How to Pass Time when You're Bored

Reviewed by Seth Hall

Last Updated: October 31, 2024 References

There are always days where time seems to go as slow as a snail. This article will give you some ideas on how to constructively kill some of your time or just have some fun!

Part 1

Part 1 of 5:

Enjoying Music and Movies

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Listen to some old songs that you haven't listened to in a while. Even more enjoyable, spend time discovering new music you've never tried before, in new genres or from new bands. Use Genius, people's blog recommendations and YouTube to find new music to try.
2
Watch a movie or two. Watch a movie you haven't seen yet but want to see. Revisit an old favorite. You could also have a "bad movie day" and watch movies that seem interestingly stupid, and offer a commentary over the top of it (switch off the sound and run your own soundtrack -- have friends to help). Then you can rate your bad movies and see which was the absolute worst!^{[1]
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- Make some popcorn.
- It'll be more fun to watch with a friend or family member.
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3
Make some funny clips or tutorial video (or DIY) with a friend. Then upload it to YouTube. Spend time with them chatting or shopping. See what the comments are and respond.
- Alternatively, watch YouTube videos. Try to watch at least two or more videos at a time.^{[2]
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Quiz

wikiHow Quiz: What Should I Do?

Not sure how to cure a case of boredom? Being bored can drain your energy and bring down your mood, which is why we’re here to help you out—and hopefully make your day a little more interesting. We’ve prepared a handy quiz to help you narrow down that list of activities and find a fun pastime that you’ll truly enjoy!

1 of 14

Who do you spend the most time with?

Myself or a couple of close friends.

Friends with similar interests.

Friends who can keep up with me.

Friends, family, acquaintances—whoever is around.

Part 2

Part 2 of 5:

Pursuing Quiet Activities

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If it's a nice day, read outside. If it's not nice enough outside, set up a reading nook indoors to pass the time comfortably. Choose a book that is of major interest to you, or switch between different books to spice things up.^{[3]
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For example, check out Percy Jackson, or the Hunger Games. Trade with friends so that you can find new interests.
This might be a postcard, a handmade gift or something you know they have been wanting for a long time.
4
Make some origami. It is always fun to learn a new skill!

Part 3

Part 3 of 5:

Gaming and Pranking

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You simply stand by a road and when a car passes by, wave. If they wave back, yell "sweet!". If they don't, yell "sour!" and chase them down the road for a little while.
Or do crazy stuff together, like pranks, running around or building a massive Minecraft structure.^{[4]
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Put Kool-Aid in the shower head, place Saran wrap under the toilet seat, put peanut butter underneath their car door handles and so on. See wikiHow's prank category for lots of fun ideas to inspire you.

Part 4

Part 4 of 5:

Exercising Bored Muscles

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By yourself or with somebody. This can give you time to clear your mind and create different ideas.^{[5]
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Swimming can be a fun time killer, and if it's really hot, you'll keep cool too.
This is a great workout that will improve the garden as well. Plant a tree in your garden or make a place for the birds to feed and bathe.^{[6]
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Look up yoga routines. Yoga can be a really good way to stretch, make sure try some poses you haven't tried before.

Part 5

Part 5 of 5:

Getting Creative

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Make a drawing or a cartoon or sketch. You could really see how your drawings have improved.
2
Make up a short story. Or maybe even a little book!
- Or, write an article for wikiHow.
Admit it, everyone loves chalk. Find a large area of sidewalk and let your artistic self spill forth.
Doodling can be fun. Grab some paints and start painting. Learn to knit or crochet. Build a bird feeder. Make a diorama or some hair accessories.
Create a background on a plain wall using colorful curtains or buntings (you can also paint the wall new color if you're allowed to). Then take cool selfies with your friends. Upload those fun shots!
Attempt to bake your own dish. Make it up from scratch and see how it turns out. It can always be turned into trifle if it fails.^{[7]
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Try playing a guitar, piano or violin which will develop your music skills.

Community Q&A

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Question

What should I do with my life?

Community Answer

No one can tell you that. Take some time to think about what you love and what you want of life. Ask yourself what steps you can take to head in the right direction. Make a list of goals and start working on them.

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What kinds of things can I do on vacation?

Community Answer

It depends on where you are. If you're in a warm or hotter place, you could go swimming, or play some sports. If you're in a chilly or colder place, you could stay inside and express yourself, or go outside and take a walk.

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What do I do when I'm wide awake at midnight?

Community Answer

Try to remember the position you were in when you woke up. This is most likely the most comfortable position for you. Tense your toes tightly and then relax them, keeping the rest of your body as still as possible, like a dead weight with no tension. Then move to your feet, tensing for 10 seconds and then relaxing to dead weight. Move to your ankles, then calves, then slowly up the rest of your body until you have tensed and relaxed every muscle. Make especially sure your shoulders and neck are relaxed. Try to move your body as little as possible. Only your belly should be moving from deep, slow breaths.

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Tips

Really bored? Clean your room. Action is an antidote to boredom, so organizing and cleaning your room, plus donating all the stuff you don't need anymore can help you to feel great again.

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Arrange a party or a get-together of your own. Call your whole bunch of friends.

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Count how many times the phrases "have fun" or "be yourself" appear in wikiHow. This will use up an incredible amount of time. Clichés annoy people for good reason.

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Warnings

Don't watch the clock. It makes time crawl.

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Be a sensible prankster, not an idiot. If you don't know the difference, don't prank.

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