100+ Free and Spontaneous Things to do When Bored
J Hauge enjoys writing articles on hobbies and spending time wisely.
Bored? Looking for things to do? Then take a look at these 50+ fun and interesting activities.
This article has been updated in 2020 to include a list has a new free section to help stave of boredom during quarantine lock-downs.
Activities for a Rainy Day
- Start a novel.
- Create a daily stretching routine.
- Draw or paint.
- Make yourself a warm drink.
- Make your own website.
- Message an old friend.
- Practice your signature.
- Write down your goals for the next 3 years.
- Dance in the rain.
- Read the latest news.
- Create your own comic strip.
- Make a YouTube video; you could even earn money from it.
- De-clutter the house or your room.
- Listen to a podcast.
- Find and join an online discussion.
- Start a DIY project, e.g., a rainwater collecting tank.
- Catch up on your television shows.
- Camp in your living room.
- Read a book or gift an old book to a friend.
- Benefit from a discount / cashback extension like Honey (owned by PayPal).
- Start a new TV series.
New Skills to Pick Up
- Learn to skate.
- Learn Morse code.
- Learn a simple tune on an instrument via YouTube.
- Learn about cryptocurrency and get involved yourself. The largest exchange by volume is Binance.
- Learn your name in different languages.
- Learn the words to a song.
- Find out how to survive a bear attack.
- Learn a magic trick.
- Build a tree-house.
- Learn to cook a new dish.
Things to do Outside
- Go for a walk.
- Canoe.
- Go camping.
- Go fishing
- Dawn sail or kayak.
- Go swimming in the local pool.
- Surf.
- Go swimming outside (in a lake or sea).
- Go to the park.
- Buy or sell stuff at a car boot sale.
- Go to a theme park.
- Go paragliding.
- Go to your local zoo.
- Make a time capsule and bury it in your garden
- Pick up litter in the neighborhood.
- Photograph nature
- Visit a park, but a park you haven’t been to before.
There's a sunrise and a sunset every single day, and they're absolutely free. Don't miss so many of them.
— Jo Walton
Things to do for Free.
- Take a moment to enjoy not being busy. Try 10 mindful minutes of deep breathing or cloud watching.
- Try yoga, there are plenty of free videos online.
- Do some sit-ups.
- Go to the park, but no a park you've been to before.
- Make a cake using only items in your cupboards.
- Listen to public radio.
- Read a book you haven't touched in years.
- Give your finances a check up. What subscriptions are you paying for?
- Take a free drawing tutorial on YouTube.
- Clean and refill a bicycle, car or motorbike.
- Perform a random act of kindness.
- Learn the all the lyrics to a song you like.
- Stretch out and examine your posture.
- Learn an new language with the free app Duo-lingo.
Random, Silly Things to do
- Try not to think of pandas. It’s harder than you think it is.
- See how many marshmallows you can put in your mouth.
- Check that I have not missed any numbers on this list.
- Try to lick your nose.
- Play a practical joke on someone.
- Say a word continuously until it loses its meaning.
- Say the alphabet backward.
- Slide down a flight of stairs on a mattress (be careful).
- Make a prank call.
- Memorise five good jokes. They’re always useful for dinner parties.
- Go through a newspaper and draw funny features on all the photos.
Activities that Benefit Others
- Give money to charity.
- Cook a fancy meal for friends or family.
- Get paid for helping others with digital tasks on the freelance site Fiverr; alternatively, you could hire someone to help you.
- Volunteer at a charity shop to help those less fortunate.
- Plan a surprise party for a friend.
Things to do with Friends
- Have a pillow fight.
- Arrange a night out.
- Plan a hypothetical (or real) holiday.
- Go bowling.
- Throw a spontaneous party.
- Play a board game.
- Play a multiplayer video game
- Watch a film outside using a projector and a bed sheet.
- Check your local heritage website for an exciting place to rent out for a night.
- Host an all-night gaming marathon.
“Let us step into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure.”
— J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Things to do Alone
- Collect stamps or coins.
- Watch a film.
- Buy a new book from a physical book store.
- Go to church.
- Practice your shower singing.
- Make an omelet—experiment with new flavors.
- Think about and research getting a pet.
- Start a woodworking project (e.g., a CD holder or shelf).
- Find and subscribe to a magazine. There’s a magazine out there for everyone.
- Start planning your next holiday.
- Read your local news. You can buy your city’s paper from a local shop.
- Buy a poster or picture for your wall.
- Buy a box set of your favorite television series.
- Register to vote.
- Sort your CD/book collection.
- Plant something in a pot on your window ledge or out in the garden.
- Star gaze
Self Improvement Activities
- Enter a triathlon.
- Write down some 1-, 3-, and 5-year goals.
- Train for a 10km race.
- Work on your math skills.
- Go to the gym.
- Try to eat healthy all day—or all week!
- See what courses are available at your local higher education center.
- Make a small investment (e.g., shares, ETF).
- Give your brain a workout. Do a puzzle in the paper or take a quiz online.
- Take an online personality test such as ’16 personalities’
- Update your resume.
Things for Couples to Do
- Make a cake without following a recipe and see how it turns out.
- Rearrange your furniture.
- Buy your town’s local produce.
- Have a pillow fight!
- Rent a movie series and buy a big bag of snacks to eat as you binge.
- Plant vegetables. Look online to see what you can plant this month.
- Make homemade ice cream.
- Lie down and listen to music.
- Make a list of things you both want to achieve in the next ten years.
Activities to Get You Outside Your Comfort Zone
- Call or message a friend you have not talked to for a while.
- Clap randomly while walking down the street.
- Go into a shop and buy a food product that you have never tried before.
- Pay for the person behind you in a coffee shop.
- Skydive!
- Attempt an amazing but complex dessert recipe.
- Try learn a new language
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.
© 2020 JT Hauge