40 Productive Things to do When Bored
Many people have busy lives. They get up, go to work or school, come home, hang with friends or family, and then do it again most of the week. The weekend comes around, and they feel bored.
If you sometimes feel bored to death, I want you to know that you don’t have to be. There are many more things that you can do besides sleeping and browsing social media. In this post, I’ll review 40 productive things to do when bored. These are things that anyone can do to reduce boredom.
Things to Do When Bored
1. Read a Book
Is there a book you’ve been meaning to get around to but never had the time to? Now you should have the time to start reading that book. I just finished reading “A Happy Pocket Full of Money.” It’s a great read that kept me entertained. Find something you want to read and schedule some reading time each day.
2. Binge Watch a Show
I know there’s a show out there that you’ve been meaning to watch. This is the time to do it. Some popular shows people binge-watch are Ozark, Power, and Tiger King (I watched 1.5 episodes. It’s trash). I don’t watch too much TV, but there are a couple of shows I will binge-watch during this time.
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3. Movies
If there are some movies that you want to watch, you might as well watch them. New movies are probably being added to your stream service weekly.
4. Home Exercise
If you’re used to going to the gym, I feel your pain. Instead of going to a busy gym, you can work out at home. YouTube has all types of workouts that you can try. If you have any disposable income, you can purchase a Peloton bike or a similar one. Exercise is one of the most productive things to do when bored. You’ll feel better afterward.
5. Clean Your Kitchen
I’m sure you keep your kitchen clean in the first place, but you can do a deep clean. Make sure there is no expired food in the fridge or freezer. Check the expiration dates on your seasonings. Go through your dishes and glassware and see if there are any that you want to donate.
6. Clean Bathroom
Next up on this list of productive things to do when bored is to clean your bathroom. This is the perfect time to do a deep cleaning of your bathroom. You’re not doing anything else, so get to it. Cleaning your bathroom will help you occupy your time.
7. Clean Your Bedroom
This is another place I’m sure is already clean, but if it’s not, get to work. It’s where you fall asleep every night, so you want it to be nice and clean. Clean under your bed and make sure that your clothes are organized.
8. To-Do List
Complete something on that to-do list that you’ve been putting off. If you have tasks that need to be done, create one.
9. Go Through Your Closets
This is something that I plan on doing this week. I went through my closets a few weeks ago. I found some items that I’m going to donate and some that I’m going to flip on eBay. Speaking of eBay, let’s get to the next one.
10. Sell on eBay
April was my best month ever with eBay sales. I think part of it was due to more people being at home. If you’ve thought about selling on eBay, this is a perfect time. Check out my post below, which will help you if you’re just starting.
The Beginner’s Guide to Selling on eBay
11. Sign up for My Thrifting Challenge
Next up is my thrifting challenge. I created the challenge to help people make more money at thrift stores. Sign up for the challenge here.
12. Organize Items
You can organize things in your house or apartment. You can take a day to all the rooms, or you can choose to do one room per day. Below is an organizer that you could use.
13. Use Rakuten
A lot more people are shopping online. If you’re one of them, you should be getting cash back at a time like this. With Rakuten, you can get money back for certain online purchases. It’s free to sign up for. They even give new members a $10 bonus when signing up. Use my link here.
14. Clean Your Car
Next up on the list of productive things to do when bored is cleaning your car. This includes washing it and cleaning the inside of it. Also, take some time to clean the trunk out too.
15. Learn a New Language
You can learn a new language if you find yourself running out of things to do. Check out a site, Duolingo, or YouTube to get started.
16. Walk Around Your Neighborhood
Gyms, bars, malls, and other businesses are still closed in some cities. Unfortunately, they may not be opening back up anytime soon. You can take a walk around your neighborhood. This is something that I do several times a week. It keeps me in shape and also helps to keep my mind clear.
17. Sell on Poshmark
Sell your used clothes on Poshmark. Poshmark is one of the platforms that I use to flip items. It’s easy to sign up for. Check my article below. Making money is always one of the best productive things to do when bored.
18. Meditate
I started meditating a couple of years ago. It’s one of the best things that I did. Meditation has helped me to relax and clear my mind. During this time, everyone should try to meditate for at least five minutes each day. There are tons of videos on YouTube that can help you get started.
19. Listen to a Podcast
Is there a podcast that you’ve wanted to listen to? Now is the time to check it out. If you’re bored at home, find some podcasts that you’re interested in and start listening.
20. Create a Website
Have you ever wanted to create a website? If the answer is yes, you should take some downtime to get started. Check out my Bluehost review. It goes in-depth on why I recommend Bluehost if you’re just starting off in the blog or website world.
22. Listen to New Music
New music comes out much more than it used to when I was growing up. I remember when new music used to come out every Tuesday. It could be months before your favorite artists drop an album. Now it seems like music comes out every day. It could be an album, mixtape, or EP. Nowadays, it takes me months to catch up on the music. Sometimes, I don’t even remember listening to the new artists. Since we all have a lot more downtime, we can use some of it to get caught up on music.
23. Clean Your Computer
If you’re like me, you probably have tons of old files and pictures on your computer. A lot of them will probably never be used again. Now is the time to go through those files and delete them. Doing that will allow your computer to have more space.
24. Learn a New Skill
Have you ever wanted to learn how to code or learn Photoshop? You can take a few hours each day to study something new if you’re bored at home. There are so many free resources out there for you to check out. Start with Coursera, Udemy, and Lynda. Many of them have free courses available right now.
25. Check out an Instagram DJ Set
Something good that has come out of this pandemic is that DJs have been doing live sets on Instagram. They have been on point. Some DJs jamming during this time are Lil Jon, Mr. Collipark, D-Nice, DJ R-Tistic, and DJ Wally Sparks. Make sure you check them out on Instagram when you get a chance.
26. Virtual Happy Hour
The next thing that you can do is have a virtual happy hour. A virtual happy hour is when someone hosts a meeting online via Zoom, Skype, or other platforms. Virtual happy hours are fun. They allow you to have a good convo and drink around your friends.
27. Apply for Jobs
If you recently lost your job, you could apply for a new one. A lot of companies are hiring for remote positions, so you have a chance to be back to work in no time.
28. Yoga
I’ve done yoga before, and it helps you to relax. It’s something that I need to get back into. If you’re interested in doing yoga, there are multiple videos on YouTube that will help you out. This can be a good hobby for anyone. Below is a yoga mat that you should consider checking out.
29. Cook Something New
If you like to cook, try cooking something new. It can be a dish that you have always wanted to try. You could also try to cook a family dish as well. Here’s a cookbook that has a lot of recipes that you can try.
30. Update Your Budget
The next thing on the list of productive things to do when bored is to update your budget. Review your expenses. If you see that you’re wasting money, cut that expense ASAP. Below is a budget worksheet that can help you.
31. Make Your Own Sanitizer
People are losing their minds and buying many things in grocery stores. Instead of getting what they need, they are just hoarding up items like tissue, Lysol wipes, and hand sanitizer. My friend Sandy wrote an article about making your own hand sanitizer. Check it out below.
How to Make Your Own Hand Sanitizer
32. Plan An Outing With Friends
Have you thought about doing something with your friends? If you haven’t hung out with them in a long time, you should plan something with them. Take a few minutes to plan what you will do when you’re able to get together.
33. Figure out a Side Hustle
If you need some extra cash, consider starting a side hustle. There are tons of ideas out there. Check out my post that features 70+ Ways to Make Extra Money.
34. Write in Journal
I recently started a journal after reading my latest book. Writing your thoughts and ideas down in a journal is good practice, and reviewing them. If you’re looking for an outlet or something to help you get more organized, start writing in a journal.
35. Watch Black Lightning
Earlier, I stated that you can binge-watch a show. This time I have a specific show or you to watch. If you like superheroes and action, check out Black Lightning. The show is dope. You can find it on the CW network.
36. Sit Outside
Sometimes it’s just good to sit outside and enjoy the fresh air. It will help to take your mind off everything that’s going on.
37. Sell on Mercari
This is another platform for you to sell your stuff on. It’s good for clothes and electronics. Read my post on how to sell on Mercari here.
38. Clean your Email Folders
This is something that I need to do. I have all types of crap in my email folders. I need to take some time this week to delete some stuff. You probably should do the same.
39. Take a Free Online Class From Universities
If you want to go back to school if you’re bored at home, there’s a great chance that you’ll be able to find some free classes out there. Harvard & MIT are just a few universities offering free online classes. Check EDx to see what others are available.
40. Plan a Trip
The last thing on the list of productive things to do when bored is to plan a trip. Is there a place that you have always wanted to go to? Is there a band or sporting event that you want to see? If the answer is yes, take this time to plan that trip.
If you find yourself bored at home at a time like this, at least there are some things you can do to help you get through these days and weeks. I try to do a few each week.
I never knew you could make your own sanitizer. I wonder what ingredients are needed… L 😛 L