We’ve all been in the boredom pit before, when the flatness of the day presses in on us like a slab of concrete causing our minds
to be void of ideas. Yep, boredom the killer of time and the squasher of the imagination. Here is a list of 50 ideas that won’t cost you anything and just might cure your severe case of boredom!
1. Visit Stumbleupon.com. – This site gives hours of entertainment by taking you to randomized sites with every click!
2. Clean your house. – Crank up the music and just dig in! Seriously this is the best time to do it, don’t wait until you are busy and can’t find the time.
3. Let yourself roam freely on youtube.com. – Really how often do we just click freely without purpose or being shown a link or someone telling us we have to see this or that?
4. Pluck your eyebrows. – Oh ya, guys this includes you too! It’s a painstaking job but hey you’ve got the time on your hands. Flip through a magazine, find some that you like and try those out for a while.
5. Grab the dictionary. - Either a book or dictionary.com and test your vernacular skills! Pick a word randomly and see if you really know the meaning of it. Get an idea of what it means in your head before you look and see if you nailed it or if you need a little more practice.
6. Write a letter. – We don’t do this very much anymore with all the high speed forms of communication we have available at our fingertips. Nothing says I care more than the tangible penned on paper thought.
7. Try on all your clothes. – Go into your closet or through your drawers and try everything on. If it doesn’t fit give it to charity, there are people who could really use now what you are hoping to get back into!
8. Grab a cookbook. - Flip though the pages and point to something without looking and make it! Get out of your routine in the kitchen and explore, who knows you may just find a new favorite recipe.
9. Go talk to your neighbor. - How many times have we lived next to someone and not even known their name?
10. Write down all the things you feel guilty for. – Now look at it, forgive yourself and throw it away. Be done with regret once and for all.
11. Go for a walk. – Well you have been saying you need to start exercising, right?
12. Plan a vacation. – Research where you want to go, what time of year, what you want to do when you get there and so on. It’s ok if you don’t have the money now, plan your vacation and figure out exactly how much money you would need to save to get there and do all those things you have planned.
13. Call your family. – Talk to the people you are related to, it’s good for them and for you.
14. Alphabetize your DVD’s. – If you still have DVD’s then put them in order from A to Z, you’ll be surprised how helpful this is when you actually need to find one.
15. Read a book. - Seal yourself off from the electronic world for a little while and get lost in a journey of imagination. It’s oddly refreshing.
16. Try out a new hairstyle. - This is the best time to see what a new do would look like, plus you could find your new look and
wow everybody!
17. Explore your city. – Take a walk downtown and see what’s happening, look at old buildings, stroll through the park or window shop. Here is a super list if you are in the Detroit Metro area.
18. Get rid of your junk. – Go through your house and set aside all the stuff you don’t want, need or use and have a yard sale.
19. Watch an old movie. – Sometimes it’s just nice to get a perspective on how far movies have come, or just see what life was like ‘back in the day.’
20. Eat. – Allow yourself to indulge in your favorite foods or treats.
21. Go to the park. – Be a kid again and enjoy a day at the park. Take your dog or even borrow a neighbors dog and spend the entire day reliving your youth.
22. Cook. – Challenge yourself by grabbing random main ingredients out of your fridge or freezer and see what you can come up with!
23. List your goals. – Write down all those things you want to do or accomplish now and see if they have changed over time.
24. Organize your pictures. – Photos in boxes, bags, heaps and stacks? What better time than now to get them under control and look back at all your old memories.
25. Rearrange your furniture. – Sometimes it’s just good to change up the normal a bit.
26. Plan at least 2 parties for the next year. – It’s amazing how much fun parties can be when they are planned out in advance. You might also remember to add a guest to your list that you haven’t thought of in a while.
27. Play hide and seek. - Ring up a friend and go play hide and seek in Ikea.
28. Clean off your desk. – Put your bills in one spot, your calendar in another, hang up your special pictures from your kids/family/friends. It’s your workspace, be efficient.
29. Create a blog. – Blogging can be therapeutic, improve your professional skills/relations and could even earn a little extra income.
30. Volunteer. – Go online and find a group in your area that you want to join, take your time and find the one that’s right for you. Helping others is incredibly fulfilling.
31. Draw. – Grab your pencil, pen, crayons, paints whatever you have handy and draw the first thing that comes into your mind.
32. Tackle your ‘To-Do’ list. – You know you have one, that creepy little list that has all the nasty jobs on it that no one in their right mind wants to do. Suck it up and dig in, you’ll feel great when you are done!
33. Go fishing. – If you don’t have a pole chances are someone you know does. Venture off your normal path and get back to nature.
34. Visit a pet store. – Animals are always fun. What’s even better is watching all the kids staring in awe at the cute little creatures.
35. Relax at your favorite bookstore. – Go to you favorite bookstore, grab your favorite magazine and relax in one of their comfy chairs for the afternoon.
36. Wash your pet. – Stop putting it off, he/she probably stinks…you just don’t realize it.
37. Forgive. – Take this time to write down all those who have wronged you and what they did. Forgive them and pitch the list. Burn it if you like, just get rid of it and the ill feelings.
38. Write a love letter to your significant other. – If you’ve been married/together 30 days or 30 years let the other person know how important they are to you.
39. Make and have dinner with an older person. – 9 times out of 10 we know of an older person near our home who doesn’t get much company. Why not make their day and share a meal with them?
40. Meditate. – Give yourself a break and center yourself.
41. Take a bath. – Pull out all the stops, candles, bubbles, music, wine, favorite magazine or book and just pamper yourself silly!
42. Entertain a new career. – Take some time and think; if you could do anything at all what would it be? If it’s not what you are doing now plot out the steps you would need to take to get on that path. If you are doing what you love, good for you! Now figure out ways to become better.
43. Play a game with your kids. - Think about it, if you’re bored they may be too. Reconnect with them over a game.
44. Promise yourself. – Jot down all the things you want to start doing for you and begin. Get elaborate, you’re worth it.
45. Bake cookies. – Make 2 batches and give them out to family and friends, they will love you for it!
46. Sing. – it doesn’t matter if you have a great voice or not, turn up the music and sing at the top of your lungs!
47. Watch T.V. – Watch something you normally wouldn’t watch and find something interesting to think about with one of the characters.
48. Go through your food. – Search through your fridge, cupboards, pantry and canned foods and get rid of the expired stuff. Donate the things you know you aren’t going to eat, you’ll be doing yourself and others a great service.
49. Visit a nursing home. – There are too many older folks who are lonely and they would love your company.
50. Clip your toenails. – Let’s face it sometimes you really need to pay attention to your toes!
If you are bored there are plenty of things you could be doing for yourself and others. These are just a few of those things. I would love to hear of your boredom breakers!
