What is boredom? Boredom is a sign that your life is maybe too comfortable or too easy. You probably feel that you don’t have anything in particular to do, or maybe life is just too tedious.
It’s at these times when you can use boredom as an opportunity to improve your life, like setting new life goals and a plan on how to implement those goals, or perhaps learning a new skill. There are so many productive things you can do when you are bored that can change your life forever.
So with the goal of becoming a better, more productive person, here is a comprehensive list of 20 productive things to do when bored.
1. Organize Your Life With Planners.
Feeling bored? This could be the perfect opportunity to start planning a new and exciting life! But wondering where to begin? Try planners and trackers. If you’re looking to better manage your time or set up a productivity schedule, these tools can be really helpful.
Whether it’s keeping track of your passwords, meal planning, monitoring online purchases, or organizing your daily tasks, printable planners are becoming more and more popular. They’re a great way to manage your schedule more effectively and boost your productivity. Discover some planner ideas here.
2. Become A Volunteer.
There are so many good causes and organizations that need volunteers to help them with their good work. Whether your passion is with helping animals, helping the homeless, or cleaning up your neighborhood, there is an organization that needs your help.
3. Learn A New Skill.
No matter your age or where you are in life, learning new skills is always a great idea. Did you know learning something new can benefit you more than just giving you a practical skill?
It plays a key role in your personal growth and development, can open up more career opportunities, and even contribute to your health. This is something to think about if you’re looking for productive things to do when you’re feeling bored.
4. Inventorize Your Kitchen.
Losing track of the food hidden at the back of your pantry? How about deep in your freezer or in your fridge? Get productive by listing all your food products and their expiry dates. Never waste food again!
5. Visit A Museum.
As well as being fun to look around, museums are a great learning environment. They inspire, make you smarter, and can help you change your perspective. It is a very productive way to relieve boredom.
6. Set Short And Long Term Goals.
Setting goals is a powerful way to inspire and motivate yourself to achieve new things. The main benefits of setting goals are that they provide you with a clear destination and the direction needed to reach them. They help clarify what’s important to you and give you control over your future. This is a great strategy to consider if you’re looking for productive activities to tackle when you’re bored.
7. Take An Online Course.
There are a massive amount of classes available online on literally any topic. Why not improve your life by learning something new rather than sitting around being bored?
8. Take A Yoga Class.
Practicing yoga regularly can bring you both physical and mental benefits. It aims to create strength, awareness, and harmony in your mind and body. You can enjoy increased flexibility, a stronger heart, more muscle strength, better energy and vitality, and even lose weight. Starting yoga is a very productive way to spend your time,
9. Start Meditating.
Multiple studies have shown that mindfulness meditation can positively impact your physical and mental health. Benefits include reducing stress and anxiety, improving sleep, and increasing concentration and focus.
10. Clean Out Your Inbox.
Dedicate some time to sorting through your email inbox. Delete emails that you no longer need. This simple task can not only help declutter your digital space but also make it easier to find important emails when you need them.
Plus, it’s a satisfying way to use your time productively, it’s a straightforward step towards organizing your life and reducing stress caused by digital clutter.
11. Back Up Your Files.
When was the last time you backed up all the important files on your phone, tablet, or laptop? At the very least, most of us have photos that we’ve taken with our phones that we don’t want to lose. Don’t waste boredom by doing nothing! Back up your files today!
12. Unsubscribe From Mailing Lists.
Most of us get marketing emails daily that we never read or don’t want. Instead of just deleting them, take the time to unsubscribe.
13. Start A Side Hustle.
Consider earning some extra money by starting a side hustle. This is not just about boosting your income, which we all appreciate, but it’s also an opportunity to learn new skills. Whether it’s freelance writing, graphic design, or starting an online store, a side hustle can expand your abilities and experiences.
It’s a productive way to use your free time, offering both personal and financial rewards. Plus, it can be exciting to see what you’re capable of when trying something new.
14. Read A Book.
I love reading! It’s a great way to relax and reduce stress. You can increase your vocabulary and improve your memory. Develop improved focus and concentration and expand your knowledge. Read more on the benefits of reading books in this article.
15. Make A To-Do List.
Most people have a huge list of jobs and tasks they’d like to accomplish. Making a to-do list will help you set your priorities and track your progress.
16. Go For A Swim.
Swimming has often been called the perfect exercise. You get a whole-body aerobic workout without any impact that can damage joints. It also improves strength, builds bone mass, improves flexibility, and can reduce stress and depression.
Visit your local swimming pool this week and take a swim! Good fun, great for your health and you may make some new friends.
17. Declutter Your Home.
Too much clutter in your life can cause exhaustion, despair, and a feeling of being overwhelmed. Eliminating the possessions you don’t need can reduce stress and anxiety, improve your sleep, rid the home of allergens, and boost productivity.
Looking for inspiration on what to throw out or give away? Read my article on decluttering your home with a list of 70 things you won’t miss at all!
18. Organise Your Login Details.
Most of us have an awful lot of passwords to remember. Email accounts, your bank, Netflix, Amazon, WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Skype, Instagram, etc. Create a list of your passwords and store them in a safe place. Never forget your login details again!
19. Start A Gratitude Journal.
I think that most people know that showing gratitude is good for you. More of us are realizing that taking the time to be thankful for what we have in our lives has many incredible benefits. And one of the best ways to show thankfulness on a daily basis is to keep a gratitude journal.
Never tried? Start writing down every day what you are thankful for you’ll soon find yourself happier and less stressed. You’ll also find you sleep better and be more positive.
20. Go For A Walk.
Walking is free to do and not too strenuous. All you need is a pair of shoes (probably best to wear some clothes as well) and a destination. Walking offers many health benefits to people of all ages and is fun to do.
Benefits include reducing stress, lowering blood pressure, burning calories, boosting the immune system, easing joint pain, and of course easing boredom.
Final Thoughts
So next time you are skulking around bored and wondering what to do, don’t switch on the TV or read the news. Just have a read of this article and pick something new to try. There are so many productive things to do when you’re bored that can improve your life and simply make you a better person. Good luck!
