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Do These 15 Things Instead of Being Bored

Stop staring at the wall and start staring at this list

Sarah Sullivan

Jul 17, 2019

Fordham University

165

Do These 15 Things Instead of Being Bored

Sarah Sullivan

Everyone has to deal with those days with absolutely nothing to do, no one to see, and nowhere to go. It's boring. It's almost painful to deal with (in fact, people would rather be given electric shocks than left alone). Considering it's the middle of summer and the new, novel activities have already been done, here's a list of 15 things to do instead of being bored:

1. Get artsy

Draw, doodle or paint: there are lots of options to satisfy your inner artist. Whether you want to freehand or find some Pinterest inspiration, art is a great outlet for your creativity and it's a fantastic time-filler.

2. Create a trip you want to take

Take a trip without leaving your home. Even if you don't have the time or budget to explore the globe, pick out a dream destination and get researching! Choose flights, hotels, attractions, restaurants and activities, and create an itinerary for your dream or potential vacation.

3. Learn something new

Knowledge is both power and a relief from monotony. Try your hand at a new language, memorize the NATO phonetic alphabet or learn the capitals of every country. Expand your mind and shrink your boredom!

4. Volunteer

If you have a bit more time on your hands, check out volunteer organizations in your area. Find a blood drive, a soup kitchen, an animal shelter or any other charity looking for helpers, and do some good in your community.

5. Organize

No matter how clean you keep your desk, room, home or phone, there's always something that could use a bit of decluttering and organizing. I personally love to organize my pictures on my phone into folders and delete any duplicates when I'm bored. Alphabetizing your books, sorting through papers and rearranging furniture are also great options.

6. Clean up your socials

Despite the huge presence of social media in our lives, let's face it: it's pretty rare that we actually take the time to gut and clean up our profiles. Try going through your following list and unfollowing inactive accounts, updating your neglected LinkedIn profile, deleting old posts or changing your Instagram bio.

7. Online window-shopping

Embrace your inner shopaholic and head to Amazon or your favorite online retailer for some online window-shopping! Make lists of things you would like to purchase, or browse Amazon's Spark feature for some fun products (and maybe even treat yourself to something you want)!

8. Call a friend or family member

Sometimes life gets busy, and we don't get to keep in touch with those we love as much as we'd like. When was the last time you checked in with your sweet grandmother? Or your fun uncle? Or your childhood friend? Probably not recently enough. Take the initiative to make a loved one's day better with your presence and give someone a call. Maybe even make plans to see them soon and proactively fight boredom.

9. Try a podcast

Use your boring day to enjoy perhaps the most underrated form of entertainment: podcasts. You can find one on just about every topic, from politics to pop culture. My favorite podcasts are Jenna & Julien Podcast, The Tim Ferriss Show, Dr. Death and Stuff You Should Know.

10. Cook

Whether you excel in the culinary arts or burn microwavable lasagna, cooking is a great way to use your downtime. There's plenty you can do in the kitchen; try baking a cake without a recipe, doing meal prep or testing out new recipes.

11. Take personality quizzes

Humans are pretty self-focused creatures, and we love knowing more about ourselves (or at least I do). Satisfy your desire to find out your personality type with the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, discover which possible Illuminati member you are or check out any of these other fun quizzes.

12. Find out what's going on in the world

At the time of publication, Puerto Rico is protesting against their governor, El Chapo was sentenced to life plus 30 years in prison, the Air Force discouraged the raid on Area 51 planned by 1.5 million people on Facebook, and Jeffrey Epstein is indicted on sex charges. Enhance your future conversations by checking up on the scary, weird news about the world we live in.

13. Self-care

This is a pretty broad item on this list, but let me provide you with some specific things to fight your boredom with: take a bath, go to the gym, walk, do a face mask, do some yoga, meditate, or even just take a nap. Fill your free time with feel-good activities!

14. Review

Did you recently try out a new restaurant that you can't stop talking about? Or did you just buy a blender that's blades broke on the first use? Advise a fellow internet stranger and bring out your inner critic by heading to sites such as Yelp, Rotten Tomatoes or Amazon to leave reviews for restaurants, movies, products and services online.

15. Plan ahead

Just because today was boring doesn't mean tomorrow has to be! Make a list of things you want to accomplish for tomorrow, such as running errands, finishing up a project, or going to an appointment. Make a schedule and enjoy your busy, eventful day!

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Do These 15 Things Instead of Being Bored

Stop staring at the wall and start staring at this list

In This Article:

1. Get artsy

2. Create a trip you want to take

3. Learn something new

4. Volunteer

5. Organize

6. Clean up your socials

7. Online window-shopping

8. Call a friend or family member

9. Try a podcast

10. Cook

11. Take personality quizzes

12. Find out what's going on in the world

13. Self-care

14. Review

15. Plan ahead

Subscribe to our Newsletter

It's not just business as usual.

Constantly having to dress business formal.

Group projects.

Applying for internships.

Being told your major is easy.

You just want to be rich already.

Explaining to people why you're a business major.

Using LinkedIn like it's Facebook.

You grow up too fast.

Trying way too hard to make a good impression on companies at career fairs.

Many of your professors have foreign accents.

You don't want to graduate, but you know that you're more than ready.

10 things that most incoming college freshmen have no idea about.

Your Schedule

The Library

Time Management

Registration

Housing

The Dining Hall

Teachers

Clubs

High School Friends

Finals

It's not all morning coffees and singing along to the radio.

You can't just go to your room to take a nap in the middle of your classes.

Having to spend all your extra cash on gas for your car.

Speaking of money, you probably don't have a meal plan so you're forced to scrounge up some change or mooch off of your friends.

It can be harder to maintain the friendships you make with people from class.

Finding a parking spot.

It can be harder to be involved on campus because between your one, two, or three jobs and school you don't have much free time.

When you try to be super involved on campus, it can kill your sleep schedule.

It's impossible to do homework at home, but staying on campus isn't an option sometimes.

There are surveys and events that you can't participate in because you're a commuter.

Group projects are the bane of your existence.

Traffic.

Your backpack rivals that of a survivalist trekking in the woods.

Driving all the way to campus to find a note on the door of your classroom saying class was cancelled.

Because have you ever had to endure grilling your foot on a George Foreman?

1. When he just wanted bacon from his George Foreman grill

2. When he had money (and Jan) issues

3. When he got upstaged at Phyllis' wedding

4. When he unintentionally saved Meredith from rabies

5. When he wore a "bisexual" suit

6. When he had to apologize to Jesus

7. When his GPS drove him into a lake

8. When he had to deal with Ryan as his boss

9. When he couldn't fulfill his most generous empty promise

10. When this happened

11. When he struggled with a X-Mas break up

12. When he had to defend his generosity

13. When he threw a classy Christmas party for Holly but she had a boyfriend

14. When he had to stand up to peer pressure

15. When Toby was "Toby-ish"

This isn't just for the single Pringles out there either, folks

Run Around Clanging Pots and Pans in Everyone's Face

Eat the Last Few Pigs in a Blanket

Pop Twelve White Grapes

Burn Something

Smash Things Against a Wall

Spontaneously Begin an Irish Jig

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