Feeling Bored? Try out These 28 Things to Do to Keep Boredom at Bay
Are you feeling particularly bored today? Curb your boredom with these 28 things that’ll keep your mind and hands busy!
Updated 04 Jun 2019
Do you often find yourself feeling bored when you’re either procrastinating or when you’ve already ticked off all the items on your to-do list? Your friends are nowhere to be found and you’re at a loss as you wonder how to fill your time.
We get it — it happens.
So how can you curb your boredom and keep your hands (and mind) occupied? Get some ideas with this list of things you can do when you’re feeling idle.
#1. Clean your room
It’s not the most fun activity to do when you’re bored, but it sure is a productive way to spend your time. We’re not talking about just wiping dust off surfaces and throwing items into your closet — we’re talking about deep cleaning. This includes sweeping, mopping, vacuuming and ensuring everything is organised and in its place.
#2. Cull your social media friends list
How many people on your social media friends list do you actually talk to? If there are people who you don’t really feel like following anymore, now is the perfect time to narrow your list down.
#3. Clear out your email inbox
Is your email inbox filled with spam from shopping sites and newsletters that you’ve subscribed to but never opened? To save inbox space, delete all your read emails then decide on the top newsletters which are most useful to you (like the ones from us!) and unsubscribe from the rest.
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#4. Wash your car… by yourself
That’s RM10 saved if you don’t send it to your nearest car wash guy! Also, washing your own car can be a good form of mild exercise. #justsaying
#5. Read
Whether you prefer crime stories, romance novels or newspapers, it doesn’t matter what you’re reading, as long as you’re feeding your brain something other than tweets and social media posts.
#6. Start a journal
Journalling can be extremely therapeutic as it improves your mental health. Just plonk yourself down with an empty notebook and allow your creative juices to flow.
#7. Volunteer
Doing a little bit of good goes a long way, so the next time you’re feeling bored, head over to the nearest dog shelter or soup kitchen where they are always looking for people to help with daily tasks.
PRO TIP
Looking for more volunteering opportunities? These NGOs are always looking for help.
#8. Sell old items
If you have things in your room that you’ve not used for a long time — clothes you’ve probably only worn once or twice, a fancy camera you bought back when it was in trend but never used or a best-selling book you’ve already read, try selling it on Carousell for extra cash! As long as your items are in good condition, they could fetch a small sum of money.
#9. Strengthen your brain muscles
Yes, that’s right — your brain needs working out too! So use your spare time to play games that force you to think of creative solutions, such as Unblock Me, Snake vs Block or 2048. Even simple puzzles like solving a crossword or Sudoku will help.
#10. Binge-watch a season of a show in one sitting
Relax and unwind by watching an entire season of Friends or Parks and Rec so that you can finally understand those pesky internet GIFs. Netflix and Hulu have also been churning out critically acclaimed shows that even celebrities are binge-watching.
#11. Organise documents and files on your computer
Now is the perfect time to delete those 5 different versions of your assignments from your yesteryears, as well as organise all your files, documents, images and videos into designated folders.
#12. Try your hand at cooking different foods
It’s time to step up from your usual Maggi mee and try making something new. We’re not saying you have to do something fancy like mastering a rack of lamb over a bed of garlic mash potatoes — you can always start simple.
#13. Pick up a random hobby
It doesn’t always have to be one pertaining to your interests — from collecting only nice-shaped rocks or learning how to play the tambourine, the world is your oyster when you’re bored.
#14. Redecorate
Decorating can be fun, so why not go on Pinterest and get some inspiration for revamping your favourite living spaces? Redesigning your study room would be a great start — it’ll motivate you to actually use the space and study since you put a lot of effort into revamping the space.
#15. Take a walk around your neighbourhood
You’ll never know what new finds you may stumble onto when you get to know your neighbourhood a little bit better. Not to mention, some fresh air will do you good!
#16. Try your hand at making crafts
Thanks to BuzzFeed’s Nifty series, you’ll never run out of DIY ideas to amp up things you use on the daily!
#17. Paint
You don’t have to be Leonardo da Vinci or Vincent van Gogh to enjoy the benefits of painting — any form of art therapy has been proven to have positive effects on your mental health and decrease stress levels. So try out Paint-by-Numbers or even colouring books for adults to keep your mind calm.
#18. Complete an elaborate jigsaw puzzle
Jigsaw puzzles are not only fun, but they are also an excellent way to train both sides of your brain. Try challenging yourself to solve a 1,000-piece puzzle — you will feel great satisfaction once you complete it and you can also hang it up as room decor.
#19. Start a mini garden right in your room
Although there are so many benefits of having your own garden, it can be a lot of work. But don’t let that stop you — you can start small and create a mini herb garden right in your bedroom. All you need to do is plant seeds (which you can get from your local supermarket) in small planters by your windowsill and water them every other day.
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Start now#20. Do all your laundry
Again, it’s not the most fun option out there, but it could be time to wash the dust-covered T-shirt you found under your bed.
#21. Colour code your closet
You can do this while you’re waiting for your clothes in the washing machine to be ready!
#22. Video call a friend
This is a great way to catch up with a friend because it’s more personal — especially since your friends will be able to see your expressions when you talk to them.
#23. Discover a new place
Always wanted to know what’s so great about the new café near your house? Or is there a new store at the mall your friends have been gushing about? Now is the time to check it out.
#24. Clean your phone
Decluttering your phone, laptop and tablet does wonders to its performance — you’ll find that it won’t lag as much afterwards. Delete any images you deem already useless (e.g. screenshots or good morning messages from last year) and apps that you’ve not used in more than 4 months.
#25. Learn something new
Whether it’s reading up on fun facts or learning a new skill, gaining knowledge about new things is a great way to spend your free time.
#26. Put together a time capsule
A time capsule can be anything from a shoebox to a tin container filled with items you (or even your grandchildren) would want to look back on in the future. E.g. Your favourite Polaroid photos, a letter or even an old phone.
#27. Update your resume and portfolio
Granted, it’s boring, but you could always do with a clean and complete version of your resume and portfolio. If an opportunity pops up out of the blue, at least you’ll be prepared to send it out instantly rather than staying up all night to work on it.
#28. Plan your future
If you’re at that stage where you’re pondering your study options, why not take a course recommender quiz or personality test to determine the best study path and career for you?
Alternatively, you can also chat with our Education Advisors if you need help with college applications.
PRO TIP
Print out this list, then cut out each action item into separate pieces and put them into a jar. The next time you’re feeling bored, pull out a piece of paper from the jar and do what it says!
Although there are many other activities you can do while you’re bored, this doesn’t mean that you should procrastinate when it comes to completing college coursework or revising for exams. Remember to only whip out your anti-boredom jar of ideas when you’re taking a break and have no important things to finish. Have fun!
If you’re looking for more activity ideas, here are some things you may want to check off your student bucket list.
Natasha Sin
I went outside once. That was before Netflix.
