52 Productive Things To Do When Bored

Feeling a bit bored? 

One thing a lot of people struggle with (including myself!) is the balance between active work and totally taking it easy. Binging Netflix is fun at first, but over time can feel draining. So today I’m sharing a list of productive things to do when bored. Some of these are more “productive” than others, but they are all meant to be a form of active rest. They are something to do when you don’t feel like working but want to stay active and engaged. 

Why should you look for productive things to do when bored? 

This is not about buying into the narrative about having to be productive at all times. In fact, I strongly believe that productivity doesn’t determine your self-worth. But, for many of us, we feel better when we engage in meaningful activity. So think of these activities as “active rest”. They are something between working and relaxing that hopefully will leave you feeling stimulated and fulfilled. Sound good? Let’s jump into the list! 

52 Productive Things to Do When Bored 

1. Painting – you can try water coloring, acrylic, water-coloring pencils. Take a class on Youtube or just let your imagination be your guide. 
2. Adult Coloring Books
3. Reading – Fiction, non-fiction – it is your pick. 
4. Journaling – experiment with a new style of journaling (imperfectjournaling.com) or just write your heart out. 
5. Connecting with friends – phone calls, video calls, or meet-ups can all be fulfilling!  
6. Going on Podcast Walks – put on a favorite podcast, pop in your earbuds, and go for a walk. 
7. Yoga – try Yoga With Adrienne if you are starting for the first time. 
8. Fancy bath/spa night 
9. Playing Solitaire 
10. Learn cross-stitching 
11. Jump roping – bonus points if you can try out some fancy tricks! 
12. Host a Fake Cooking Competition 
13. Rearrange your furniture 
14. Declutter a room/cabinet/closet/car 
15. Take a Skillshare class and learn something new 
16. Complete a puzzle
17. Go on a run (yes, even five minutes of actual running counts) 
18. Do a Youtube Dance Video (my personal favorite is The Fitness Marshall) 
19. Meditate (start with Insight Timer) 
20. Learn an instrument 
21. Make a music video 
22. Brew Kombucha (or coffee, or beer) 
23. Make a pantry staple from scratch (it’s fun to try bread, tortillas, applesauce, etc.)
24. Learn about the different powers of crystals 
25. Teach your pet a trick 
26. Try out bullet journaling 
27. Listen to an audiobook 
28. Have a dance party 
29. Try a new recipe
30. Set new goals! Try writing a vision for where you want to be five years from now. 
31. Create a Mood Board (I love doing this for each new year or season) 
32. Curate Your Closet (check out Unfancy for capsule wardrobe inspiration) 
33. Connect with an online community (Explore Reddit for some ideas!)
34. Do a crossword puzzle 
35. Do the dishes! 
36. Do a 10-minute cleanup – literally set the timer and clean up everything you can in ten minutes. It’s amazing what you can accomplish in this time! 
37. Pick a topic you want to learn about and go down the rabbit hole of Youtube videos and blogs learning about the subject. 
38. Learn a new language 
39. Give yourself an at-home mani/Pedi 
40. Try gardening! 
41. Spend some time just being present in nature. Observe everything around you and listen to the sounds of the natural world. 
42. Give yourself a massage- I love yoga therapy balls or foam rollers to help with this
43. Try out reflexology 
44. Do a puzzle! 
45. Practice your calligraphy and hand lettering skills 
46. Look at old photos 
47. Write a letter to a friend 
48. Reread your old journals or school notebooks 
49. Play a board game 
50. Clean up your computer files (this can be oddly satisfying I promise!) 
51. Write a letter to your intuition 
52. Binge-watch comedy videos on Youtube and send your favorites to your friends.

Often when you feel bored, it can be hard to find the motivation to do productive things. Each of these items is meant to be a small meaningful action that you can try out to start to generate momentum and break the lethargy cycle. The most important thing is that it should feel fun and help you to feel less bored. 

And there you have it! I hope that the next time you are bored you can turn to this list for some inspiration. What are your favorite productive things to do when bored? Did I miss them from this list? Let me know in the comments below!