75 Things to Do When You’re Bored That You’ll Actually Want to Try

Even things like social media or just turning on the TV can start to get boring on a slow day.

It’s repetitive and you start to become aware of the fact that you’ve been sitting in one spot for a little too long. And it really isn’t fun feeling like there’s just nothing to do when you have the free time.

But thankfully, there are so many fun things to do when you’re bored!

And whether you wanna kill time with an at-home cafe, trying tasty mocktails, baking French pastries, or having a nostalgic sleep over, this carefully curated list has got you covered for basically anything.

You can do these activities solo or with friends and they’re just a great way to keep the boredom away and start creating memories that aren’t scrolling on your phone.

---

75 Things to Do When Bored

1. Have a Picnic in Your Living Room

Invite a friend or two and just make a whole day of it. Get some soft blankets, grab some tasty Trader Joe’s snacks and drinks, order takeout, light some candles, put on a playlist, and watch a movie or hangout.

2. Make a Mood-Based Book List

So instead of a generic TBR (To Be Read) pile, make a list of books for your different moods. Example: “For when I need motivation,” “For cozy autumn nights,” or “For when I want to feel inspired.”

3. Try Mocktails & Other Fun Drinks

If you want something fun to drink over the weekend, then this Tea-Totaler’s Toddy or this Coconut Milk Brazilian Limeade are probably the perfect thing to enjoy while watching a movie.

4. Do a Movie Marathon

Pick a night and watch one of your favorite series, a series that’s been on your bucket list, or just marathon movies made by a specific creator. I’d suggest doing some Stephen Chow movies; they’re so good!

5. Try a Starbucks Drink at Home

This Starbucks Copycat Cinnamon Caramel Cream Nitro Cold Brew looks like it’d be super satisfying on a warm afternoon.

6. Do an At-Home Cafe

Speaking of coffee, try inviting some friends over on a Saturday and create your own at-home cafe. Just make your own written menu, grab some delicious pastries, create a playlist, and enjoy spending time with your favorite people.

7. Create an Evening Ritual

Instead of heading out to a party, try relaxing on evenings with a personalized ritual. So for instance, you could take a cozy scented bath, make your favorite tea, and read your favorite book or watch your favorite movie.

8. Create Sunset Photo Album

Create an album of sunset photos from the same spot each day. Write the date by it and what you were thinking in that moment. It’s a great way to remind yourself of those calm beautiful moments in the future.

9. Listen to An Audiobook and Take a Walk

Whether it’s a cool Spring morning or a warm Summer evening, put on some headphones and listen to a really good audiobook while you take care of your mental health and get of the house.

10. Have a “Restaurant Roulette” Night

Put the names of local restaurants you’ve never tried into a jar, draw one, and order takeout from there. No second-guessing though! It’s a great way to discover a new favorite.

11. Have a “Foreign Grocery Store” Challenge

Go to an international grocery store and buy 3-5 things you’ve never tried before. It can be the ingredients for a whole dish or just separate items for a taste test.

12. Recreate a Historical Recipe

Find an old medieval recipe or even something from the Victorian era, and try making it with modern ingredients. If you want to do this, then I definitely recommend watching Townsends or Mrs. Crocombe from the English Heritage channel. I’m kind of addicted to watching these kind of videos. 😂

13. Make a “Reverse Bucket List”

Instead of writing things you want to do in the future, write down the incredible things you’ve already done. It’s just a great way to appreciate the beautiful experiences you’ve already had.

14. Bake Cookies

I know, very simple. But there’s something so nice about trying a simple (but so good) chocolate chip cookie recipe, having the amazing smells fill up the home, and then sitting down to enjoy them. Pro Tip: Only use brown sugar for that recipe; trust me, it makes a difference.

15. Take a Bike Ride and Make Stops

Head out on a bike ride and make stops at your favorite coffee shop, brunch spot, or even a botanical garden. I feel like adding destinations to a bike outing can make it a lot more fun!

16. Take Time to Work on Yourself

Take some time to practice self-improvement. You can journal about who you want to become and what actions you’ll take to be that person this week, create a healthy meal plan, or even read over some positive affirmations.

17. Enjoy Some Music and Poetry

Put on a relaxing playlist, maybe jazz or classical music, and read over some beautiful poetry.

18. Try Gratitude Journaling Prompts

It’s a great way to challenge the way you think right now. A good one to start off with is, “There is someone your age, experiencing their last day on earth, wishing they had the time you do. What are some things you’re holding off on or you haven’t been grateful for?”

19. Go on a Date with Your City

Take a day to explore your city as if you were a tourist. Head out to museums, hidden coffee shops, and random cute bookstores. You might actually be surprised by what you find.

20. Try French Pastries

I suggest trying French pastries specifically because so many of them are a process. They take longer, but the result is so satisfying and you feel kind of good about yourself once they’re done. I remember making my own Kouign-Amman, and while it took awhile, they were so good I’d do them again!

21. Really Get Into a Hobby

If you find a hobby you really like, start watching videos on it, join some local or online groups, get some books, and pretty soon you’ll find yourself having more fun each week.

22. Listen to a Podcast & Take a Bath

If need to unwind or you just love relaxing in a bath, then turn on a really fascinating or entertaining podcast while you bathe. Maybe light some candles!

23. Hang Out With a Friend You Haven’t Seen in Awhile

If there’s a good friend you haven’t hung out with in a hot minute, message them and see if their schedule is open. Maybe invite them over for a meal or head out to a cafe with some good coffee, dishes, and music.

24. Host a Dinner Party

Whether it’s a one time thing or something you repeat once a month, try hosting your own dinner party. It can be themed or you can just create dishes you like. Make it multi-course or simple, it’s up to you!

25. Learn a New Language

Whether it’s French or Japanese, try learning a new language. But just make sure to test different ones until you find a language you actually like.

26. Research Your Family History

I kid you not, I LOVED doing this! Hop on a site like FamilySearch, create a free account, and start seeing who you’re related to. Some of my ancestors had Wikipedia pages. 🤯 You never know what you might find!

27. Create a “Handwritten Only” Day

Every so often, take a day to turn off your phone and communicate only through handwritten notes, postcards, and write your thoughts in journals.

28. Master A New Makeup Look

If there’s a makeup technique you’re not great at yet, find a video on Youtube and learn to master it once and for all!

29. Recreate a Scene from a Favorite Book

Whether it’s Pride and Prejudice or Lord of the Rings, cook a meal from that book, dress up like one of the characters (as best you can), put on music that fits the story, and maybe have friends over for a meal and watch the movie version of the book.

30. Catch Up on Your To-Do List

We all have a to-do list that we keep putting off. And whether it’s an errand that needs to be run or some shelves that need painting, try taking a day or two to just complete them all. Also, think about how good you’ll feel once it’s done!

31. Create a Themed Movie Night with Food Pairings

Pick a movie and create dishes that pair with the movie. This could just be apart of the general theme or recipes that are actually in the movie itself!

32. Make Routine Tasks Fun

Washing dishes? Play your favorite music and sing as you get the job done. Folding laundry? Try a calming podcast or classical music and relax.

33. Create a One Line a Day Journal

For each day, write just one sentence about something that stood out to you. This could be something beautiful, something you learned, or a small moment that made you happy. And over time, you’ll build a book of things that make you smile.

34. Recreate a Vintage Beauty Routine

Do you ever wondered how people in the 1920’s or 60’s did their makeup and hair? Research and try it out yourself!

35. Plan a “Soft Life” Day

Dedicate an entire day to only doing gentle and restorative activities. So think lounging with a book, stretching, sipping tea, and listening to soft jazz or nature sounds. No rushing and definitely no stressful tasks.

36. Stack Pampering

Get some face masks, a manicure and pedicure set, bath bombs, nice lotions, and anything else that would make you feel pampered the entire day.

37. Host a Nostalgic Sleepover (Even If It’s Just You)

Put on some cozy pajamas, grab your favorite childhood snacks, watch your favorite childhood movie, and maybe build a pillow fort. Bonus points if you fall asleep in said fort!

38. Start a Cultural Deep Dive Tradition

Whether it’s once a week or once a month, pick a new country or region and explore its music, food, history, or traditions. You could listen to Georgian polyphonic singing one day (I definitely recommend this), try high-quality Ethiopian coffee the next, or learn about Maori mythology.

39. Make a Surprise Yourself Jar

Write down fun activities, challenges, or treats on small pieces of paper and place them in a jar. And when you’re bored, pull one out and do one of them. This could be things like baking cookies at midnight or reading a book that’s been on your list for awhile.

40. Take Yourself on a Coffee Shop Crawl

Instead of bar hopping, try hopping between cute cafés. Order a different type of coffee or pastry at each stop and find the best spot in your town.

41. Do a From Scratch Meal Challenge

Cook an entire meal where every part is homemade. This can be the bread, pasta, sauce, or even the butter if you’re up for it! It’s time-consuming, but in the best way.

42. Do a Deep-Dive Into a Decade

Pick a decade like the 1920s or 70s, and spend an evening learning all about its music, movies, and fashion. Then have fun making recipes from that era, enjoying their music, or even trying the makeup or hairstyle from that decade.

43. Practice a New Skill for 100 Days

Pick a small but fun skill like whistling with your fingers, rolling sushi, or doing a handstand. Then commit to practicing it daily and tracking your progress to see how far you can go!

44. Learn an Old Family Recipe

Pick an old family recipe and take some time to perfect it or even add your own twist!

45. Do an Exploratory Walk

For this walk, you can curate your own list of new things to find and explore. So for instance, you can find one new place to eat, one new park to relax in, one new museum to check out, one new coffee house to try, and one new shop to browse.

46. Send a Letter to Your Future Self

Use a site like FutureMe to have an email sent to your future self. You can have it sent to you in 3 months or even 5 years down the road! This can be an encouraging email or anything you feel that you future self would need.

47. Learn to Identify Constellations

If the night’s clear, grab a stargazing app and try locating at least five different constellations. Bonus points if you learn about the mythology behind them!

48. Make a Comfort Box for Your Future Self

Fill a small box with things that’ll bring you comfort. So think kind letters to yourself, your favorite tea, a nostalgic movie download, or little treats that’ll stay good. Then you’ll have a ready-to-go self-care kit for rough days.

49. Create a Foreign Film Festival at Home

Choose a country and watch some of their best films. You can also try snacks or a dish from the same country to make it feel a bit more immersive.

50. Write a Letter to Someone You Appreciate

Write out a heartfelt letter of appreciation to a good friend, mentor, or a kind family member. And even if the person’s not around anymore, you can keep it as a memory of them.

51. Do a Random Acts of Kindness Day

Try dedicating an entire day to doing small, anonymous acts of kindness. So for instance, pay for someone’s coffee, leave a kind note in a library book, or compliment a stranger.

52. Turn Your Nightly Routine into a Spa Night

Instead of just brushing your teeth and washing your face, upgrade your usual bedtime routine with face masks, aromatherapy, nice pajamas, and classical music.

53. Write a “Rules for Life” List

In a journal, write down what you want your personal life philosophy to be. So things you believe in, rules you want to live by, and lessons you’ve learned. Meditate on these things and allow them to shape your future actions.

54. Make a Rainy Day Playlist

Curate a playlist for slow, cozy days when you just wanna curl up with a hot cup of coffee and listen to music that makes everything feel a bit cinematic or relaxing.

55. Write a Fake “Day in the Life” Journal Entry

Try imagining you’re living a completely different life and then think about what your day would look like if you were an artists in Paris, a lighthouse keeper in Maine, or even a famous chef in Tokyo.

56. Try the One-Minute Rule Challenge

If something takes less than one minute to do (like replying to a text, wiping off a counter, or putting something away), do it immediately. It’s a simple trick to start getting on top of things.

57. Turn an Old Book into a Hidden Storage Box

Cut out the inside of the pages of an old book and use it as a secret compartment for storing small items you care about.

58. Make a Memory Jar for This Year

Every time something good happens, write it on a piece of paper and put it in a jar. Then at the end of the year, open it up and read them all. It’s a great way to practice gratitude!

59. Turn a Balcony or Fire Escape into a Mini Garden

Even if you only have a small outdoor space, turn it into a tiny oasis with string lights, pretty plants, and a cozy chair.

60. Handwrite & Frame Your Favorite Recipe

Pick a recipe that’s special to you. This could be something passed down from your family or a dish you perfected yourself. Then write it out beautifully to frame in your kitchen.

61. Make a Night Market Snack Platter

If you’ve been to and love night markets, then try creating a spread of small street-food-style bites. So think dumplings, skewers, bao buns, or anything bite-sized and super tasty! You can invite friends as well. 😊

62. Take a Polaroid or Film Photo Every Day for a Month

Capture one moment from each day in an old-school kind of format and see how your month unfolds in these shots.

63. Try a Slow Morning Ritual

Start your day without the rush. Wake up 30 minutes earlier, drink coffee slowly, listen to a calming podcast, stretch, and ease into the day.

64. Turn Your Living Room into a Vintage Jazz Lounge

Dim the lights, light some candles, put on classic jazz (think Ella Fitzgerald and Miles Davis), sip a fancy coffee drink, and maybe enjoy a really nice dinner.

65. Do Your Own Tastings

Whether you’re with friends or not, you can conduct your own cheese tastings, coffee or tea tastings, or even chocolate tastings. Then write down your thoughts on the winners and save them for when you’re entertaining guests.

66. Do a Classic Film Marathon

Get a lineup of some really good classic films like The Man Who Knew Too Much or Casablanca, and maybe pair it with a really good dinner and candles lighting up the room.

67. Try a New Hairstyle and Makeup Look

Go on Youtube and find a new hairstyle and makeup look you really like and give it a try before heading out. Don’t worry if it’s not perfect, it’s just a fun experiment!

68. Do a Virtual Tour of a Museum

Whether it’s the Louvre or the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, you can see some incredible works of art from your own home!

69. Clean & Organize the Worst Spots in Your Home

You know which spots those are! 😂 So take some time out of your day to finally tidy up that closet or messy pantry.

70. Create Your Own DIY Flower Bouquet

It can be so much fun to get a pretty bouquet, but I think making your own is even better. So head over to a place like Trader Joe’s to get some flowers for your bouquet or maybe just grab some wild flowers in your area.

71. Send a Care Package to a Friend Who Needs a Pick-Me-Up

If you know a friend who’s a bit stressed right now or going through a hard time, create a box filled with things you know they like. This can be their favorite snacks, skincare products, or even a ticket to see their favorite band.

72. Listen to Music While Doing an Activity

Put on your favorite music and just take some time to read, do some crossword puzzles, bake, or even crochet.

73. Try a Fun New Recipe

Look to your favorite food blog, a magazine, or Youtube and find a fun recipe that looks really good! And may I suggest caramelized onion pasta with parmesan? It was one of the best dishes I tried last year!

74. Plan Your Dream Vacation

Hop on Pinterest or Instagram and start looking at beautiful spots and incredible things to do at your dream destination. Then start planning out where you’ll wanna stay, eat, what you’ll want to do, and how long you’ll wanna stay.

75. Try A Lego Set or Jigsaw Puzzles

Turn on a movie, a TV series, or music and let that run in the background while you put together a puzzle or lego set. It’s a simple fun way to pass the time and maybe hang out with you spouse or a friend.