85 Productive Things to do When Bored at Home!
Do you feel bored and need more motivation? Or maybe you’re just looking for ideas on how to use your free time better? Look no further. I’m here to help! In this post, I’ll share 85 productive things to do when bored, all easy-to-follow activities that will seamlessly fit into your daily life. Whether it’s organising tasks, decluttering rituals or participating in enjoyable hobbies, these tips will give you the inspiration and guidance to stay motivated even during the most mundane days.
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Productive Things to do When Bored – At Home:
1. Have a spring clean – Nothing feels quite as satisfying as having a home that feels fresh and clean. If cleaning the whole house feels too much like a chore, break it up room by room.
2. Clean out the fridge – When was the last time you emptied it and gave it a good clean? Maybe it’s time to defrost the freezer as well.
3. De-clutter – Have a good sort out and remove anything you don’t need or use anymore. If anything is still in good condition, why not donate it to charity or sell it online?
4. Organise all your important documents – Keep all your bills, insurance details and other important documents in one handy place.
5. Re-arrange furniture – An easy way of freshening up a room is to reorganise the furniture.
6. Clean out your kitchen cabinets – When did you last go through your kitchen cupboards?
7. Catch up on laundry – It’s a job we all hate doing, but it’s always satisfying once it’s done!
8. Organise your junk drawer/cupboard – We all have that junk drawer that’s full of, well, Junk! Maybe it’s time to sort it out.
9. Clean your make-up brushes – Over time, make-up brushes can accumulate bacteria, dead skin cells and oil, which can clog your pores, leading to dull skin and breakouts.
10. Redecorate a room – Why not freshen up your space by giving it a fresh lick of paint?
11. Catch up on any needed DIY jobs – We all have those little DIY jobs that we never get around to. Maybe it’s time to tackle one of them.
12. Set up a home information binder – Creating a home information binder doesn’t have to be complicated. You could include monthly calendars, family information, cleaning and organising, meal planning, and finances.
13. Clean your windows – Another one of those chores that we usually neglect.
14. Change your bedsheets—Did you know that almost three-fifths of people admit to not changing bedsheets each week as recommended?
15. Give your car a clean – If it’s a sunny day, why not take the hose pipe out and get the car gleaming again?
16. Print out photos and hang around the house – Print out your favourite photo memories and display them around the house.
17. Sell any unwanted items online – One man’s rubbish is another man’s gold. Sort through any unwanted items and earn some extra pounds selling them online, such as on Ebay.
18. Donate old books to charity – By donating books, you are not only passing on stories to a new home but also helping those less fortunate than yourself.
19. Check expiration dates – When did you last check expiration dates, especially on food items? I know I found a few pantry items a few years out of date last time I checked, lol.
20. Deep clean carpets – From muddy shoes, stubborn pet hair and odd food stains, our carpets cope with much more than our vacuum can contend with!
Productive Things to do When Bored – Phone or Computer:
21. Organise your contacts – Update contact details and delete old numbers that are no longer used.
22. Clear out any apps you no longer use – Delete any old ones you no longer use. Not only will this save you memory, but it will also make your phone more secure.
23. Clean phone and phone cover —Most of us have our mobile phones stuck in our hands throughout the day. We all wash our hands, but how about our phones?
24. Update passwords – Your mobile phone or computer contains sensitive and important data. One of the best ways to keep things secure is to change your passwords regularly!
25. Organise photos, delete ones you don’t need – If you love taking pictures like me, you’ll usually end up with many that look pretty similar! To save some storage space, delete any duplicates or those you don’t need anymore.
26. Unsubscribe to mailing lists you no longer wish to receive—How many times have you subscribed to a newsletter just to get that 20% off that new dress you’re after? Now you’re inundated with emails every other day! Do yourself a favour and start unsubscribing to free up your inbox!
27. Delete old emails – While you’re unsubscribing to all those unwanted emails, why not delete all old emails while you’re at it?
28. Turn off unwanted notifications – How annoying are all those notifications and alerts? Turn them off and focus on the ones that matter to you!
29. Set up emergency contacts – It’s pretty common to set up emergency contacts when at the doctor’s or hospital, but how many of us have them set up on our phones?
30. Update music playlists – You could make multiple playlists for different moods!
31. Have a social media purge – Delete all those accounts that no longer serve a purpose or hurt your well-being! Fill your social media with positive vibes instead!
32. Back up documents and photos – Don’t risk losing important information or memories; back up your files regularly!
Productive Things to do When Bored – Family Time:
33. Make a weekly meal plan together – Meal planning not only helps you make healthier meal choices but can also save you time and money and reduce wastage.
34. Create a family bucket list – Get together with all the family and make a bucket list of all the things and places you want to see and do together.
35. Organise photos together – Do you have lots of old photos? If so, why not go through them together and make a new photo album?
36. Do some baking – Measuring ingredients and following recipes gives us a sense of routine, which can be calming. Plus, you get to enjoy some tasty treats!
37. So an activity together such as a puzzle or board game – Puzzles keep the brain stimulated and are a great way to entertain the family for a few hours.
38. Take a walk together – Walking together and getting some much-needed fresh air will do wonders for everyone’s well-being!
39. Plan a trip or day out – We all need something to look forward to!
40. Have some fun crafting – Crafting is a great way to indulge in some creativity. It doesn’t have to be complicated, just something that you enjoy. You could also try something new, such as making a candle or soap.
41. Make a time capsule and bury it in the garden – It’s essential to teach children the importance of memories at a young age. By creating a time capsule, you are preserving a specific time in life, giving children something to look forward to as they age.
42. Start a vegetable/herb garden – Creating a vegetable garden at home is a great way to eat fresh, healthy food while teaching your children where their food comes from. If you don’t have room or a garden, why not try potting some herbs instead?
43. Watch a documentary—Instead of watching the same old rubbish on TV, watch an interesting documentary.
Productive Things to do When Bored – Wellbeing:
44. Go for a walk in nature – One of the best ways to boost your well-being is to take a walk in nature. Walking not only benefits your mind, but it can also help your physical health!
45. Write down things that make you happy – You could also start a gratitude jar. That way, when things get you down, you can be reminded of all the good things in your life!
46. Have a spa day at home. – Make DIY beauty treatments from items you probably already have in the kitchen and treat yourself to some pampering!
47. Start a journal – Journaling is a great way to relieve stress and better understand your thoughts and feelings!
48. Learn to meditate – Research has shown that meditation may calm the mind and promote better quality sleep.
49. Learn a new language – I use Duolingo. You can choose from 37 languages, and it’s completely free!
50. Write some positive affirmations – Affirmations are positive statements that can help you challenge and overcome negative thoughts and behaviours. They inspire and are simple reminders that help us focus on our goals!
51. Learn a new skill – Learning a new skill occupies your mind and helps you focus on something positive. It’s a way to escape the never-ending news and social media cycle and do something positive.
52. Indulge in some self-care – Self-care is essential to maintaining a healthy relationship with yourself as it produces positive feelings and boosts your confidence and self-esteem.
53. Take time out from social media. It’s important to take breaks from social media because studies show that spending too much time scrolling can increase feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression. By putting your phone away, you also give yourself time to focus on more productive things!
54. Try some yoga – Yoga isn’t just great for your physical health; it’s also a great way of reducing stress and anxiety and helping promote positive feelings and increased well-being!
55. Practice positive self-talk – Self-talk is something we all do naturally throughout our waking hours. People are becoming more aware that positive self-talk is a powerful tool for increasing self-confidence and curbing negative emotions. People who can master positive self-talk are considered more confident, motivated, and productive.
56. Create a morning routine – Are you one of those who press snooze countless times and then rush around getting ready for work? If so, create a morning routine that encourages you to be more productive and feel better about the day ahead!
Productive Things to do When Bored – Career:
57. Set career goals and make a plan – If you want to become successful, setting goals is essential! They give us direction, motivation and a road map to help us reach the finish line!
58. Set a 5-year plan – Just like setting goals, setting a 5-year plan can help us envision where we want to be in the future!
59. Organise your workspace – When did you last organise your home office workspace?
60. Watch some career-inspiring TED talks. TED Talks are influential videos from expert speakers on education, business, science, tech, and creativity, with subtitles in 100+ languages.
61. Rework your CV – If you’re not happy in your current job role, why not update your CV so it’s ready to go as soon as new opportunities arise?
62. Connect with professionals you admire—Networking with other like-minded professionals is a great way to gain knowledge in a particular niche. It can also help get your name out there when new work opportunities arise!
63. Write some to-do lists – One of the best ways of staying productive and organised is to write ‘to-do’ lists!
64. Learn new job skills – Looking for a promotion or career change? If so, find out what skills you need and start working towards them!
Productive Things to do When Bored – Finances:
65. Check your bank account – Are you one of those people who is scared to check your bank balance? If so, pluck up the courage and check it out now! You can’t change your financial standing if you keep avoiding it!
66. Create a budget – If you want more financial stability or to save for something expensive, then creating a budget you can stick to is essential!
67. Make a plan to pay off any debt – If you have a lot of debt, now is the time to make a plan! Start with a budget, and then you’ll see how much you can put aside for repayments without falling short!
68. Review your credit report – I use Clear Score, and it’s free!
69. Start an emergency fund – Or at least plan how to start one!
70. Learn about saving money – You’ll be amazed at what you can save if you look into your spending habits!
71. Check out comparison websites – See if you can save money on utilities and other household expenses.
72. Start a side hustle – Earn extra money selling unwanted items online or selling your digital products.
Other Productive Things to do When Bored:
73. Read a book – Nothing is better than a good book to transport you into another world!
74. Start a blog – Why not start a blog? Check out Hostinger for an easy way to get a self-hosted website!
75. Get inspired with a podcast – Podcasts are a great way to learn new things and boost productivity!
76. Create an inspiration board – Pinterest is great for getting ideas!
77. Learn to play an instrument – Did you know learning to play an instrument uses virtually every part of the brain? Learning a musical instrument not only sustains and feeds the brain but also improves many other cognitive and physical aspects of the human body. Plus, it’s pretty fun!
78. Take up photography – You don’t need a fancy camera to start taking pictures. For beginners, the camera on your phone will do just fine. If you are serious about it, you can upgrade to a better camera if required!
79. Upcycle some furniture – Do you have an old chest or desk that looks a little old-fashioned? If so, give it a lick of paint and breathe some new life into it!
80. Try some new recipes – Are you bored of the same meals every day? Well, now’s the time to try some new recipes! Pinterest is an excellent source of inspiration!
81. Create a bucket list – Travel at the moment can be complicated, but that doesn’t mean we can’t plan for the future!
82. Plan a vacation – Why not start planning that dream trip?
83. Write a letter to your future self – By writing to your future self, you can measure the goals achieved over a period of time. An easy way to do this is to use Future Me, a free service that will email your letter back on any given date!
84. Make a scrapbook – Keeping a scrapbook organises your pictures and helps you keep a journal of memories. Even day-to-day life, when recorded, becomes history. Photos and memorabilia can then be preserved for generations if stored correctly.
85. Take up a new hobby – If you have plenty of extra time on your hands, why not take up a new hobby? If you are unsure what to do, try a few different things; you never know, it could change your life!
Final Thoughts
Boredom can be unpleasant, but it doesn’t have to take over our lives. If we think of boredom as a sign to reflect and seek joy in the small things, we can find exciting and creative ways to alleviate our feelings. From cleanses and detoxes to gardening and tackling that mountain of laundry, these 85 productive things to do when bored will start you on your journey toward enjoying life a little more day by day. Give yourself something fun, productive, and memorable to do next time boredom takes hold because you never know what new adventure awaits!
Thanks so much for stopping by; I appreciate everyone who takes the time to read and make it to the end! I have lots of exciting new content in the next few weeks, so make sure you pop back to catch up!
