What to Do When You’re Bored: 265 Ideas

It doesn’t matter how busy you are or how long your to-do list is, there will still be times when boredom inevitably strikes. It’s easy to get stuck in a repetitive routine, feel burnt out on doing the same workout or hobby over and over, or just not know what to do with yourself sometimes. It happens to the best of us, including the busiest of people. However, a lot can happen when you make the most of your idle time—you can discover new passions, step out of your comfort zone, and even learn how to stop boredom eating once and for all. So the next time you find yourself sitting around looking for something to do, turn to one of these 265 ideas for guidance on how to fill your free time. Keep scrolling to learn more.

265 Ideas for What to Do When You’re Bored

Fun Things to Do When You’re Bored

The next time you’re bored, let loose and get out of your funk with one of these fun activities.

Play a board game
Make a playlist of your favorite songs and dance around the living room
Watch a movie you haven’t seen before
Visit the library and check out books by a new-to-you author
Complete a puzzle
Start a new reality series
Learn all about your astrology birth chart
Chat with a friend or family member you haven’t talked to in a while
Take a virtual museum tour
Apply press-on nails
Try a virtual escape room
Play a video game on your computer, phone, or gaming console
Teach your dog a new trick
Volunteer at an animal shelter or local rescue
Treat yourself to a new vibrator
Have a favorite things day: do all your favorite things in your city
Check out a fan-favorite tourist spot
Go people-watching at your favorite coffee shop
Browse the aisles of Sephora
Go to your favorite bar and have the bartender whip you up a surprise drink
Read some erotica
Treat yourself to a facial
Order something new from a food truck
Visit a local art gallery
Go to an arcade
Make a seasonal sangria
Go to a drive-in
Visit a flea market
Order takeout from your favorite restaurant
Check out an outdoor drama or musical performance
Visit a carnival or amusement park
Take yourself on a scenic drive
Download The Sims 4 for some youthful nostalgia (it’s free, too!)
Plan an itinerary for your dream vacation
Plan a PowerPoint night with your friends
Pick up a hobby you did when you were young
Listen to a new podcast
Watch the Otter Cam from the Monterey Bay Aquarium

Productive Things to Do When You’re Bored

Boredom is the perfect time to check an item off your to-do list, and passing your downtime with one of these productive ideas will make you feel so accomplished.

Wipe down your desk and re-organize your work files
Deep clean the grout in your bathroom
Check-in on your investments and retirement portfolio
Meal plan for the week ahead
Update your resume or LinkedIn
Clean out your closet
Reorganize the fridge and pantry
Clean your makeup brushes
Organize family member and friend birthdays in your calendar with reminders
Deep clean your windows
Clean out your junk drawer
Vacuum underneath (or behind) your bed
Vacuum the inside of your couch
Inventory and organize important documents (birth certificate, passport, lease, etc.)
Clean out your email inbox
Deep clean your baseboards
Disinfect your door handles and light switches
Call your credit card company and ask for an increase on your limit (if approved, this can help your credit!)
Analyze your subscription services and cancel any you are not actively using
Take clothes to be altered
Make sure your pet’s microchip is up-to-date and registered with current information
Deep clean your vehicle
Learn to code
Watch iPhone photography tutorials and test some of the techniques
Print and frame those photos you’ve been meaning to
Organize and clean up your phone photos
Clean an area of your home you’ve been avoiding
Check the expiration dates on all your beauty products
Donate old and unused clothes to a women’s shelter
Create a budget for yourself
Open a high-yield savings account
Create a color-coded scheduling system in your planner or calendar
Power wash your patio or outdoor furniture
Take your area rugs to get professionally cleaned

Creative Things to Do When You’re Bored

Whether you are looking for things to cook when bored, are interested in adult coloring books, or want to channel your inner Carrie Bradshaw, these ideas will help you tap into your creative side when you don’t know what to do with yourself.

Arrange a bouquet of flowers
Make a cocktail or mocktail
Bake something from scratch
Start journaling
Write a short story
Rearrange artwork
Scrapbook
Try knitting
Swap out table decor
Color in an adult coloring book
Take a paint-and-sip class
Tie-dye an old white T-shirt
Re-create a viral recipe
Invite friends over for a tasting: wine, ice cream, salsa, sandwiches—anything!
Play an instrument
Take a singing class
Try needlepoint
Watch a makeup tutorial and practice the technique
Sketch or paint something
Take a pottery class
Learn a new way to style your hair
Try out a trendy makeup look
Make your own ice cream
Write a letter to your younger self
Sew something
Try diamond dot painting
Make a wreath for your front door
Make a vision board for your goals and aspirations
Have an inner child day: do everything your kid self would want to do from sun up to sun down
Upcycle an old candle jar and find a new use for it (makeup brush holder, pot for a plant, the options are limitless!)
Organize and print photo books
Pickle your own vegetables

DIY Things to Do When You’re Bored

If there’s a project you’ve been putting off or a home refresh you’ve been planning to make, now’s the perfect time to tackle it. Get crafty with one of these DIY activities and kiss your boredom goodbye.

Make your own artwork using old relics (think: ticket stubs, magazines, etc.)
Touch-up paint around your home
Restore a piece of furniture from Facebook Marketplace
Install a peel-and-stick backsplash
Build floating shelves
Recaulk your shower
Reupholster furniture that’s falling apart
Soundproof a wall
Install wall sconces or picture lights in the living room or bedroom
Replace the hardware on your cabinets
Swap your bathroom mirror
Make a teeth-whitening paste
Repot indoor plants
Start composting
Make an herb garden
Swap out a light fixture
Give your front door a makeover: clean the door, swap your welcome mat, and add some plants or decor
Make a hanging pot rack for the kitchen
Create a homemade necklace for yourself or someone you’re close with
Repaint a room
Hang up new curtains
Put together a care package and send it to someone who lives out of state
Make a frame for your television
Make brush cleaner for your makeup brushes
Create a cleaning solution and clean jewelry pieces you wear most often
Turn an old dress into a shirt
Tailor a piece of clothing
Create your own tinted moisturizer
Make a DIY face mask
Shop your closet and put together outfits you’re excited to wear
Paint old picture frames and rehang art
Try a new smoothie recipe

Cool Things to Do When You’re Bored

Sometimes you just want to do something different. The next time you’re bored, switch things up with one of these cool and unique activities.

Take yourself out to eat
Get your palm read
Go to an antique store
Take an online meditation class
Get a new piercing
Explore a used bookstore
Check out a new bar or restaurant
Play tourist in your city
Volunteer at a soup kitchen or Boys & Girls Club
Find a new ice cream shop and try their most popular flavor
Visit a local thrift store
Take a mixology class
Hit up a winery or brewery for a tasting or tour
Visit the local zoo or aquarium
Visit local farms that offer activities or fresh produce
Visit a botanical garden or arboretum
Rally your neighbors, friends, and family and donate canned goods to a local food bank
Check out a local comedy club or show
Hit up a karaoke bar
Hand out flyers for a local charity or shelter
Create a bouquet of wildflowers and hand them to a stranger who looks like they could use them–it will make their day
Go to a local sporting event
Make a care package for a women’s shelter
Stroll through an outdoor art or food festival
Visit an ice cream shop and try their bestselling flavor
Watch a hometown singer or band perform at a local bar

Active Things to Do When You’re Bored

Breaking a sweat and getting your heart pumping is never a bad thing, and with these activities, you can pass the time in one of the healthiest ways possible. Try one of these ideas the next time you’re bored and in the mood to move.

Do yoga
Take a dance class
Try pure barre
Try a new workout class with ClassPass
Go for a hike on a safe, well-known nature trail
Hula hoop
Go rollerblading
Play volleyball
Run or jog on the beach
Try the Taylor Swift treadmill workout
Ride a bike
Jump rope
Go for a hot girl walk
Try wall pilates
Visit an ice skating rink
Go swimming in a community pool, lake, or the ocean
Play pickleball
Start a strength training regimen
Sign up for tennis lessons
Start the couch to 5K training
Go for an after-dinner stroll
Foam roll tight muscles
Go beachcombing
Release some tension with a tech neck stretch
Play bocce ball
Tend to your garden
Go bowling
Play laser tag
Go on a coffee walk
Join a recreational sports league
Take yourself on a long, romantic walk on the beach

Educational Things to Do When You’re Bored

Life is a never-ending learning journey, and viewing it as one will help you grow and become more successful. Take advantage of your downtime and educate yourself with one of these ideas the next time you’re bored.

Learn a new language (download Duolingo or Toucan)
Watch a lecture or TED talk
Visit a museum
Read a self-help book
Attempt a crossword
Take a free course from an Ivy League college
Research Ayurvedic wellness practices
Do a deep dive on your family tree and learn about your heritage
Download a sexual wellness app to further your sex ed
Take a Masterclass
Sign up for a skill course to further your career or help you make a career change
Take a DEI course
Listen to an investing podcast for advice on how to start growing your wealth
Watch a documentary
Research job openings and the latest developments in your field
Look into different budgeting methods
Learn about different retirement plans
Check in on any benefits from your employer
Read a book on astronomy
Find a credible news source and sign up for updates or newsletters to stay up to date on current events
Learn how to properly clean your jewelry
Listen to a podcast
Watch “Explained” on Netflix
Play Wordle to test your brain

Outdoor Things to Do When You’re Bored

Nothing’s more revitalizing than fresh air. The next time you’re bored, head outside and soak in all nature has to offer with one of these fun outdoor activities.

Have a picnic
Watch the sunset
Take a leisurely evening stroll
Sit outside and meditate
Dine al fresco
Walk through a local park or hiking trail
Fly a kite
Go stargazing—the SkyView app makes it easy to do anywhere
Enjoy a relaxing evening around the fire pit (bonus points if s’mores are involved)
Go mini-golfing
Visit a local farmer’s market
Check out a botanical garden
Plant something outside
Photograph nature
Buy or make bird feeders and put them in your yard
Hang out at the beach
Collect rocks or seashells
Go flower picking
Go fruit picking
Play in a sprinkler or slip n’ slide
Lounge on your deck and read a book (don’t forget the SPF!)
Go on a local street stroll
Visit an outdoor mall
Cook some food on the grill
Watch some fireworks
Visit a water park
Host a traditional New England clambake
Drink a cup of coffee and watch the birds
Write in a gratitude journal outside
Go bird watching

Relaxing Things to Do When You’re Bored

Treating yourself with something that feels good and helps you unwind is one of the best ways to spend your downtime and reset. Give yourself permission to de-stress with one of these relaxing ideas the next time you’re bored.

Listen to a podcast and go for a long drive
Get a massage
Snag a hotel amenity day pass and treat yourself to the spa and pool
Apply a face mask
Give yourself a mani-pedi
Take a long bath
Get a blowout
Have a tech-free evening
Take an everything shower
Light some candles and enjoy a glass of wine
Learn to gua sha
Exfoliate
Do some deep breathing exercises
Listen to relaxing music
Write out a gratitude list
Order takeout from your favorite places
Get a scalp massage (or DIY at home)
Pick a nostalgic movie or TV series and re-watch from the beginning
Catch up with an old friend you haven’t heard from in a while
Wash your bedding and, if possible, let the sheets dry outside for that fresh smell