75+ Things to Do When You Are Bored + Fun Things to Do at Home

We're human. We all get bored from time to time. But don't waste even more of your life by sitting on the computer. Stay psyched with this rad list of things to do when bored with friends you've got nothing better to do. It's okay. I get bored too. We all have those days. Sometimes you feel like you aren't accomplishing anything. Sometimes you feel slightly unmotivated. Now it's time to get up and do something! Here's an idea: cross off as many things from this list as you can. Try to do as much as you can in one day or take it slow. It depends how bored you are. Check out 100+ Fun Things to Do at Home with Friends - read it here! You can also read 100+ Things to Do on Your Birthday. Stuck inside? Say no to boredom. There's a lot to do. 

1. Walk in the park- The weather is nice. The sun is out. The temperature is warm. You'd be a fool not to spend the day outside! Put on some comfortable shoes and get trekking! You can do a simple stroll through the neighborhood or venture farther. Locate your nearest park and enjoy the scenery. 

2. Pick fresh fruit - Take a break from your ordinary trip to the grocery store. Hand pick your fruit from a tree, bush, plant. Blackberries, blueberries, cherries, figs, grapes, lemons, nectarines, oranges, peaches, raspberries and strawberries are in season right now.

3. Make your bed - Is it made? If you're anything like me, probably not. Start your day off in a productive mood. Straighten your sheets. Fluff your pillow. Display your stuffed animal collection. Get the kids to do it too.

4. Wink at a stranger -  Take it a step further than simply smiling at a stranger. Wink!

5. Smile at yourself -  “If you smile when you are alone, then you really mean it.” ― Andy Rooney

6. Go to a record store - There are some excellent records out there. You just have to spend some time flipping through them. I got a Van Halen record for $1 at Burger Records. What a steal! It's practically a crime. A record store is where to go when bored.

7. Call a relative - I get bored too. Phone up a family member or try to see them in person. It's a fabulous day to chat with your aunt or grandpa. How are they? How's the family? Where are they working now? Anything new and exciting going on in their life? I'm sure they'd love to hear from you. The kids can call Nana and Abuelito.

8. Take a trip to the library - Wondering where to go when bored? Remember when you used to go to the library all the time when you were a kid? Continue your literacy. Traipse on over to your local public library and take a gander at the thousands of pages of literature at your disposal. Check out five books.

9. Get a haircut - Snip. Snip. It's been getting too long anyway.  Just go for a trim or get a completely new 'do. Switch it up!

10. Go on a jog - Okay, you may want to save this for a non-scorching day. You can do this in the evening, once it starts to cool off. Get some cardio. Break a sweat. Remember: exercise is a good thing. You don't have to sprint, just do enough to raise your heart rate.

11. Nap in the sun - The definition of perfection, no?

12. Watch the entire _____ series - Lord of the Rings? Godfather? Matrix? Indiana Jones? Back to the Future? Harry Potter? Star Wars? Die Hard? Jurassic Park? Pirates of the Caribbean? Austin Powers? Twilight? Watch an entire series. I get bored watching just once thing, so that ought to occupy your mind for many, many, many hours. One of the most fun things to do at home. 

13. Organize your closet - There's got to be a more efficient way to store all those clothes. And there is! It's called organization. Take everything out ― yes, everything ― and start fresh. How do you want to store your stuff? By color? By garment-type? By season? It's up to you. Tell the kids to pick a few things to donate.

14. Write a letter - When was the last time you did that, huh? After you're done writing the letter, get an envelope. Put a stamp on the envelope. Put that envelope in the mail.

15. Have a pool party - Fun things to do at home? Invite your friends and neighbors. Bring some sunscreen, snacks, drinks and tunes to stay awesome. Definitely fun things to do with friends at home. Then you can splish splash all day. Pools rule! Sometimes if you don't know where to go when bored, just have people over! This is a good activity to get energy out of the kids too.

2. Pick fresh fruit - Can't go wrong with fresh strawberries.

8. Take a trip to the library - Run on down to Seattle Public Library for example.

14. Write a letter - Katie was stoked when she received my letter.

16. Make a sandwich - Fun things to do at home? Experiment with the ingredients in your fridge. Mustard? Spinach? Avocado? Olives? Cucumber? Strawberries? Hummus? Falalfel? Try something new!

17. Make a smoothie - Same as above. Add a variety of fruit, ice and some soy milk, coconut milk or almond milk and you're practically there. Snazz it up with cinnamon, flax seeds or vanilla.

18. Breathe - Close your eyes. Take a deep breath in and then exhale. Do that 10 times. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. 

19. Read the news - Are you aware of what's going on around you? What happened yesterday? What's happening right now? Read a newspaper and find out.

 
20. Play a board game - Life. Monopoly. Cranium. Scrabble. Clue.

21. Visit a botanical garden - There's such a vast variety of flowers, trees, plants and shrubbery out there. Take a trip to a garden and view some of nature's most beautiful creations. 

22. Try a new food - Seitan? Swiss chard? Surinam cherry? Broaden your horizons. Be adventurous. I get bored but not when I eat something new!

22. Try a new food - Vegan chili fries? Don't mind if I do...

23. Go to the dollar theatre - Here's where to go when bored! Maybe it's $1 or $3, doesn't really matter. It's cheap and just as good. Going to a regular theatre can cost over $11 these days. That's ridiculous. 

24. Drink a glass of water - It's good for you. It's great for you! But how much do you drink per day? Water is imperative to all living life forms. Water flushes out toxins from vital organs and carries nutrients to cells. Go grab a glass and gulp.

25. Count your change - Sort your quarters, dimes, nickels and pennies. Then count them  out and put them in rolls. Next time you're at the bank exchange the rolls of coins for cash. Ca-ching!!

26. Learn a new word - Expand your vocabulary. Dictionary.com has a Word of the Day. You could also flip open a book until you find a word you don't know. Look it up!

27. Play with your pet - I'm sure your dog, cat, bird, rabbit, snake, rat, turtle would adore some attention from you. If you don't have a pet, I know you know someone who does.

27. Play with your pet - Pebbles appreciates the lovin'.

28. Invite a friend over - Fun things to do at home with friends. Have a spontaneous day or night (or both) with a pal. What's the point of your cell phone if you don't utilize the contacts that you've been hoarding all these years? Call people up until someone agrees to hang out with you. 

29. Jot down a To Do List - Grab a pen and paper. Scribble down everything you want/need/must get done within the 7 days. Buy groceries? Do laundry? Wash the car? Finish building the toolshed? 

30. Do what's on your To Do List - Chip away at the list. Cross each one off once you're done. Prepare to feel accomplished.

31. Donate your clothes - Go through your wardrobe. Get rid of the items you haven't worn in over a year (and can't see yourself wearing anytime soon).

32. Pen a poem - You've got feelings, right? Express yourself...with words. Write a poem. You'd be amazed how thoughtful you can be once you take time to write down how you feel. It can feel silly if you aren't comfortable writing a poem, but try. If you're feeling up to it, write something deep, something personal. Let it out.

33. Smell the roses - Literally. Go sniff a rose or a flower of some sort. They smell heavenly. Pick one petal as a souvenir. 

33. Smell the roses - They smell bomb!

Affordable Things to Do When You Are Bored

34. Jam to some music - Close the computer and listen to some music. Use an iPod, CD, radio or any music player. Blast your favorite tunes, the louder the better. Jam! Thrash! Mosh! Dance! Do whatever the music tells your body to do.

35. Volunteer - Don't have a go-to organization to volunteer at? Click here to search. Simply input your interests (example: animals, military families, hunger) and your area code and they'll match one that suits you. 

36. Buy a plant - It just livens up the place a bit, gives you some fresh air. You can get a succulent, flower or whatever catches your eye. Some are quite cheap. It's a fab way to decorate the house as well as help your health.

37. Do a mini workout - Get your heart pumping for a few minutes. Do this: 50 jumping jacks. 50 squats (25 with each leg). 50 crunches. 20 pushups.

38. Clean out the fridge - How old is that salsa? How long have those leftovers been there? Yeah...it's time to clean and toss.

39. Take a self-portrait - You'll look different in a year. You'll look way different in  10 years. And you'll look extremely different in 20 years. Document your life. Aim the camera at your mug and smile. Remember what you looked like today.

39. Take a self-portrait - My beautiful face.

40. Make handmade popcorn - It's super easy and even more tasty! Click here to learn to make your popcorn. All you need: corn kernels, pot, oil. Add salt and pepper, vegan butter or my personal favorite, chocolate chips. 

41. Read a book - If there's a book that's been sitting unread on your bookshelf for years, today is the day to crack that baby open. Flip to that first page and dedicate 20 minutes to reading.

42. See a foreign film - Support your local theatre, if you can. That's an excellent choice of where to go when bored. Practice your Spanish. Watch that strange French movie you heard about. How about a German film? There are a lot of options out there.

43. Doodle, draw or paint - Get your creative juices flowing.

44. Recycle your bottles and cans - Don't toss them. Recycle! Keep them separate from the trash. Be sure to rinse them out to prevent gnats and stinky smells. Search online to find the nearest recycling center to you and you can earn a few bucks.

45. Meditate - Turn everything off. Turn off your cellular device, the computer, the tablet, the music makers and other electronics. Do your best to clear your mind. Close your eyes. Listen to the silence. Really listen to it. Pay attention to your breathing. Be aware as you inhale and exhale. Know each breath. 

45. Meditate - Let peace wash over you.

46. Save $10 - Save $10 for later that is. Stash your cash or get some to stash. Put $10 in a jar, tighten the lid and save it for another day when you're really, really bored.

47. Develop some photos - Choose some photographs to get developed. It's more personal to have one physical photograph hanging in your room than 10,000 images on a computer screen. You can frame a couple or scrapbook them, if you're into that sort of thing.

48. Create a craft- Be a tree-hugger and reuse what you currently possess to concoct something new. I have three ideas for you: 1. A picture frame using trinkets you've been collecting. 2. A do it yourself aroma spray to freshen up your room. 3. A reconstruction to liven up an old shirt. Here's an archive of everything from Carmen's Crafts. This is one of the things to do with friends at home!

49. Go on a hike - No, not just a walk. Go on an arduous, lengthy, sweat-inducing, uphill battle hike. Check hikes nearby for where to go when bored.

50. Sit on a bench - Search until you find one. When you do, sit your bum down. Perch yourself on that bench and just ponder.

51. Take a bubble bath.

52. Try learning a new lanuage.

53. Bake cookies.

54. Have a dance party.

55. Facial day - put on a face mask.

56. Plan your next trip.

57. Eat at a local restaurant.

58. Write a blog post about something you're interested in.

59. Do a puzzle. Put together a puzzle with a friend or maybe with grandma.

60. Organize your childhood photos.

61. Try a new recipe.

62. Write in your journal.

63. Tackle organizing your office or room.

64. Take an online course. 

65. Listen to your favorite song. 

66. Do something active.  

67. Meal prep for the week. 

68. Create a vision board on Pinterest.

69. Print and frame a few photos to put in a photo album.

70. Go to a museum.

71. Go grocery shopping.

72. FaceTime a friend or family member.

73. Get a haircut or trim.

74. Look up concert tickets.

75. Do something that makes you happy.

76. Try Learning a new language.

77. Clean your makeup brushes or art brushes.

Don't worry. I get bored a lot too. Pondering where to go when bored? This list should give you plenty of things to do.

That's all, folks. Tell me which ones (if any) amuse you!

Peace. Love. Good vibes. Seize the day.
All photos by Carmen Varner.