68 Things to Do When You’re Bored (That Aren’t Scrolling)
68 ideas for when you're bored at home, outside, with friends or done early in class. Creative, useful and calm things to do instead of scrolling.
In this guide
You’ve scrolled the same app three times, refreshed every feed and checked the fridge twice. Bored. Here’s the thing: boredom isn’t a problem to fix with more scrolling. It’s your brain asking for something to actually do.
Here are 68 things to do when you’re bored, sorted by where you are and how much energy you have. None of them need a lot of money.
At home, right now
- Rearrange your room. Even moving your bed or desk makes it feel new.
- Clean out one drawer and donate what you don’t use.
- Learn a trending dance off-screen: watch once, then practice without the phone.
- Try a new hairstyle from a tutorial you saved months ago.
- Do a puzzle, or start a 1,000-piece one you can finish over a week.
- Build a blanket fort and read inside it.
- Rewatch a movie you loved as a kid and see if it holds up.
- Make a time capsule letter to open in five years.
- Teach your pet a new trick.
- Have a solo dance party with your door closed.
- Take an extra-long shower and do the full routine: hair mask, face mask, the works.
- Sort your camera roll and delete the 40 blurry versions of the same photo.
Get creative
- Start a sketchbook and draw one thing in your room every day.
- Write a short story that starts with the last text you got.
- Make a playlist for a specific mood, like “walking home in the rain”.
- Make a vision board for the next year with magazine cutouts.
- Paint your nails in a design you’ve never tried.
- Make friendship bracelets to give away.
- Rewrite the lyrics of a song about your day.
- Try calligraphy or hand lettering with a regular pen.
- Make a zine: fold a sheet of paper into a tiny 8-page booklet and fill it.
- Start a journal. Stuck on what to write? Use these journal prompts.
Get outside
- Go for a walk with no destination and no headphones.
- Ride your bike somewhere you’ve never been.
- Watch the sunset and actually put your phone away for it.
- Have a picnic in your backyard or a park.
- Draw with chalk on the driveway or sidewalk.
- Find a new spot in your town: a café, a library branch, a trail.
- Take photos of everything in one color, like everything yellow.
- Shoot hoops, kick a ball or practice a skateboard trick.
- Lie on the grass and look at the clouds or the stars.
- Plant something: herbs on a windowsill count.
Learn something
- Learn five phrases in a language you want to speak someday.
- Learn a magic trick or a card trick.
- Teach yourself to juggle with rolled-up socks.
- Learn to cook one real meal you could make for your family.
- Watch a documentary about something you know nothing about.
- Learn to type faster with a free typing practice site.
- Learn the constellations you can see from your window.
- Pick a random Wikipedia article and fall down the rabbit hole.
Do something useful (that still feels good)
- Do your laundry from start to finish. Here’s how to do laundry without ruining anything.
- Plan your outfits for the next week, or build a capsule wardrobe for school.
- Organize your backpack and throw out old papers.
- Make a budget for the money you have and what you want to buy.
- Bake something and share it with your family or neighbors.
- Write a thank-you note to a teacher or coach.
- Set up a better morning routine so school mornings are less chaotic.
- Update your resume, or make your first one with a teen resume template.
- Look up volunteering near you: animal shelters, libraries, food banks.
- Clean your phone screen, case and charger. You’ll be shocked.
With friends
- Have a themed movie night where everyone dresses up.
- Play This or That with our This or That questions.
- Have a bake-off with whatever is in the kitchen.
- Do a thrift store challenge with a small budget.
- Make a group playlist where everyone adds three songs.
- Have a game night with cards or board games.
- Video call and watch the same show at the same time.
- Plan a trip you’ll take together after graduation.
Done early in class
Use these only when your work is finished, and check that it’s okay with your teacher.
- Read a book you brought from home.
- Start your homework for another class.
- Make a to-do list for the rest of the week.
- Write down questions you want to ask about the lesson.
- Draw a map of your dream bedroom or house.
Slow down and reset
- Take a nap. Sometimes boredom is just tiredness.
- Try a breathing exercise: in for 4, hold for 4, out for 4, hold for 4.
- Stretch for 10 minutes.
- Make yourself a fancy drink, like iced tea with fruit in it.
- Do absolutely nothing for 10 minutes and let your mind wander.
Why you keep reaching for your phone
When you’re bored, scrolling feels like the easiest fix, but it rarely makes the feeling go away. You just end up tired and still bored. If you notice you lose hours this way, try these tips on how to stop doomscrolling.
A simple trick: put your phone in another room for 30 minutes and pick one thing from this list. Boredom usually fades once you’re actually doing something.
Want ideas for doing things together? Here are things to do with friends.
Questions people ask
What can I do when I'm bored at home?
Rearrange your room, start a puzzle, learn a dance, cook a new recipe, make a playlist, build a blanket fort or clean out a drawer. Trying one thing for 20 minutes usually breaks the boredom.
What are fun things to do when bored?
A solo dance party, a thrift challenge with friends, chalk drawings outside, a themed movie night, a bake-off or learning a magic trick.
What to do when bored in class?
Only once your work is done and your teacher is okay with it: read, start other homework, plan your week or write down questions about the lesson.
What are productive things to do when bored?
Do your laundry, plan your outfits, organize your backpack, make a budget, update your resume or look for a place to volunteer.
