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 change your life for the better. 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 for ever.
So with the goal of becoming a better, more productive person, here is a comprehensive list of productive things to do when bored. They will all help you to get closer to your ideal self and your ideal life.
1/ Organize your life with planners.
So you are feeling bored. What better time is there to start planning your new and exciting life! But where to start? With planners and trackers. Do you need help managing your time or planning a productivity schedule? Need to track your passwords, plan meals, track online purchases, or organize your daily schedule? Using printable planners is becoming increasingly popular as it’s the perfect way to manage your time and increase your productivity.
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 how old you are or where you are in your life, it’s always a good time to learn new skills. Did you know that when you learn a new skill, the benefits you receive go way beyond the practical uses of the skill. In fact, learning new skills is essential in advancing your personal growth and development as well as boosting career opportunities and becoming healthier.
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. A very productive way to relieve boredom.
6/ Set short and long term goals.
Have you ever set goals for yourself? Setting goals is such an incredibly powerful way to inspire and motivate yourself to accomplish new things. The primary reasons for goal settings are that they give you a destination and the direction you need to take to achieve them. They also offer a clear picture of what is important to you and gives you control of your future.
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? You could improve your professional skills by learning something career-related and boost possibilities of career advancement. Plus by studying online you’ll learn how to motivate yourself and be more self-disciplined.
8/ Take a yoga class.
Regularly practicing yoga can provide many physical and mental benefits. In fact, the purpose of yoga is to build strength, awareness, and harmony in both the mind and body. Benefits include increased flexibility, a stronger heart, increased muscle strength, improved energy, and vitality, and weight reduction. Starting yoga is a very productive pursuit.
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.
Spend some time going through your inbox and deleting everything you don’t need anymore.
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.
Earn some extra income (we all need a little extra money!) by starting a side hustle, and learn new skills along the way.
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 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!
