329 Great Ideas Of Things To Do When You're Bored

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In this post, you will find an enormous list of things to do when you’re bored.

The list will be broken down into different sections. They will be:

Relaxing things to do
Productive things to do
Adventurous things to do
Entertaining things to do
Creative things to do
Fun things to do
When you’re bored at work
Delicious things to do
Things to do online
Things to do outside

Firstly, we’ll take a quick look at the science behind being bored.

Let’s jump in.

Contents show

The Science Of Boredom

A survey of 2000 people America found that the average adult spends a third of their time a year bored.

That is an incredible amount of time.

Interestingly the word boredom didn’t have a place in the English language until after 1766.

After this point, it’s use exploded.

Boredom actually stems from a lack of dopamine, sometimes referred to as the ‘reward molecule’ in our brains.

When our brains transmit too little dopamine, we start to feel less happy or bored.

Being bored is completely normal, it’s biological.

The problem is we normally treat being bored as bad.

When in reality, we should use it as an opportunity.

Some interesting work from psychologist Sandi Mann showed that by being extremely bored, it forces us to become super creative.

Being bored is where the magic starts to happen.

Instead of just wasting the time when you are bored.

Lets take a look at 329 different ideas of what to do when you’re bored.

Relaxing Things To Do When You’re Bored

Have a manicure or pedicure
Try out a new hairstyle
Take a hot bubble bath
Color, or draw on some paper
Do yoga
Write a poem
Do some journaling
Meditation

Write a poem
Eat snacks & watch your favourite film in bed
Enjoy the sun at your local park or beach
Read some quotes
Write a letter to your future self
Take a hot shower
Drink tea
Cuddle with your pet
Cuddle with your partner
Create a self-love list
Try out a new facemask
Have a siesta
Read your new book
Listen to your favourite music
Do some stretching

Watch some Netflix
Scroll through old photos and videos
Bake your favourite dessert
Watch a sunset or sunrise
Practice deep breathing

Productive Things To Do When You’re Bored

Go to the gym.
Go for a walk or run.
Do some form of exercise.
Plan your finances
Sign up for an online course
Clear up your personal inbox
Make a list of personal goals
Clean something you haven’t in a while (e.g. oven)
Clean out your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, messages.
Clean your makeup brushes.
Research dream jobs.
Donate old clothes to your local charity.
Get ahead on schoolwork or future projects
Meal prep for a week

Clean your phone.
Watch a how-to YouTube video on something you want to learn
Improve your LinkedIn profile.
Get up to date on laundry/washing
Make to-do lists.
Make a list of professional goals
Start a new DIY project at home.
Go food shopping.
Organize your clothes
Update your resume\CV.
Find an online job.
Explore where you can do some volunteering.
Read up on current affairs.
Start growing some plants

Make a new song playlist
Do some quick tasks
Make a wishlist of things you want
Do some self-improvement worksheets
Plant an indoor herb garden
Find a new wallpaper for your phone
Look at Pinterest for inspiring ideas
Visit a family member
Apply Feng Shui principles around your home
Shop for useful things online
Look for an online club to join
Fix something at home
Make your lunch for tomorrow

Create a family photo album
Go to a farmers market
Plan your dream holiday
Plan a get together with your friends
Facetime friends or family
Do something nice for someone
Start an Instagram profile for your pet
Write someone a handwritten letter
Buy a motivating book
Study something that interests you
Watch a TED talk
Clean your home
Organise the apps on your phone
Tidy your desk

Clean out your junk drawer
Organise your self-care products
Wash all textiles at home
Make a list of the tasks you have been putting off
Go deep on Quora and Reddit
Create a debt repayment plan
Install a password encryption tool on your computer
Read up on productivity
Write a letter to your future self
If your religious, read your holy book

Organise the files on your computer
Rearrange your furniture
Organise your bills
Delete old contacts from your phone
Arrange some photos to be printed
Clean your windows
Clean out your fridge
Get rid of junk in your basement
Sell stuff you don’t need on eBay
Do a maintenance tour at home
Find some great coupon deals
Review your calendar

Plan your day out for tomorrow
Create a plan for your biggest goals
Learn some new words
Start learning to code
Read the news
Update your social media profiles
Write down some affirmations
Start a gratitude journal
Create a vision board
Create an evening routine

Make a ‘need to stop doing this’ list
Look at ways to minimize your commute time
Figure out how to make the most use of your commute time
Create a self-care routine
Plan a morning routine
Practice speaking in front of the mirror
Plan an emergency bag
Start a side hustle
Google ways to make extra money
Donate blood

Adventurous Things To Do When You’re Bored

Start a new blog.
Go for a hike somewhere new
Go to a new restaurant
Drive somewhere completely new
Say hello to a stranger
Try out some new recipes
Find a new podcast to listen to (on a new topic)
Make a cocktail.

Join a new sports team
Get a new pet
Stage a family photoshoot.
Look for a new tattoo idea
Make a commitment to learning something new
Try out the new coffee shop
Visit your favourite museum.
Plan an exciting future trip.
Start to learn a new language
Write a book on your life

Make a movie.
Go on a last-minute road trip
Plan a party at your house
Go to a cocktail making class
Reach out to a friend you haven’t seen in a while.
Create your own website.

Entertaining Things To Do When You’re Bored

Watch your favourite Netflix series
Scroll through Pinterest.
Do some online shopping
Watch your favourite film
Play an online game
Watch a documentary.
Make a playlist of your favorite songs from school
Go to the cinema

Write a love letter to your partner
Get lost on youtube
Facetime your friends and family.
Search through Tumblr.
Search “happy birthday + [your name]” on YouTube.
Go play some mini-golf
Make a collage.
Make a bucket list (link).
Take some new selfies.
Watch a new reality series
Go bowling with your friends

Plan your dream wedding.
Plan the trip of a lifetime
Read some humor writing.
Read your favourite magazine.
Catch up on celebrity gossip.
Book to go to a musical
Dance crazily to your favorite songs.
Go to watch your favourite sports team

Read a great essay.
Watch as many episodes as you want of your favorite show
Put together a puzzle

Creative Things To Do When You’re Bored

Paint a portrait of your pet
Paint a portrait of your partner
Write a song.
Teach your dog a new trick.
Learn a dance.

Write a poem.
Learn how to juggle.
Write letters.
Start a memories album.
Turn a T-shirt into a sleeveless shirt.
Read a play, or write one
Sew a mask for a friend.
Learn how to read tarot cards.
Learn about bog bodies.
Learn Origami

Photo by Carolina Garcia Tavizon on Unsplash

Upcycle something like an old chair
Make some jewelry
Draw something
Learn how to Knit
Start learning how to Sew
Decorate a room you have been putting off
Build some lego
Brew your own beer

Make some greeting cards
Learn calligraphy
Make your own music
Make some scented candles
Make a patchwork quilt
Create a new scrapbook
Start a woodwork project

Fun Things To Do When You’re Bored

Play a board game
Play a computer game
Play a sport
Play a card game with your family

Sing along to your favourite songs
Hunt some ghosts
Have a water fight
Make a slip ‘n slide in your garden
Make a gift list for your partner
Learn some magic tricks
Go roller skating
Try out some new hairstyles
Watch some hilarious YouTube videos
Go on a random road trip

Go to the park for a picnic
Play with your pet
Fly a kite
Visit an arcade
Play Twister
Daydream about anything you want

Things To Do When You’re Bored At Work

Clean your desk
Organize your desk
Commit to keeping everything clean and organized
Clean out your computer of old files
Offer to help some of your colleagues
Clear your internet browsing data
Organise your newsletter subscriptions
Update all your passwords
Ask your manager how you can help
Show initiative and do something without being asked
Study management
Make sure you’re up-to-date with everything

Make a list of things you need
Get rid of anything you don’t need
Clean your computer
Organize your paper files
Read articles/books on leadership
Create a list of possible mentors
Do a SWOT matrix
Research conferences and professional development opportunities for your industry
Read news about your industry
Store your business cards online
Learn keyboard shortcuts

Learn how to type faster
Make or buy coffee for the team
Write thank you cards for business contacts

Delicious Things To Do When You’re Bored

Make a fancy cocktail
Non-drinker? – make a mocktail
Soak some dry beans.
Make a homemade jam
Meal prep for the whole week.
Bake some cookies.

Make a dip.
Plan your breakfast for tomorrow
Make a smoothie
Find your ingredients and Google them.
Bake some bread.
Re-create your favorite restaurant meal.
Soak some dry beans.
Make a homemade jam

Things To Do Online When You’re Bored

Read free online ebooks
Take some free online quizzes
Trace your ancestry
Become a vlogger
Reconnect with an old contact
Look at historical a map of your neighborhood
Become a member of a virtual choir
Look at online versions of your favorite magazines
Google yourself
Research new ways to save money
Chill with ASMR videos on YouTube
Start on your Christmas gift list
Listen to a podcast

Start an online course
Declutter your social media
Find some new music
Email someone who inspires you
Create a personal/lifestyle blog
Start a youtube account
Host a games night
Research a bucket list of places you want to go
Open Google Earth and explore the world
Research some capital cities

Things To Do Outside When You’re Bored

Sign up for salsa lessons
Glamping in your garden
Go stargazing
Attend an open house
Mow your lawn

Take some skydiving lessons
Volunteer at a homeless shelter
Volunteer at a children’s library
Install some bird feeders
Go for a run
Go kite surfing
Plant some trees in your garden
Find a nice scenic route to drive
Volunteer your time for anything
Climb a tree that used to climb when you were a kid
Do some meditation
Go on a picnic with your family
Enjoy the sunset

Visit and help an elderly family member
Fly a kite
Go for a walk
Go fishing
Take your bike on a new route
Go on a walking tour of your own city or town
Go night gazing
Go to a free concert
Explore somewhere you have never been
Go to see the circus
Make your garden pretty
Go on a hike.
Take up photography
Go for a sea swim

Do a random act of kindness
Watch animals and wildlife
Go to the library
Go to a school reunion
Go foraging
Do some litter picking

To Sum Up

Hopefully you should never be bored again.

This list of things to do when you’re bored should keep you busy for a while.

Every time you are bored, make sure you refer back to it.

I would love to know if there is anything specific you do when you’re bored.

Drop them in the comments below.

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