate cupboard for pasta and all things gluten and for coffee and tea. Depending on your eating habits, organize the cupboards to make it easier for you the next time you bake cookies or prepare a new dish.

6. Deep Clean Your Home

The feeling of being in a clean home affects tremendously our mental health and the way we feel inside it. If you're bored, deep cleaning your entire home will ensure you have something to do the entire day. That said, turn this into an enjoyable experience. Prepare yourself some coffee and cookies while you're cleaning, put on your favorite songs, and dance and sing while mopping the floors, etc. There's no reason not to have fun while cleaning your house, so do whatever you can to motivate yourself! When you're done, make sure you take a moment to enjoy these clean surfaces in your home and reward yourself for all the hard work you did.

7. Learn a New Language

Yes, learning a new language can't be done in one day, but it can give value to your time. Instead of spending too much time watching TV or scrolling through your social media, dedicate some time and learn the basics of another language. If you have a trip planned in the near future, why not learn the everyday phrases in that language? It will make you more confident while exploring new places, but it can also help you connect with people who speak that language. Learning another language is also a great chance to connect with distant family relatives who don't speak the same language as you.

8. Play a Video Game

When was the last time you played video games? If you don't have a clue what to do, playing a video game is one of the fun things you can do on your own. You could play video games you used to love playing when you were a kid and remind yourself of simpler times. For those who are not gaming console fans, you can learn the rules of a new board game and invite your friends for a night of board games later. After all, games are a terrific solution for a bored brain!

9. Join an Online Workout Program Or Go for a Walk in a Local Park

If you have extra time, why not use it for something that is good for your health? Only 20 minutes of exercise daily will get your blood pumping, energize you, and give you more concentration to face any challenges the day throws at you. If you prefer working out in the fresh air, there are many outdoor things to try out, such as jogging, working out in an outdoor gym, riding a bicycle, or simply going for a long walk in your local park. Your body will be thankful to you for any movement you make, whether it's indoors or outdoors.

10. Learn a New Makeup Skill

There are many trends in the makeup world, so why not spend a few moments watching a makeup tutorial and learning which of your makeup brushes has which purpose? This could be a great way to spend time when it's raining and you're stuck inside. You don't have to stop at makeup. You can go for a full at-home spa day. What would your care package include? Think about applying a hair mask, doing a peeling treatment for your entire body, or trying a new hairstyle or any other self-care treatment you can apply from the comfort of your home.

11. Write a Short Story

If you're into creative things, why not write a short story? It can be about anything you're passionate about, or you can start writing and see where it takes you. Depending on your inspiration and the story length, this will keep your hands busy for a while. Not to mention that you might discover you have a talent for writing and turn this into more than just a hobby. For those of you who feel your creativity is stuck, try reading a few short stories first, and the idea will come when you're ready.

12. Prepare Your Menu a Week Ahead

If you're looking to try a new recipe you saw on social media, why not include it in your meal prep for the next week? Preparing your meal ideas during the week is one of the most productive things you can do while bored, and it will also save you a lot of time during the week. Go to your favorite store to buy fresh produce and all the other ingredients you'll need for this project. When preparing your meals, consider also making extra and taking it to the local food bank.

13. Start Scrapbooking Or Solve a Jigsaw Puzzle

There are many things you can do on your own or with other people, and scrapbooking and jigsaw puzzles are some of them. Such productive activities can relax you, boost your creative muscles, and so much more. You can also do a crossword puzzle or share adult coloring books with a family member and turn this into an experience that connects you with people who matter to you. You can also go one step further and purchase a canvas to paint on it. Who knows, maybe you have an artistic soul and never had the time to discover it!

14. Learn to Play a Musical Instrument

If you love music, now is a great time to learn to play the piano, guitar, or drums. If you don't know where to start, think of an old friend from high school who used to play that instrument and ask them to teach you. Maybe you prefer learning new things on your own, so you'll choose to watch a tutorial online and make the most of it. It's completely up to you! The only rule is to have fun while doing it. If you can't practice it in your home, take lessons from professionals in their own studio, where you will feel more comfortable.

15. Deep Dive Into Your Favorite Childhood Memories

When looking through the old photos, so many memories come up and remind us of times we rarely think of. There are friends you've forgotten about, music bands that you used to listen to, and things you used to enjoy doing more than anything. Find those old photo albums, and enjoy a day filled with your childhood memories. You can also invite friends and family to re-create those experiences, whether it was a certain birthday party or a casual moment captured on camera.

16. Find a New Podcast

Listening to podcasts is a great way of learning something new and getting rid of boredom. It's a win-win situation! You can listen to podcasts while driving, walking, cleaning, or while in a bubble bath. There are no limitations, as all you need is your phone and a good Internet connection. If you're new to podcasts, choose a category that interests you and give a chance to this media format that might become your favorite thing to do on a boring day.

17. Organize a Dance Party in Your Living Room

It doesn't matter if you want to invite someone or not, but a dance party is always a good idea. Pull down your curtains, blast your favorite music, and dance like no one is watching. We strongly recommend this activity on days that feel impossible for whatever reason. After all, dancing is a physical activity, and you'll notice that after only a few minutes, you already feel better and more connected with yourself.

18. Design Your Own T-shirt

How cool is it to wear a clothing item that you designed? You don't have to be a fashion designer to do something like this. All you need is an idea and a few things to help you turn it into reality. You can try doing a tye-die shirt or create a design you'll later print on a one-color shirt. You can even print your favorite photo from childhood and create a retro clothing item that has emotional value for you as well. Bonus points if you print a family photo and give it to family members as a Christmas gift!

19. Grow Your Own Botanical Garden

If you have your own backyard, why not grow a botanical garden in it? Gardening is a very relaxing activity that has proven to be very good for your mental health. Not to mention that a beautiful garden requires time and care, so you will be less bored with it in the future. Before you choose which plants you want to grow, make sure you read about them and learn what care package they require. Some plants are easier to take care of than others.

20. Take Virtual Tours

Did you know that many museums and cultural institutions allow you to take a virtual tour from the comfort of your own home? You no longer have to travel to New York to visit a museum that has been on your list for a while. You can easily do it without spending money on tickets and hotels. Consider the places you'd like to visit and explore if they offer a virtual tour. It will feel like you're truly there, and you will also learn something new!

Conclusion

After reading our 20 ways to get rid of boredom for good, you'll probably never be bored again! There are so many things to do and discover on a day you have plenty of time, so it's best to start crossing these ideas from your list.

Start with the ones that resonate the most with you, and don't forget to give other ideas a chance. You might be surprised when you discover a hidden talent that can turn into something you will enjoy doing for a long time!

Frequently Asked Questions

How Can I Overcome My Boredom?

There are many ways to overcome the feeling of boredom. You can learn new languages or play musical instruments, clean your home, cook your favorite dishes, invite friends over for a party, and anything else that sounds interesting to you. The activities you choose to do on a boring day should be something that you enjoy doing or exploring, so not every suggestion will work for every person.

Are Boring Days Normal?

Boring days are completely normal, and feeling bored is not unusual. However, you can do plenty of things to turn that boredom into something productive and creative for yourself. Depending on your preferences, find something that can enrich your free time and make you look forward to doing that thing again.

How Do I Fix My Boring Life?

Something needs to change if you're having more boring days than you would like. Ask yourself what makes you happy and what activities you wanted to try but never had the time for. Maybe it was meeting an old friend over coffee or changing the colors in your bedroom, but these are all excellent ways to start doing something that will eliminate boredom. Consider adding these activities to your calendar so you don't forget about them.