99+ Productive Things To Do When Bored

Being bored is so not fun. And if you’ve been struggling to stay productive, you’re probably drowning in negative self-talk, too.

Once, I shared 25 Positive Ideas For When Your Life Feels Boring and received many responses from women who struggle to stay active & productive in their free time (check that article out – there’s a simple explanation of why you get bored so quickly, and I think you would like to know it).

Honestly, we all meet our friend Procrastination from time to time because it’s so easy to get bored.

All you need is a good, old, never-changing work-home routine, a few sprinkles of low energy, maybe a touch of gloomy mood, and some bad weather outside… It’s okay.

There is no need to be angry at yourself for something everybody does.

In this list, I combined more than a hundred productive things to do when bored – ideas you can try when you want to be productive instead of wasting time.

They’re not necessarily entertaining, but they are certainly producing some form of improvement in your life.

Productive value is so much better than a lazy void.

So let’s do this!

Let’s find some productive things to do when bored, even if that boredom seems to eat you from the inside.

Update: “Productive things to do when bored” are now organized into sections.

You can get your ideas depending on what you would rather do instead of staying lazy, bored, and unproductive.

Would you rather do something beautiful for your life?

Something smart?

Something organizational?

Maybe something productive and uplifting at the same time?

Scroll through this list to replace your boredom with something you need right now – they’re all below.

20 LIFE-IMPROVING, Productive Things To Do When Bored

1. Make a new song playlist.
2. Create a weekly meal plan.
3. Print & do some self-improvement worksheets.
4. Do a bunch of quick tasks.
5. Make a wishlist of things you want to learn, do, or get.
6. DIY something pretty for yourself or your home.
7. Review your wardrobe and plan your next purchase.
8. Plant a fragrant herb garden on your windowsill.
9. Find a new wallpaper for your computer or phone.
10. Awaken your creativity (to me, it helps to browse Pinterest for new things, hobbies, recipes, or inspiring ideas).
11. Visit your family and bring small gifts (like cookies… everybody loves cookies).
12. Repot your home plants.
13. Apply Feng Shui principles in your home.
14. Shop for pretty and useful things online.
15. Look for a club or online community you would like to join.
16. Fix something around your home.
17. Pack your lunch or healthy snacks for tomorrow.
18. Learn new make-up and beauty techniques on YouTube.
19. Go to a local farmers market and buy fresh, organic food.
20. Create a family album.

25 ORGANIZATIONAL Productive Things To Do When Bored

1. Clean your home.
2. Organize files on your phone and laptop/computer.
3. Set up a life binder.
4. Clean out your inbox.
5. Rearrange your furniture.
6. Organize your papers & bills.
7. Delete old contacts from your phone.
8. Sort your photos into folders.
9. Then print, frame & hang the ones you like.
10. Wash the drapes in every room.
11. Clean your windows.
12. Clean out and restock your fridge or pantry.
13. Declutter your basement.
14. Organize your desk.
15. Create or adjust your budget.
16. Say goodbye to clutter and clean out that junk drawer.
17. Organize your makeup and beauty products.
18. Collect and wash all the textiles (like small rugs, plaids, table covers, and seat covers – they collect tons of dust!).
19. Make a list of tasks you’ve been avoiding and try to tackle them step by step, one by one.
20. Sell the things you don’t need on E-bay.
21. Do a maintenance tour of your home (clean appliances, check if anything needs fixing or updating).
22. Find and print great coupons to save money.
23. Review your calendar.
24. Plan a schedule and fill in to-do lists for tomorrow.
25. Look for ways to minimize your commute time.

15 UPLIFTING Productive Things To Do When Bored

1. Go for a hike (especially somewhere you haven’t been yet).
2. Have a phone with a camera?

   Go outside and take photos of beautiful things.

3. Then, create a photography portfolio (it can be an excellent resource for party topics).
4. Create or update your self-care routines.
5. Plan your dream vacation.
6. Plan and host a party.
7. Go on a last-minute road trip.
8. Facetime with friends or family.
9. Do something nice for your loved ones.
10. If the weather is good, how about a picnic?!
11. Invite someone over.
12. Start an Instagram profile for your pet.
13. Plan a family or friend meet-up.
14. Write and send someone a handwritten letter.
15. Create food, essential medicine, and clothes bags for homeless people.

25 INTELLIGENT Productive Things To Do When Bored

1. Update your resume and LinkedIn profile.
2. Learn something new on YouTube.
3. Visit a bookstore and buy a motivating or non-fiction book.
4. Study interesting data.
5. Watch TED talks and take notes.
6. Sign up for online courses and take notes while watching (I recommend Udemy or Skillshare for affordable and fun online courses).
7. Practice speaking in front of a mirror.
8. Make an emergency plan (what to do? where to go? who to call?).
9. Put together an emergency bag.
10. Listen to an audiobook (you can get a free 30-day Amazon Audible trial here).
11. Write down your rule set (for yourself, your family, or your home).
12. Find and learn new, exciting words or a new language (you can use online platforms like Duolingo for that).
13. Learn to code on Codecademy.
14. When was the last time you updated your profiles on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media?
15. Read the news, browse opinion portals, or Q and A forums.
16. Find a new podcast to listen to or an interesting YouTube channel to watch.
17. Research your dream career (or start a side hustle!).
18. Make a list of your professional goals.
19. Review your retirement options.
20. Google ways to make some side money.
21. Research and sign up for upcoming local fairs, exhibitions, and sales.
22. Donate blood (and THANK YOU for doing that).
23. Learn the basics of simple project management.
24. Create a debt payoff plan.
25. Install a password encryption service on your computer.

2 Simple, BODY-CARING Productive Things To Do When Bored

1. Do a deep-tissue self-massage.
2. Learn new yoga poses or mindfulness meditation (here’s a beginner meditation guide if needed).

12 MOTIVATIONAL Productive Things To Do When Bored

1. Try to find the reasons why you are in an unproductive mood.
2. Then make a plan to eliminate those reasons (you might need to get out of your comfort zone, and that’s great – we all need that).
3. Write a letter to your future self (hint – it’s great for your mental health).
4. If you’re religious, read your holy book.
5. Decide on your goals and create a plan to achieve them.
6. Write down your “perfect self” statement and what you must do to make it real.
7. Read the quotes of successful and inspiring people.
8. Create a vision board with things that boost your motivation.
9. Create a mindset journal (or a bullet journal, an anxiety tracker, a depression diary – whatever seems most helpful right now).
10. Create your morning and evening routines.
11. Write down a “Need to stop doing this” list.
12. Read another article from our Productivity category

BONUS: 15 Fun And Not Necessarily Productive Things To Do When Bored

These are for those who got bored just by reading this list (I’m sorry if you did!).

If you have more spare time and are looking for more entertaining things to do when bored, try these:

1. Play video games.
2. Watch your favorite childhood movie.
3. Visit a pool for a fun swimming session.
4. Get a massage, Mani, Pedi, or SPA treatment.
5. Install a fun app on your phone and chill with it on a couch.
6. Call your best friend.
7. Try a make-up tutorial.
8. Buy your favorite meal or dessert and enjoy it 100%.
9. Try adult coloring books.
10. Watch funny cat videos (always works).
11. Take the bubbliest bath you can create.
12. Plan and go on a road trip.
13. Play on a piano keyboard.
14. Play with your pet (it’s a fun way to make your dog or cat extra happy!).
15. DIY something beautiful.

And… That’s it!

I hope you found many productive things to do when bored and it will turn your boredom into something good, productive, and positive.

Some of these activities are also excellent habits to adopt.

Need more ideas?

Try these 9 Things To Do By Yourself Without Spending Money, too.

Like these productivity ideas?

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Amber & The Team

Co-authors at ShineSheets.com

"We love to research problems, examine studies, analyze solutions, and share with you ideas that make life healthier. You can learn about us and our editorial standards here. Have suggestions or feedback to share? Send us a message!."