Breaking News: There ARE 100 Things to Do When You’re Bored
Some Old, Some New – 100 Things To Do (When You’re Bored!)
By Lu, OTL City Guides & Seat Fillers
When I decided to put together a list of 100 things to do when you’re bored, I wanted to steer clear of other lists and similar blogs to provide something fresh. I know there’s undoubtedly some crossover. But I hope to share some new ideas and get your creative juices flowing as well.
You’re about to see that I didn’t lean too much on online pursuits. That doesn’t mean there aren’t a few scattered here and there. Primarily, though, it’s all about getting out in your hometown and doing something new at home.
By the way, putting together a list of 100 things to do is more challenging than it looks. Give it a try sometime, and you’ll see what I mean. You can even make a game of it – kind of like trying to write down all 50 states. It gets really difficult when you get to the last few.
Jump to:
Things You Can Do Without Leaving the House
You might be sitting around looking for things to do because you’re bored. However, that doesn’t mean you’ve got it in you to venture out. So, the first batch of ideas focuses on things you can do from the comforts of home.
1. Rearrange your furniture – shake things up a bit!
2. Call someone you haven’t talked to in a long time.
3. Learn how to play video games.
4. Bake something.
5. Paint a room.
6. Do some early online holiday shopping.
7. Revisit an old hobby – maybe you have some woodworking supplies stored away or you used to paint, needlepoint, or garden.
8. Have a barbecue – invite your friends and tell them it’s pot luck.
9. Make some homemade ice cream. Even if you don’t have a machine, it’s still possible (and delicious!).
10. Plant herbs or create some type of indoor garden.
11. Sign up for a new streaming service free trial. Then, make some appetizers and catch a movie you’ve wanted to see.
More Stuff To Do at Home
12. Go old-school and write a letter to someone special. Then, don’t forget to mail it, though. Yes, stamps are still a real thing.
13. Learn how to bake bread – it only takes four ingredients. But then I challenge you not to eat the whole loaf!
14. Clean out your closet for charity.
15. Plan your next vacation – everything you need is online.
16. Take a long, luxurious bath (when’s the last time you did that?)
17. Make a gourmet dinner that’s not on your regular 30-minute meals (or less) rotation.
18. Grab some poster board and magazines to create a vision board.
19. Download new music and put together a playlist. You’ll appreciate it on your next week or car ride.
20. Grab a coloring book and let your inner artist shine. It’s incredibly relaxing.
21. Shake things up and set up a new account OR leave social media.
22. Try Qi-Gong – I promise you’ll love it, as it’s a bit like yoga but easier and you can do it regardless of how fit you are.
23. Set up a birthday calendar and make your family and friends feel extra special on their special day.
24. Give your home a new vibe. Pull out your Christmas lights, add candles, or print photos to display.
25. Dance like no one’s watching (because they’re not!). Put on a video and go crazy.
26. Set up a group text with your family or friends and come up with positive things to share. It’s a great way to keep the lines of communication open.
27. Download a Kindle book that’ll keep you reading all day.
Let’s Keep Going With At-Home Activities
28. Go through your old boxes of photos and make an album. I bet you have some. But, if not, print a bunch. A good, old-school book is more fun than virtual images.
29. Invite some people over for poker or board games.
30. When you’re looking for something to do when bored, do some spring cleaning regardless of the season. You won’t want to, but it’ll feel amazing when you’re done!
31. Embrace YouTube or TikTok and follow some new people.
32. Recreate a room in your home – turn a bedroom into an office, set up a reading nook, or exercise room.
33. Make homemade pasta – it’s easier than you think and a machine isn’t necessary.
34. Add a new (and removable!) backsplash to your kitchen that’s ideal whether you rent or own your place.
35. Write yourself a letter. Hear me out on this one. Jot down where you are today and where you’d like to be in a year. Put it in an envelope with the date you want to open it. I promise it’ll be worth it.
36. Set up a positive to-do list with little projects that make you happy and then be sure you tackle one to cross off the list.
Yup, There’s Still More You Can Do – Even in Your PJs
37. Go shopping on Groupon, LivingSocial, or other similar sites and grab a deal.
38. Clean your car – like, really clean your car. It’ll feel like new.
39. Turn your photos into a video – there are plenty of programs online you can use.
40. Revisit one of your favorite shows. A free service like IMDB might be just the ticket.
41. Join an online group and get in the mix with a chat that interests you.
42. Organize your life – grab a planner or Google calendar, jot down special days, goals, and things to do. I happen to love Rocketbook planners. They’re erasable, so you never need another one.
43. Shop online for a new pair of glasses or something to shake up your look.
44. Meditate – I have the monkiest of monkey minds but find that if I even follow a guided imagery-type meditation, it’s like it opens up a piece of my brain. I remember more things and new ideas tend to come to me out of the blue (not during the meditation itself). Just put Insight Timer on your phone. It’s free, and even if you can’t meditate you can listen to something uplifting.
45. Make small changes in your home that you haven’t made in a while (if ever). Use your new towels and sheets, hang new pictures, pull out old appliances and give them a try.
A Cure for Boredom Right Outside Your Door
When you’re looking for things to do when you’re bored, you don’t need to default to the same old dinner at your old stand-by or new release movie. Dare to do something different!
46. Take a bike ride. Or, if you don’t have a bicycle, rent one. Maybe a bicycle built for you or two?
47. Wander around a museum for a few hours.
48. Go to an escape room or a rage room.
49. Have a spa day (or you could have one at home).
50. Grab a friend and go antiquing.
51. Support an independent cinema and see a classic with a big tub of popcorn.
52. Try a new restaurant. You know you’ve been saying “i want to try (fill in the blank),” but you never do.
53. Go bowling.
54. Outlet shop and treat yourself to a big pretzel or funnel cake.
55. Find an outdoor cafe and settle in with a latte and a good book.
56. See what fairs or festivals are in the area (Italian fest? Apple fest? There has to be something).
57. Horseback riding.
58. Spin class.
More On the Go Things to Do When You’re Bored
59. Try your hand at amateur photography. Get out and find some ideal spots to take shots.
60. Spend time in a bookstore or library (there are a few left, anyway).
61. Get a makeover – most cosmetics departments offer them.
62. Find a new walking or hiking trail.
63. Mani-pedi – or one or the other?
64. Go skating – roller, ice, rollerblading, your pick.
65. Take a yoga class – even if you’re a beginner.
66. Visit a sports bar and catch a game (and some wings).
67. Indoor rock climbing.
68. Attend church, a spiritual service, or a class.
69. Rent a boat or go on a day cruise.
70. Enjoy a yummy brunch – some restaurants serve it every day.
71. Wander through Ikea or another superstore.
72. Go to the zoo.
73. Visit an amusement park – even if the closest is a few hours away.
And, the List Continues…
74. Be a tourist in your own hometown and visit the touristy-ist of spots.
75. Play a round of golf or mini-golf.
76. Head to Michael’s and buy supplies for a craft project.
77. Take a day trip (beach, mountain, quaint little small town).
78. Embrace your inner child and have fun in an arcade.
79. Head out to your pool or to one at the YMCA, a park, or another public spot. Note: in Las Vegas, some of the casino resorts sell day passes to locals.
80. Go to the gym. If you don’t have a membership, take advantage of a day pass.
81. Get a massage.
82. Treat your kids, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, etc. to a special day where they decide what to do and where to go.
83. Rent an ATV or a motorized bike and head out on an adventure. Have you seen the collection of motorized bikes on Amazon?!
84. Find a bar or club with live music you love – maybe there’s an outdoor patio with music (unless it’s snowing outside!).
85. Try indoor skydiving. Very fun!
Just a Few More of the “Out of the House” Ideas
86. Do some shopping at small businesses like gift shops and boutique stores.
87. Take a tour that tourists typically take. Maybe a brewery or chocolate factory?
88. Grab some tickets for a minor league baseball game, professional frisbee, soccer, or other events that you don’t typically attend. You should be able to find some afternoon matches.
89. Go wine tasting. Even if there isn’t a vineyard nearby, many wine shops host them.
90. Check out your local events calendar and find a lecture, book signing, conference, etc.
Rounding Out the List of 100
I’ve covered things to do in and out of the house. Now I’m wrapping up the list of 100 things to do when you’re bored with 10 that overlap into both.
91. Adopt a pet. If you already have a dog, go for a walk or take them to PetSmart to get you both out of the house.
92. Join a new Meetup group.
93. Volunteer – even if it’s just for the day.
94. Take a class – online or offline.
95. Be a Seat Filler – register at otlseatfillers.com and see if any tickets are available right away (if not, you’ll have new things to do moving forward).
96. Do something nice for a family member or friend “just because.” You could bake them some cookies or drop off an unexpected gift at their house.
97. Try a new workout – you can do one at home courtesy of YouTube or go to a nearby park and follow the circuit training.
98. Sign up to be a Big Brother or Big Sister. It’ll give you plenty of things to do whenever you’re bored.
99. Learn something new. If you’ve wanted to learn computer programming, buy a class on Udemy. Or, head to Guitar Center and sign up for music classes. Anything goes.
100. And, number 100 on the list of things to do when you’re bored is (drumroll, please!) – dare to do one thing you’ve always wanted to do. Be bold and call someone you’re interested in, learn a new language, go water or snow skiing. Only you know the specifics for this one!