19 things to do when bored: You’ll never need to doomscroll again!
9 min
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How can you combat boredom? We can think of a few ways! With our 19 things to do when bored, you won’t even know where to start.
Boredom doesn’t have to be a bad thing. The feeling of boredom — for which, by the way, there’s no universal definition — is full of potential. After all, being bored means you have time — between all the challenges of everyday life — to take on some more for yourself. It’s the perfect starting point to leave behind the old, discover the new, and get to know yourself and your fellow human beings a little better.
Are you bored despite a full meeting calendar, never-ending to-do lists, and one social event after another? Or you’re bored at work? Congratulations! Boredom invites you to figure out how to live a life that truly fulfills you.
Good to know: Boredom is a complex psychological phenomenon. Persistently feeling bored and listless are a sign that something is not going the way it should and can even make you sick. Have you been bored for a long time and feel stuck, like you can’t change anything yourself? If so, seek professional help.
Top 10 tips against boredom
Our top 10 tips of things to do when bored encourage you to get to know yourself better, overcome your inner couch potato, or just give yourself a kick in the butt — depending on what you need at the moment.
#1 Sit back and enjoy.
First things first: instead of judging yourself for being bored right now, embrace the feeling. You’re bored, and that’s totally okay. Different emotions are part of life. Boredom is one of them. Accepting feelings is an important exercise on the way to more self-love.
Besides, it’s not inherently bad. If your head’s constantly working overtime, it’s bound to break down. You’ll simply work until it gets to be too much and you crash and burn out.
Occasional boredom is actually a good thing. In fact, studies have found that occasional boredom can supercharge creativity. So sit back and enjoy it as an artistic boost.
#2 Find out what it is that bores you. And how you can change it.
Fed up with being idle? Then figure out what it is that you find so tedious. Too much free time? Monotonous activities at work? Make a list of how you spend your time. Notice what gives you pleasure and what keeps you engaged.
And on the contrary: What bores you, what would you like to do less of, and why? Which things are you doing out of intrinsic motivation and which out of extrinsic motivation? Are the external factors worth your effort?
It’s best to visualize these things. Whether in mind maps, tables, or whatever comes into your head. You don’t have to solve everything in one day. Give yourself the time you need and find out what really motivates and moves you. Can you transform the things that bore and depress you into something positive?
#3 Find out what interests you.
Assuming tip #2 was successful, you might skip this one. But it might still be fun. Think about the last time you did something in a flow. So concentrated that nothing could distract you and time seemed not to exist. The pure opposite of boredom.
What activity was it? What was different then than it is now? What happened to the flow? What do you do with complete enthusiasm? What are you really good at? Where are your strengths? And what do you feel good about? Can you incorporate more of that into your life?
#4 Direct your thoughts.
And do it in two ways. First, check your mindset: Is it really that boring and intolerable, or are you obsessing about the negatives? Is there something positive you can focus your attention on?
Second, learn to focus and direct your thoughts fully to one activity. Studies have concluded that people who have control over their thoughts and can focus well on an activity are less likely to become bored.
Good news: You can learn not to let your thoughts lead you astray all the time. For example, try meditation. Having trouble? That’s alright. Read up on how you can learn to meditate.
#5 Do something meaningful.
How is up to you. Activities you find meaningful are rarely boring (except for doing your taxes, maybe). Do you think animal welfare is an important issue? Then get involved as a volunteer or full-time with a local organization or online. Consider finding a way to contribute to a cause that you think will add value to your community or the environment.
#6 Discover Journaling.
A tip that will definitely really get you somewhere: journaling. It’s kind of like keeping a diary for adults. The difference is that here the focus is less on your experiences and more on your perception of them and how they affect you and your emotions.
If you think this is just for teachers, you’re wrong. Journaling helps you to challenge destructive beliefs, self-reflect, shift your focus to positive things, and recognize areas of potential.
It’s up to you to decide how often you want to keep your journal and what you want to focus on. Gratitude journals, success journals, and stream of consciousness writing are all especially popular.
The latter is more for advanced journalers and those who find it easy to put their thoughts down on paper by simply writing down whatever comes to mind. You can also buy pre-formatted journaling books. Popular formats are those in which you ask yourself the same set of short questions every day and take time once a week for more in-depth ones.
#7 Do something that will push you to the next level.
What would you like to accomplish? What have you always wanted to be able to do? Now is your time to go for it. Ready to learn a new language? Take your computer programming skills to the next level? Or finally take that class on communication or leadership? There’s no time like the present. And if you need an extra boost, try our article on reaching your goals.
#8 Learn some new moves.
One of the best tips against boredom: Move your body in brand new ways. Maybe there’s something you thought you’d never be able to do. Handstands, splits, or air squats with your heels all the way to the ground.
Not only will it improve your physical self, but it will also train your brain. Need some inspiration? You’re sure to find new moves in our workout database.
#9 Establish healthy habits
Have you always wanted to do something for yourself more regularly? Meditate, eat less sugar, exercise more. Forming healthy habits isn’t always that easy. But once you get them down, they’re there forever. That’s because of what’s called the habit loop, a neurological cycle that reinforces your behavior.
#10 Get into gear.
Instead of sitting on the couch and letting your “I’m bored” mantra gain more and more strength, make a conscious decision to get out of self-pity mode and turn some free time into something good.
Whether you pick a tip to help tackle feeling bored or do something completely different, the key thing is to shift your mindset.
Well, maybe it’s not so great that you have a lot of free time right now. Maybe your financial or social resources are limited at the moment, and that’s real. It’s not about sugarcoating the bad, but rather about using the situation to your advantage in such a way that you break through the negative spiral of thoughts and find something good alongside it.
Even if that only means that you enjoy sitting in the shade for hours without a guilty conscience. It’s up to you to decide to break out of the boredom vortex. How you do that is your decision alone.
3 tips to fight boredom at home
What to do when you’re bored and stuck inside? Plenty of things come to mind. Here are our three favorites for improving your quality of life at home.
#1 Expand your food horizons.
Ever thought about what new things you could cook? No? In everyday life, you always make the same thing anyway – after all, it’s supposed to be quick. Try heading to the grocery store and seeing what local vegetables are in season. Buy something you’re not familiar with or have never eaten before.
We’re sure to have a fitness recipe featuring that vegetable that fits your goals. That way, when the boredom spell is over, you’ll have a few new recipes in your repertoire for your meal prep.
Take a look at our free recipes
#2 Try your hand at urban gardening.
Try it on your windowsill, on your balcony, or maybe even with some expert assistance in a rented garden plot. After all, it doesn’t get any fresher than homegrown. High-quality herbs and colorful vegetables often don’t require much space or expertise. Once you understand how to garden well, you’ll always have fresh food waiting for you at home.
#3 Get rid of old stuff.
This is a classic tip against boredom at home. But it’s a good one. Declutter. Give away or sell clothes you no longer wear. Get to work on that messy pile of papers on your desk, or the junk drawer in the dresser, or the cluttered basement.
Organizing your external life has various positive effects on your psychological well-being. Studies found that chaos in your living space is more often associated with anxiety, depressive moods, obesity, and sleep disturbances. It also makes it harder for you to direct your attention and focus on what you really want to do.
Fact: People who are feeling unhappy or stressed tend to eat emotionally. Eating out of boredom is also a form of emotional eating.
3 tips against boredom with friends
Meeting up with friends doesn’t have to be a tedious routine. These three tips will make your get-together interesting again.
#1 Only socialize when you really want to. And can.
Do you ever go out just because it’s what you always do on Wednesdays? Or because you agreed to plans even though you actually have zero energy left? Give yourself a break. It’s perfectly okay to be tired, to prefer to be alone, or to just not be in the mood.
If you don’t have energy for quality conversation or a relaxing social activity, take that time for yourself. Self care is important. Try a face mask or bubble bath. Get together with your friends when you’re mentally and emotionally ready to listen, to talk, to really be present.
#2 Talk to each other.
Chatting is fun, and it doesn’t always have to be philosophical musings and intellectual masterpieces, but answer honestly when asked how you’re doing. Listen to your friends’ responses when they say how they’re doing.
Have conversations that are meaningful to you, about topics that concern you. Sure, it’s great to just drink beer or wine and joke around with a friend, but that stuff can get old in the long run.
#3 Experience something.
A shared experience is a bond. Do something active together. A workout, or something you’ve always wanted to do, or something you’d never do alone. Go to a museum, go hot air ballooning, take a bike ride, go rafting, visit the local poultry farm, volunteer to help out at an event – whatever works for you and your friend.
3 things to do when bored as a couple
If you’re bored as a couple, you can use it as an opportunity to improve your relationship. Here we’re back to the topic of mindset: direct your thoughts to the positive and face reality, even when it’s uncomfortable.
#1 Take your relationship to the next level.
The same thing applies here as when talking to friends. Talk about how you are doing. Step 1: Communicate how exactly you’re feeling. Without accusing the other person of anything, try to talk about why you are bored and what you would like to see change. What steps can you think of together to get there?
#2 Allow yourself me time.
Allow yourself time to yourself where you can do whatever you want. Being alone for a while, catching up with other people, or just focusing on your hobbies and interests will keep you feeling inspired and bring a breath of fresh air to your togetherness. Ideally, your partner will do the same.
#3 Take time off together.
Take time off together and escape from your everyday life. You don’t have to go on vacation to do this. Create a DIY project like a vision board or photo album, or bake cookies or banana bread together. Play a board game in the living room. Go for a walk, paddle, bike, hike, or just chill out at home sans phone to-do list.
Summary
- Boredom is a chance to let your soul and thoughts roam free or to do what you otherwise never have time for.
- It offers potential for improving yourself and your relationships.
- It’s up to you to decide whether you let it drag you down or whether you see it as an opportunity.
- Long-lasting chronic boredom can be a sign that you should seek professional help.
Sources for this article
We at foodspring use only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial policy to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
- Catherine A., Rostera et. al (2016): The dark side of home: Assessing possession ‘clutter’ on subjective well-being, in: Journal of Environmental Psychology, 46, 32 – 41.
- Eastwood, J. D., Frischen, A., Fenske, M. J., & Smilek, D. (2012): The Unengaged Mind: Defining Boredom in Terms of Attention, in: Perspectives on Psychological Science, 7(5), 482 – 495.
- Mann, S.; Cadman, R. (2014): Macht uns Langeweile kreativer?, in: Creativity Research Journal, 26 (2), 165 – 173.
