We’re all stuck at home. Many of us are working from home, some of us with our spouses/significant others and some with kids. Whatever your situation is, it’s likely that you’re going to get bored. Sure, you can fall back on Netflix binging, snacking too much or some other activity but what happens when those things also get boring? You’re going to need activities to fill your day! Here are 40 things to do while you’re stuck at home:
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1. Start a New Workout Routine
One of the best things you can do for yourself is exercising. The benefits are fantastic.
2. Cook Something from Scratch
Cooking has become hugely therapeutic for me. It’s just so rewarding to create something delicious from scratch and enjoy it with yourself and/or with others!
3. Write
Okay, as a writer I guess I would mention this one. Even if you have no intention of writing professionally or even letting another person read your writing, it’s still an awesome activity. Check out some of the writing challenges I made below:
4. Sketch
You’ll be surprised where a simple sketch can take you.
5. Read
Reading is another one of those activities that is both fun and beneficial. Want some reading ideas? Here are some of my favorite books from a few of my favorite genres:
Thrillers:
- Gone Girl – Gillian Flynn
- In a Dark, Dark Wood – Ruth Ware (Get it HERE for ONLY $8.25!!!)
- The Dry – Jane Harper
- Red Dragon – Thomas Harris
- Sharp Objects – Gillian Flynn
Horror:
- The Ruins – Scott B. Smith
- A Head Full of Ghosts – Paul Tremblay
- Dr. Sleep – Stephen King
True Crime:
- The Killer Across The Table – John Douglas
- The Trial of Lizzie Borden – Cara Robertson
Fantasy:
- A Song of Fire & Ice – George R. R. Martin (If this man EVER finishes ‘Winds of Winter – I’m ready for it, but I’m not holding my breath! Either way, the books are better than the HBO series.)
- The Night Circus – Erin Morganstern
6. Listen to Music you normally wouldn’t listen to
I absolutely love Spotify. There are tons of options for checking out new playlists!
7. Organize
An organized home just makes everything better. Choose a room or space to organize and get to it. You’ll be happy you did!
8. De-clutter your closet
Ditch those clothes you’re never going to wear again to clear space for something new. Donate what you can!
A good tip for de-cluttering your closet is to go through and note the last time you’ve worn those items that are all the way in the back. If the answer is longer than 5 months ago – it’s time to toss!
9. Play Some Board Games
My husband and I love playing board games together. It’s a fun activity that you can do with others and there are so many great options out there! Pictured above is Pandemic Legacy: Season 1. We’ve already beat it and moved on to Season 2, but I have to say – the entire process was super fun and unique!
Here are some of our favorites board games:
- Terraforming Mars Buy it HERE.
- Pandemic: Legacy You can buy SEASON 2 here 🙂
- Lords of Waterdeep Buy it HERE.
- 7 Wonders: Duel (An AWESOME game for 2 players.) You can Buy it HERE.
<—- Terraforming Mars, a pretty great strategy game!
10. Download some Computer Games via Steam
Again, lots of options out there! Browse Steam and download some games.
11. Check Out Some Podcasts
Podcasts are a great way to feel connected to others during these times. Also, there are a lot of Podcasts for every interest out there. You could learn something new, become inspired and so on.
Here are some great Podcasts to check out:
- Truth & Justice Podcast (True Crime)
- TED Talks Daily
- Supernatural with Ashley Flowers
12. Deep Clean Your Home
The ULTIMATE Spring Cleaning Checklist + FREE Printables
13. Plan a Future Vacation
While stuck inside, it can be easy to feel a bit ‘trapped.’ Hop on TripAdvisor and plan a future vacation!
14. Skype Friends & Family
There are lots of options for making video calls during this time and people are getting pretty creative with it! I’ve seen ways to play Cards Against Humanity online, people having a few drinks via Zoom meeting and so on.
Here are some options to video chat with friends and family:
- Zoom
- Skype
- FaceTime
- Google Duo
15. Journal
Journaling can be incredibly therapeutic. There are lots of benefits to journaling, actually. Give it a try!
16. Color
Adult coloring is pretty relaxing and it was a big craze recently.
17. Have a DIY Spa Day
There are lots of ways to have a DIY spa day and honestly, self-care is more important than ever while we’re all on lockdown.
18. Give Meditation a Try
I was a huge skeptic when it came to meditation but, once I tried it with an open mind, I found it to be amazing. The app that finally broke down my wall of skepticism is called “Brightmind.” If you don’t like that one though, there are ton of free options out there.
Be open-minded and give it a try. You may be surprised!
19. Stargaze
via GIPHY
Who doesn’t love checking out the stars?
20. Organize Photo Albums
I don’t know how my printed photos become so disorganized but I know I’m not alone! With this extra time, why not organize those memories?
21. Have Yourself a Drink
22. Think about Taking up a New Hobbie
There are tons of hobbies out there! You’ll never know what may spike your interest until you try!
23. Make Lists
Here are some lists to make when life gets seriously overwhelming.
24. Update Your Resume
Resumes, for the most part, can always be improved upon. It’s a good, productive activity and can lead to some good opportunities int the future.
25. Paint
26. Take an Online Class
Lots of places are giving away discounted and even free classes right now. Run a search, find something that interests you and learn something new!
27. Create a Goal List
Have a bunch of goals in mind? Write them down and make plans to accomplish each one.
28. Check Out a Documentary
I love documentaries, even the biased ones. It just gets you thinking about certain subject matter and there are a lot out there that are highly entertaining as well.
Now, I’ve watched A LOT of documentaries and docu-series over the years but there have been some that really stick out for me. Check out these:
Tiger King (NETFLIX)
via GIPHY
Want to sit there and ask yourself, “what the actual fuck” for 7 episodes? There have been few docu-series that have captured my undivided attention the way this one did. Seriously, check it out.
The Pharmacist (NETFLIX)
If you want something a bit more serious, check out The Pharmacist on Netflix. It’s related to the opioid epidemic plaguing America.
The Ted Bundy Tapes (Netflix)
An interesting serial killer documentary.
I Love You, Now Die (HBO)
This documentary covers the case of a young woman who, through a series of startling text messages, convinces her boyfriend to commit suicide.
29. Send a Letter/Card to Family & Friends
A written letter can mean the world to somebody in your life.
30. Learn some Phrases in a Different Language
Language is beautiful. Check out some other languages, learn some common phrases/words!
There are a lot of YouTube channels dedicated to this.
31. Fill a Binder with Information You Find Useful
Want to remember something? Learning something specific? Want to keep track of all that useful information you’ve found via Pinterest? Fill up a binder & organize it!
32. Do a Crossword Puzzle
33. Try out a New Game on Your Phone
Tons of options for mobile gaming apps! I don’t get too into mobile gaming but I know a lot of people who really enjoy it. Jeopardy is the only mobile game I play consistently. If you like trivia, give it a try!
34. Make a Pinterest Board of all the things you want in your ‘Dream Home’
35. De-Clutter Your Phone
Get rid of all those pointless screenshots, apps you don’t use, backed up emails and general clutter.
36. Do Something You’ve been Putting Off
We all have that one thing that seems to be ignored on our to-do list. Stop procrastinating and do it.
37. Study Something that Interests you
Learning new things is crucial to keeping our minds sharp. Find a topic that interests you and learn about it.
Here are some quick ideas:
- Photoshop
- Coding
- Mythology
- Psychology
- Marketing
- Creative Writing
38. Play with a Pet
via GIPHY
Loving up on our furry friends is a great activity, pandemic or not.
39. Dance
via GIPHY
When it doubt, dance it out.
40. Work on Your Personal Finances
When it comes to personal finances, improvements can always be made. Learn how you can better your financial situation and make plans to implement strategies.
Stay Safe out there!
What are you guys doing to pass the time? Are you working from home? Are you an essential employee? Let me know what you’re all up to at home in the comments! 🙂
I’ve actually done a bunch of these! It is really helping. We have been writing a ton, doing virtual happy-hours, reading more and push-ups and crunches every couple of hours. Also, the dog is very happy with the extra attention and walks!
Hope you are doing well and are safe!
A virtual happy hour is great! One good thing about this whole situation is more time with our pets 🙂 They are loving it!
Great ideas! Thank you for posting!
Wow! What a huge list of awesome ideas! I think I’ll start at the top with the workout routine and make my way down. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for all the ideas!
These are all great suggestions, I especially like stargazing! Thanks for sharing.
We’ve done a bunch of these! Coloring has been an everyday thing. I’ve been trying to get my preschooler to do some of the dollar store workbooks for a bit while I have to telework.
These are great ideas. Sometimes we need a little reminder of just how much there is to do when we can’t think of anything to do when we are bored.
People who complain they’re bored should seriously check this out. There are so many fun things to do while at home! 🙂 I’m definitely not complaining since I’m a homebody. Thanks for sharing this! 😀
Thanks Kathleen 🙂