58 Things to Do When You’re Bored (That Doesn’t Involve Watching Netflix 24/7)

Been there, done that. It’s time to get productive!
~10-15 mins read

What do you do when you’re bored?

Growing up as an only child, I’ve learned to keep myself entertained. Whenever I feel bored, I know exactly what I need to do to stop feeling that way. When boredom creeps in, you feel that you don’t have motivation to do anything. But, it’s possible that you just don’t know where to start. Luckily for you, you’re in the right spot, you smarty femme!

Also, we all love to watch our favorite shows, but after binge-watching them for an entire weekend, it’s time to shake things up and be productive.

Below are 58 things to do when you’re bored:

Make your bed. Your bed is likely the largest piece of furniture in your room. Once you make your bed, the entire room will look instantly neater!
Read a good book. See if your local library offers e-book rentals that you can access online (even if you don’t have a Kindle). Here are the books that I’ve been reading (slowly, but surely): This and This.
Make banana bread. It seems that everyone and their grandmothers are making it. I mean, those bananas you bought a week ago are perfect! Here is the recipe I’ve recently used.
Organize and cleanup the applications on your phone and tablet. It’ll open up some free space, plus you won’t need to spend an extra 10 seconds trying to find that one app.
Take a bubble bath with bath bombs or use your own DIY bath soak.
You might want to first clean your tub first before doing #5, if you haven’t done that in a while!
Do an impromptu photoshoot. Put up that tapestry that has been lying around, and place your phone on a makeshift stand (if you don’t have an actual tripod). Snap away, and post on Instagram, obviously.
Take a look at your closet. For any articles of clothing you haven’t worn in a year, it’s time to find them a new place. Separate into three piles: Keep, Donate, Sell. You can also take a look at #20 and #52 for ideas to repurpose your clothes.
Try a new recipe that you’ve been meaning to try. Here is an awesome macaron recipe – my friend Stephanie made them the other day and they turned out so well.
Don’t be afraid to experiment with your makeup. Instead of putting on your everyday makeup look, why not try out something new?
Make a delicious dessert using things you have in your pantry and/or freezer. Frozen blueberries can make desserts come alive in a pinch.
Cut up some fruits and veggies now, so you can eat them later as a snack. It’ll help you avoid munching on unhealthy snacks so you can stay on top of your fitness goals. Healthy body, healthy mind.
Practice hair braiding. Try searching “Double Dutch Fishtail Braids” online. It looks super gorgeous!
Start a bullet journal. What I love about a bullet journal is that you can use any notebook you have available. See below for one design I loved doing!
That junk drawer of yours that has been left untouched for years? It’s time to finally organize and throw away any unnecessary items.
Clean your makeup brushes. I recommend doing them over the kitchen sink so if you have any crusty brushes, they don’t clog your bathroom sink. I like using a brush cleaning egg and shampoo to clean them. Let them sit out to dry while you do other tasks.
Do your laundry that has been piling up. Also, those towels that you’ve used for the past two weeks? It’s time to put them in the wash, too!
Listen to new music. If you haven’t already, take a look at The Smarty Femme’s Weekend Playlist to Fit Your Mood.
Put into motion a new skincare routine. Now is the time to see what skincare products you’ve hoarded over the last year (trust me, I have some!). Pick three new products to try out this week. Hello, glow-y skin!
UP-cycle your old t-shirts into new t-shirts. For ideas, you can take a look here. You could even tie-dye them! I used to tie-dye my clothes when I was in Girl Scouts, and it was loads of fun. Messy, but fun.
Throw out everything in your pantry that has expired. You might need to reach far back into those shelves, but you’ll finally get some space for new items!
Call your parents. They’ll appreciate it more than you think.
You’ve always wanted to research about __________ (fill in the blank). Now, you get the chance to do that.
Make a brownie-in-a-mug or a chocolate-chip in a mug. They’ll satisfy your sweet tooth and you only need to use the microwave. Score.
Clean your toaster oven. I know, this isn’t the most fun but absolutely necessary. And yes, this is probably more of a reminder for me.
Throw away food and condiments in your fridge that have expired. Clean out the drawers and shelves, and wipe them down. Your fridge will smell fresh and clean and your future groceries may last longer.
Create your own Spotify playlist and break out into a dance party tonight. No one will judge!
Coloring for the soul. Find a printable online and whip out those colored pencils you’ve had since elementary school. Light a candle and play some relaxing music while you’re at it.
Find yourself sneezing more than usual? It’s time to take out your Swiffer and start dusting away. Or, use a paper towel with cleaner solution to wipe down counters and shelves. If you don’t have cleaner solution, you can always use vinegar or dish soap diluted with water.
Hang those frames that you’ve wanted to put up for a while. Don’t want to use nails? I purchased these to hang our artwork and picture frames. They are durable and don’t cause any damage to your walls!
Evaluate your shoe collection. Try on old pairs and see whether you want to keep, donate, or sell.
Replace any old light bulbs that are not working. Make sure to unplug before replacing them!
Make a delicious smoothie. You can attempt to make a copycat recipe of your favorite smoothie. I’ve been trying to make a copycat “You’ve Got Kale” by Native Co. and “Mango a Go-Go” by Jamba Juice.
FaceTime your friend who lives across the country. Tell him/her to read The Smarty Femme. I heard it’s a great blog.
Figure out what to get your Mom for Mother’s Day. Shipping from certain stores can take longer, so it’s best to do this sooner than later. Also, don’t forget the card!
Sanitize the microwave by using a slightly damp sponge with water and a small amount of dish soap. Please, your microwave has been through a lot.
Place pancake mixture in a squeeze bottle to create some cool pancake art. If you don’t have a squeeze bottle, you can place the batter in a ziplock bag and snip off a teeny-bit of the corner. For artistic pancake inspiration, check out this video.
Give yourself a foot massage with calming lavender-scented body lotion. Your feet deserves love, too.
Evaluate the kitchen shelves and take note of the things you use on a regular basis. Re-organize the items to make it easier to grab the things you use most You can also purchase these organizing containers – I have them and they are honestly life-changing.
Do any of your clothes need to be ironed or repaired? It doesn’t have to be such a chore. Play some upbeat music while you’re at it.
Use a face mask. Not the ones you wear to the grocery store, but one of these. Take a picture of you using a face mask and send it to your friends to tell them to use a face mask. Face-mask par-tay!
Get into a productive mindset by reading this post.
Make origami. While origami paper will make your creations absolutely stunning, you can use regular or construction paper.
Put up spring decorations, and remove all of your Christmas/New Year’s decor that you still have up.
Take note of products you use in your bathroom that you’ll soon run out and purchase them online! Your future self will thank you.
Do your daily devotional. Here are some online options: Our Daily Bread and Bible Gateway.
Step inside your room. Close your eyes for a moment. Open your eyes and take an unbiased look around. What things need to be organized and put away?
Make #47 a reality by doing the things you need to do. Let’s get to it!
Try a new workout that you haven’t done before. Recently, I’ve been doing some boxing workouts which I am loving. Who knew cardio can be this fun?
Do a DIY paint night, if you have the supplies on hand. Or, you can do a DIY fondue night. DIY chocolate night? I mean, anything DIY works.
Notice those dirty dishes piling up for the past week? Time to wash them or use the dishwasher if you have way too many.
Sew together a scrunchie out of your old t-shirts and a hair tie. Here are the instructions. It also has a no-sew option, if you’re not the sewing type!
Check your medicine cabinet and throw away old and expired medications. You can finally place your skincare products in the remaining space. What a relief!
Tap into your childhood and make those friendship bracelets that you’ve always started, but never finished. But you’re an adult now. Once you’re finished with it, mail them off to a friend. Or, you can mail a half-finished bracelet and include instructions on how to finish it. Up to you!
Do some light yoga and stretches to relieve your aching back. You’ll feel 100% better.
Re-focus on your goals. Read this to implement them, because what are goals if you don’t take the steps to accomplish them?
Create a fort. All you need is a couple of blankets, pillows, and a flashlight to tell each other scary stories in the dark.
Take out the trash, recycling, and compost bin. Someone’s gotta do it, right?

Hope this list can inspire you to start doing things and relieve yourself from your boredom. Tap into your inner smarty femme.

Let me know what tips you’ll be doing in the comments below.

P.S. Receive new posts on my blog by clicking the Follow button. It’s located on the top right-hand side (desktop) or bottom right-hand side (mobile).

A page out of my bullet journal: