40 Things to Do When You’re Bored at Home

Being bored at home isn’t a problem to fix so much as free time waiting for an idea. The hard part is thinking of something when your brain says “nothing sounds fun.” So here are 40 things to do when you’re bored, grouped by the kind of mood you’re in. Most are free, and many take less than an hour.

Too many choices? Spin the activity wheel at the end of this article and let it decide.

Get creative

1. Draw what’s in front of you. A mug, a plant, your shoe. Set a 10-minute timer and don’t worry about the result.
2. Write a very short story. Pick three random words and use all of them in under 300 words.
3. Start a photo challenge. Photograph ten things that are all one color, or the same object from ten angles.
4. Make a collage. Cut up old magazines, cards or packaging and build something new.
5. Learn a simple song. On an instrument, by singing, or with a free music app.
6. Fold paper. Paper airplanes, a fortune teller, or a simple origami animal.
7. Redecorate a corner. Move a lamp, swap a picture, add a plant. Small changes make a room feel new.

Play a game

8. Build a jigsaw puzzle. Start one, even if you only finish the edges today.
9. Play a classic card game. Solitaire on your own, or rummy and crazy eights with someone else.
10. Try a question game. Pull up a Would You Rather wheel and debate the answers with whoever’s around.
11. Dust off a board game. Pick the one you haven’t played in the longest time.
12. Make up your own game. Invent rules using only a die, a coin and some paper.
13. Do a word puzzle. A crossword, a word search, or a homemade anagram challenge.
14. Test your geography. See how many country flags you can name in a row on a flag quiz.

Cook or bake something

15. Bake cookies. A simple recipe with ingredients you probably already have.
16. Try a recipe from another country. Choose a cuisine you’ve never cooked before.
17. Make your own pizza. Experiment with one unusual topping.
18. Set up a hot drink bar. Cocoa, tea or coffee with fun extras like cinnamon or whipped cream.
19. Hold a pantry challenge. Make a whole meal using only what’s already in the cupboard.
20. Make homemade popcorn. Try sweet and savory flavors side by side.

Move your body

21. Have a dance party. Make a playlist of songs you can’t sit still to.
22. Follow a free stretching or yoga video. Even 15 minutes helps you feel better.
23. Take a walk with a mission. Look for five interesting doors, or count dogs along the way.
24. Build an indoor obstacle course. Use pillows, chairs and tape on the floor.
25. Try a short workout challenge. Ten squats every time a song’s chorus plays.
26. Garden. Water plants, repot one, or plant a few seeds in a cup.

Quick wins that feel great

27. Clean out one drawer. Just one. It’s surprisingly satisfying.
28. Organize your photos. Delete blurry shots and make an album of favorites.
29. Write a letter or card. Send it to someone who would love to hear from you.
30. Plan a day trip. Research one place nearby you’ve never been.
31. Sort your closet. Make a pile to donate.
32. Fix something small. Sew a button, tighten a loose handle, or patch a hole.
33. Learn something new. Watch a tutorial on a skill you’ve always wanted, like juggling or knot tying.

Ideas for kids and families

34. Build a blanket fort. Add pillows, a flashlight and a book.
35. Hold a scavenger hunt. Write simple clues or a list of things to find around the house.
36. Play pretend restaurant. Write menus, take orders and serve snacks.
37. Make a cardboard creation. Turn a box into a car, a castle or a robot.
38. Put on a show. Puppets, a magic act, or a short play for the family.
39. Start a family challenge. Who can build the tallest tower from cups or blocks?
40. Have a family movie night. Let a wheel pick the film so nobody argues.

How to choose when nothing sounds fun

Boredom often comes from having too many choices, not too few. When you can do anything, picking one thing feels like a big decision. A few tricks help:

• Choose by energy. Tired? Pick something calm like a puzzle or drawing. Restless? Go for dancing, a walk or baking.
• Give it ten minutes. Promise yourself you’ll try an activity for ten minutes. If it’s still dull after that, switch. Usually you won’t want to.
• Prefer making over watching. Activities where you create or build something tend to leave you feeling better than another hour of scrolling.
• Let chance pick. Write five ideas from this list on a spinning wheel and do whatever it lands on. Taking the decision out of your hands makes it much easier to start.

Make your own boredom wheel

Here’s a simple habit that makes the next boring afternoon easy. Pick ten ideas from this list that you would genuinely enjoy and add them to a wheel. Mix quick ones with longer ones, and solo ideas with things to do together. Next time you hear “I’m bored,” whether from yourself or a child, just spin. Swap out ideas as they get old, and add new ones whenever you think of them.

The wheel below is already loaded with popular activities. Spin it now, or open the full tool to build your own list.