100 Fun Things To Do When Bored To Help You Stay Sane

Maryn Liles

June 23, 2023 at 7:44 AM·22 min read

With smartphones and Netflix constantly at our fingertips, being bored and stuck feeling like there's nothing to do almost doesn't seem possible... almost. But every so often, boredom hits and it hits hard.

So, when it feels like the seconds are just dragging on, here are 100 fun things to do when you're bored! From completing a jigsaw puzzle or conducting your own wine tasting to making an Insta account for your pet or starting a blog, you'll have no excuse to say "I'm bored!" ever again.

Need great ideas on how to kill some time? We've got you covered.

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100 Things To Do When Bored

1. Tie-dye T-shirts.

Tie-dye white T-shirts in a matching color scheme with your kids. When the shirts are dried, have an inside photoshoot and post the photos to Instagram.

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2. Color in a coloring book.

Coloring isn’t just for toddlers anymore! Snag an adult coloring book filled with intricate designs and some colored pencils and watch the minutes float on by.

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3. Turn your latest family photos into a scrapbook.

Print out the photos from your latest family trip and compile them all into a memorable scrapbook that the family will cherish for years to come.

Related: 75 Fun Websites

4. Make your own movie.

Using your smartphone, shoot a movie or re-create one using household props. Use editing software like iMovie to put it all together.

5. Create slime with your kids.

Keep your kids entertained for hours with just glue, eye contact solution and food coloring. Look up the recipes for other slime variations to keep the fun going.

6. Read a book.

Dust off your favorite book and read it from cover to cover. If the book made it to the silver screen, watch the movie adaptation and make notes to compare!

7. Go on a walk.

Not only is it good exercise, but it can also help with overthinking as well!

8. Bake something sweet.

Nothing is more delicious than a fresh cookie out of the oven. Bake up a storm using classic recipes found online or be daring and create your own.

9. Complete a jigsaw puzzle.

Set up a little puzzle station in your living room and work on it between Netflix binges.

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10. Play an instrument.

If it doesn’t bother your neighbors, pick up and learn a small instrument like the ukulele.

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11. Learn a new language.

With free apps, like Duolingo, now is a great time to learn a foreign language for your next trip.

12. Start journaling.

Keeping a journal or a diary is a great way to navigate through tough feelings while also killing some time.

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13. Pick up a new hobby.

Knitting and embroidery are awesome ways to bring a personal touch to your wardrobe and home decor. Check out some YouTube tutorials on what the perfect stitch is for a circle scarf.

14. Play an old game from your childhood.

Whether it’s a board game like Clue or a video game like Kingdom Hearts, playing a childhood favorite game will not only kill some time but also bring back some serious childhood nostalgia.

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15. Organize your house.

Make like Marie Kondo and spark some joy by reorganizing your closets and de-cluttering your surroundings.

16. Make mixed playlists.

With music-sharing apps like Spotify or Pandora, create your own personalized playlists and share them with friends.

17. Perfect an old family recipe.

Does your family have a recipe that’s been passed down for generations? Take this time to learn and perfect it so all your relatives will say it’s better than grandma’s by Christmas.

18. Learn a tabletop role-playing game.

Back in the day, games like Dungeons and Dragons may have been only for nerds but, it turns out, it’s a great way to kill some time. All you need for the game are some dice, friends and imagination.

19. Create your own signature cocktail.

If someone created a drink after you, what would be in it? Create it and make sure to put it on the menu at your next dinner party.

20. Order some takeout.

Whether you get it delivered or kill some time with the drive over, getting your favorite takeout will add excitement to your day!

21. Have an indoor picnic.

Clear out the living room, set down a blanket and make your own picnic lunch without having to step outside.

22. Pickle some veggies.

Slice some vegetables like cucumbers and onions and throw them in a mason jar filled with vinegar and seasonings. Seal the jar and let it sit for a while until your next barbecue for some pickled toppings.

23. Get some Christmas shopping done.

If you’re still having some stressful holiday-related flashbacks, why not tackle it super early this year and make some headway on your Christmas list?

24. Write a gratitude list.

Remind yourself that there is a light at the end of the tunnel by counting your blessings. Use cute stationery or your favorite pen to make it extra special.

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25. Cook an extravagant meal.

Have a date night at home inspired by the likes of Gordon Ramsey and Julia Child. Test your culinary skills by cooking an involved recipe like beef Wellington or coq au vin.

Related: 101 Riddles for Kids

26. Have ice cream for dinner.

Create a little of your own sunshine by making every 5-year-old’s dream come true: ice cream for dinner! Set up a sundae bar in your kitchen with various toppings and different flavors (don’t forget the whipped cream!).

27. Take a bubble bath.

In these tense times, a bubble bath can be a great way to unwind. Add a little aromatherapy with calming scents like lavender or jasmine to increase your zen.

28. Make a smoothie.

In long periods of downtime, it’s easy to mindlessly snack on junk food. Create a healthier alternative by mixing together your own frozen fruit concoction.

29. Read a New York Times Best Seller.

Find the New York Times Best Seller list from the year you were born. Choose the number one choice and see if it’s still timeless with age.

30. Watch all the “Best Picture” Oscar-winning films from the past decade.

See how these films stand out from the rest. Go through the Oscar’s Best Picture winner list, choose what stands out to you, and pop the popcorn.

31. Try some Pinterest hacks.

Go through your favorite Pinterest board and see what hacks you can do around the house. Make note of the ones that work.

32. Conduct your own wine tasting.

Open the bottles you have already in the house. Make up a story about the grapes and how they ended up turning into wine.

33. Work on your financial planning.

With breaking news changing from day to day, it may be a good time to go over your annual budget and see what needs to be adjusted.

34. Camp indoors.

Clear out the living room and build a fort or pitch a tent to bring some of the outdoors, inside! If you really want to go all out, roll out some sleeping bags and hang up some glow-in-the-dark stars for some sweet memories.

35. Interview your grandparents.

Give your grandparents a call and ask them all about their lives. Record the conversation using your phone.

Questions to Ask Your Parents and Grandparents: Guided Interview Workbook to Document the Life of an Older Family Member

36, Master your favorite drink.

Whether it’s a Manhattan or a glass of old-fashioned lemonade, gather supplies and ingredients and craft it to perfection.

37. Visit the zoo.

Do you have a future wildlife expert living among you? Give the kids a lesson in zoology and see what the animals are up to by either checking out available live streams at various zoos around the world, or going to visit your local zoo.

38. Visit the world with Google Earth.

If adventure is calling your name, but you're not planning to travel right now, load up Google Earth, type in your dream destination and give yourself a virtual tour.

39. Give yourself a mani/pedi.

Don't wait to make an appointment—bust out your favorite color of polish and paint them to your heart’s content. Be sure to look at YouTube tutorials to learn how to do fun designs!

40. Learn a new style of dance.

Use this time to watch YouTube tutorials and learn how to boogie in different ways. Dancing like belly dancing and shuffling are great ways to stay in shape without the gym.

41. Marathon classic film series.

Transform your living room into a movie theater with popcorn and snacks and marathon classic films, like Star Wars or Back to the Future! Bonus points if you can come up with fun ways to watch the series in a different order.

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42. Meditate.

Calm your mind by taking 10 minutes or more to meditate and quiet your thoughts. Browse through YouTube for some guided meditations or download apps like Headspace for some quick sessions.

43. Give yourself a makeover.

Face masks, moisturizers and skincare galore! Treat yourself to a 10-step skincare routine and get your pamper on.

44. Feng shui your living room.

Give your furniture more of a role in your calm by researching the philosophy of feng shui and seeing what’s best for your home.

45. Visit your favorite neighborhood shops.

Support your local neighborhood by popping in for a quick treat or splurge—you'll be combatting boredom and they'll be getting business!

46. Write a book with your family.

Have each family member create one character. Then have one person start by writing a chapter, then hand to the next person to write chapter two, and so forth. Continue until the story ends!

47. Conduct a Scrabble tournament.

Conduct a Scrabble tournament with your family. Have your kids fill out brackets to predict the winner!

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48. Call a friend.

If it's too short notice to figure out plans with someone (after all, boredom can hit so unexpectedly!), see if they're at least available for a quick FaceTime or Zoom chat.

49. Write a letter.

Be like a heroine in a Jane Austin novel and write a letter by hand. Send it off to a loved one and wait for a response.

50. Sleep.

Even if you’re not feeling exhausted, taking a quick nap whenever you’re looking to pass the time can boost your immune system which is always a positive.

51. Plant a garden.

What better time to start growing your own produce than now? If you don’t have a backyard, don’t worry; you can try planting a small herb garden you can keep inside.

52. Teach your pet some new tricks.

Take advantage of the fact that you have a pet in your life and spend some extra time teaching it some fun tricks.

53. Memorize where all the states are on the map.

You’d be surprised that a lot of Americans can’t name all 50 states, let alone point out where each of them is on the map. Challenge yourself to beat those odds by memorizing every state’s name and its location.

54. Learn how to make earrings on YouTube.

Why not learn how to make some new accessories yourself? With YouTube tutorials, you can find out what items you need to purchase and how you can create your dream jewelry at home for a fraction of the cost!

55. Hang up some twinkle lights.

Think about making your outdoor space more magical by adding some twinkle lights to it. You can hang them on your fence, from your trees or overhead on your deck.

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56. Complete a crossword.

Challenge yourself to a mind game, like a crossword. You can find one in a newspaper, magazine or even online that you can print out.

New York Times Strictly Medium Crossword Puzzles

57. Landscape your yard.

No matter if you add flowers, bushes, re-mulch or even add a water fountain to your yard, landscaping is something that’ll keep you from being bored. You can do a little or as much as you’d like each day. To get started, check out Pinterest for some inspiration.

58. Color-code your bookshelf.

Your bookshelf will look like it’s straight out of a magazine once you color-code it. You can arrange them from lightest to darkest colors, warm colors to cool colors or in the order of a rainbow (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet.)

59. Sign up for a paint and sip class.

Whether you decide to attend with a friend or by yourself, you’ll have a ball participating in an online paint and sip class. Once you’re done, you’ll have a new piece of art to decorate your home with.

60. Take an online barre class.

Find a barre class on YouTube that you can follow from home, or join one locally.

61. Go to a museum.

You’ll be surprised to know that several popular museums offer virtual tours you can attend, so even if you don’t live near a museum that’s in NYC or Paris, you can “go to it” from your home. Otherwise, go visit your local museum and enjoy taking in all of the culture and history!

62. Donate your clothes.

Chances are your closet is filled with tons of things you no longer wear, right? Take some time to go through your belongings and filter out things you haven’t worn in a long time and things that no longer fit you. Then, donate those tops, pants and shoes to a shelter or a place like Plato’s Closet, Buffalo Exchange or Salvation Army.

63. Clean out your pantry.

Don’t just organize your pantry, de-clutter it! Tossing out junk foods and items that you want to try to wean out of your diet will help you be less tempted to eat poorly while you're at home.

64. Make a virtual TikTok recipe.

Not all TikToks are dance-related—there are tons of cool and easy recipes on there, too. Find one that appeals to you and give it a shot! Your kids will love that you were inspired by the app.

65. Start a blog.

Even if you’ve never thought about blogging before, now’s the perfect time for that. You can make it about something you enjoy, like fashion, fishing or food.

67. Set up an Instagram for your pet.

If you have a pet, then there’s no doubt that your phone is filled with tons of adorable pics and videos of them. Have some fun showing them off by setting up an Instagram page just for them. It’ll be a great way to connect with other animal lovers and create a scrapbook for your fur baby.

68. Update your resume.

If you’re really bored, pull up your resume on your computer one afternoon. Then, take time to re-word it and re-organize it.

69. Reach out to someone you haven't seen in a while.

Feeling lonely and disconnected from people because of how busy life can be is normal, so even if you haven’t spoken to a friend or family member in a long time, try rekindling that relationship. Hearing from you will probably make their day.

70. Find a freelance gig.

One way to fill up all of your extra time when you’re feeling antsy and bored is by freelancing! From freelance writing to freelance drawing, to freelance social media jobs, there are tons of them out there that you can apply for.

71. Play putt-putt.

Don’t let boredom keep you from being active. Try doing something sporty outside that is a lot of fun, like mini-golf.

72. Listen to a podcast.

You’d be surprised how entertaining podcasts can be. There are ones out there that are about pretty much every topic under the sun so you won’t have any trouble finding one you like.

73. DIY your own flower bouquet to display.

Spruce up your house with some flowers you arranged yourself! They’ll look so good once you’re done that your family will think you bought them.

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74. Try a new Starbucks drink.

Starbucks is always coming out with new and fascinating flavors, so why not try some of them out? You can go through the drive-through or even have them delivered.

75. Paint or stain a piece of furniture in your home.

Sometimes, time at home may have you going stir-crazy, so try upgrading some of your dull pieces of furniture. Painting, staining or even stenciling your side tables or coffee table will give you the chance to be creative and makeover your space.

76. Teach yourself how to do a fishtail bread.

Thanks to YouTube and Instagram tutorials, you can learn how to style your hair like a pro! From fishtail braids to French braids to Dutch braids, the possibilities are endless.

77. Research the life of someone famous.

Sometimes the best thing to do when you’re bored is to let yourself go down the rabbit hole of someone else’s life. Once you start reading about their experiences online, the hours will fly by.

78. Decorate one of your white walls with washi tape.

Nail down a washi tape wall pattern you like on Pinterest and then map it out on one of your walls. Putting it on the wall behind your TV or bed will transform your space. Plus, if you get tired of it, you can always change it up later on.

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79. Go to a park you’ve never been to before.

Getting outside and exploring a place you’ve never been is a great way to clear your mind and keep you from going crazy in your home. You can bring a book to read on a park bench, enjoy the nice weather or just sightsee.

80. Learn a TikTok dance.

You’ll have hours of fun learning all the choreography to these catchy 15-30 second dances. You can even make up your own and challenge others to learn your moves.

81. Go through a drive-through and pay for the meal of the car behind you.

Sometimes you can feel like you’re in a slump when you’re stuck in your everyday routine. Change things up by going through a drive-through and making someone’s day by paying for their food. It’ll be nice to do something kind for someone else, even though you’re doing it at a distance.

82. Have a cocktail party with your friends.

Get together for drinks with your crew. You and your friends can even dress up for a memorable girls’ night.

83. Teach yourself how to juggle.

You’re never too old to learn a new party trick. So while you’re stuck at home and trying to figure out what you can do when you’re feeling bored, pull up a YouTube video that teaches you how to juggle. Start by mastering juggling a couple of balls and then keep adding more into the mix.

84. Pet sit.

Apps like Rover can change your life for the better if you’re pet-less, but love animals. You can set up a profile and start pet-sitting while you’re hanging out at your house.

85. Clean out your fridge.

Let’s be real: most people ignore how the inside of their fridge looks or try to avoid dealing with it altogether. But if you purchase some organizing bins off Amazon, you can make yours look like a celeb’s!

86. Take an online cooking class.

If you have never had time to take a cooking class before, now you do! Sign up for a MasterClass cooking class and you’ll be a chef before you know it! And if you’re someone who already enjoys cooking, this will help you up your game in the kitchen even more.

87. Go on an online shopping spree.

Shopping is always a great way to pass the time, even if you don't feel like leaving your couch. From Amazon to Macy’s, you can hit up all of your go-to spots without using any gas.

89. Clean out your emails.

Sit down and de-clutter your emails one afternoon. To make things easier, do some sections at a time. If you want to go the extra mile, you can even start putting some of the emails you want to save into folders.

90. Dress up and take a family photo.

You don’t need to go to a fancy photo studio to get a family portrait taken. In fact, if you and your family are all home with no distractions, take advantage of your extra free time and snap a new one. Pick a color for your family’s outfits or a theme for everyone to follow and then select a pretty space outside that will provide a great backdrop. Then, set up your camera’s self-timer while it's on a tripod and snap as many photos as you’d like.

91. Learn calligraphy.

By the time the holidays roll around, you’ll be glad you used your free time to learn calligraphy.

92. Stargaze and see what constellations you can spot.

Believe it or not, you can get bored from watching TV every single night. Switch things up and do a bit of stargazing one night instead. It’ll be relaxing and enjoyable.

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93. Detail your car.

If you want to save some money and make your car look brand new, detail your car. Just Google some hacks and tips on how you can do it yourself and then buy whatever products you need from Amazon.

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94. Go for a hike.

Being outside can do wonders for your mental health. Taking a hike (big or small) can be something you can do alone or with a friend. Plus, once you get to the highest point and see the view, you’ll wonder why you hadn’t started hiking before.

95. Have a tea party.

Change things up and host a tea party for you and your kids or with your friends. You can include unique tea flavors, cute cookies and little sandwiches to munch on.

96. Make a time capsule with your family.

Your kids will love this activity! You can gather up items from around your house to put inside a treasure chest and then bury it somewhere in your backyard.

97. Make homemade ice cream.

Find a recipe online and make it in the morning so you can enjoy it in the afternoon—yum!

98. Hang a gallery wall.

Putting one together may seem like a hard DIY project, but it’s actually not. All you need are several different-sized picture frames and then a mixture of personal photos and scenic photos. Before you hang them up, arrange them on the floor in different ways until you find the perfect setup.

99. Watch a Broadway show online.

Take a break from your movie-watching and watch a Broadway show at your house instead. It’ll make you feel like you’re in the theater and out of your living room, especially if you change into some nice clothes and make it into a special evening.

100. Get your karaoke on in your living room.

Bring the karaoke bar to your house! Your family will have a blast belting out their favorite songs in your living room. You can even invite some family friends so they can be involved, too.

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