Buzz
Discover cool activities you can enjoy on your computer right now. If you're seeking immediate entertainment, your computer offers endless possibilities. Whether you prefer gaming, chatting with friends, learning new things, pursuing computer hobbies, watching amusing videos, or creating content, your computer is your gateway to endless fun. With a functioning computer, boredom will be a thing of the past. Here are 45 ways to have fun on your computer!
Fun Things to Do Online When You're Bored
Explore your favorite online content! From videos and movies to podcasts and articles, there's a wealth of entertainment waiting to be discovered.
Steps to Computer Enjoyment
Explore YouTube Videos
Discover original content on YouTube. YouTube hosts a vast array of videos catering to every interest, from amusing cat antics to historic Apollo Mission footage. Search for topics you love or subscribe to popular channels for regular updates.
Create a YouTube Video
Start your own YouTube channel. Looking to make a splash? Get creative by producing and sharing your own videos online. Need inspiration? Here are some video ideas to kickstart your journey: Vlog your adventures, review your favorite treats, showcase your musical talents, film humorous skits with friends, recite poetry, share the contents of your wallet or purse, do a haul video from your latest shopping spree, or demonstrate a useful life hack.
Enjoy a Movie
Stream movies online. While top-notch platforms typically require a subscription fee for premium content, you can also find free options available.
- Leading paid streaming services include:
- Netflix
- Hulu
- Amazon Prime
- Disney+
- HBO Now
- Discover free streaming platforms offering documentaries, news, and more:
- Folkstreams
- MetaCafe
- Vimeo
Stream music online
Enjoy music online. Computers have revolutionized the music industry, altering the way music is recorded and consumed. Explore free or affordable options for streaming music online, such as:
- Pandora Radio
- Spotify
- Apple Music
- SoundCloud
- Bandcamp
- DatPiff
Listen to a podcast
Tune in to a podcast. Podcasts resemble free radio programs covering a plethora of topics. Discover podcasts on platforms like Apple Music and Spotify, or explore options on sites like PodcastOne or PodBay. From wrestler Stone Cold Steve Austin to novelist Bret Easton Ellis, podcasts span diverse interests. Some popular choices include:
- RadioLab
- The Read
- This American Life
- The Moth
- Bodega Boys
- The Nerdist
- Hardcore History
- Stuff You Should Know
- Savage Lovecast
Enjoy offline music
Indulge in your favorite tunes. If you have a music library stored on your computer, create a new playlist or mix with tracks perfect for dancing, meditating, or working out. Activate shuffle mode to surprise yourself with song sequences or turn on visualizers in iTunes or Windows Media Player for a mesmerizing experience. Alternatively, simply immerse yourself in the music.
Play a video game
Discover exciting online games. Combat boredom by diving into a plethora of online gaming options. Whether you're into RPGs or casual games, there's something for everyone, and many are available for free. Some games require downloading, while others can be played directly in your browser.
Explore platforms offering a variety of free games:
Steam
Addicting Games
Miniclip
ROBLOX
Andkon
8bit
Engage in wordplay
Explore word games. If you're looking to challenge yourself or expand your vocabulary, give a word game a try! Whether you prefer daily puzzles like Wordle or endless options, here are some top picks:
- Train Your Brain: https://www.Mytour.com/Games/Train-Your-Brain Use the provided letters to uncover the word linking all four Mytour images.
- Hello Wordl: https://hellowordl.net
- Wordle Forever: http://alexdaily.nl/wordle
- Quordle lets you guess 4 words at once!: https://www.quordle.com
- Wordplay: https://wordplay.com
Discover Facebook gaming
Explore the world of Facebook games. With just a Facebook account, you gain access to a wide array of single and multiplayer games of all genres and sizes. While many are free, some offer in-game purchases. To start gaming, visit https://www.facebook.com/games and log in.
- Popular titles include Words with Friends, Candy Crush, and Farmville.
Download games via Steam
Install games using Steam. To access a plethora of free games, utilize the Steam client, available at no cost on steampowered.com. For installation instructions, click here. Here are just a few popular titles you can enjoy:
- Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
- Team Fortress 2
- Grand Theft Auto V
- Playerunknown's Battlegrounds
- Dota 2
Create your own video game
Design a video game. Feeling creative? You can embark on designing a basic game using the MIT Scratch site, accessible here. Scratch empowers you to develop a game that you and others can enjoy. Engage with fellow creators, play their games, and curate studios. It's a thrilling experience, especially for gamers.
Take an Online Quiz
Explore quizzes to learn more about yourself. Interested in discovering your red flag or Zodiac compatibility? Take a quiz. Check out our Mytour Quizzes at https://www.Mytour.com/Quizzes or visit Buzzfeed. Share your results with friends!
Virtual Window Shopping
Indulge in virtual window shopping. Have some leisure time but limited funds? Explore online shopping without making purchases. Enjoy browsing a wide array of items, from clothing and footwear to real estate. Create a wishlist without overspending.
Sketch out your vacation plans. Utilize online resources like Google Maps and Wikipedia to research new destinations and local attractions. Explore travel websites such as Expedia and AirBnB to budget for your dream trip.
Envision your dream vacation. Use online tools like Google Maps to navigate unfamiliar cities and delve into their cultural landmarks on Wikipedia. Plan your itinerary by checking flight prices on Expedia or browsing accommodations on AirBnB.
Master a mesmerizing magic trick. Impress your friends with sleight of hand skills. Online platforms like Mytour and YouTube offer tutorials to learn coin or card tricks at your own pace.
Unlock the secrets of magic tricks. Delight your peers by learning captivating illusions. Numerous online platforms, including Mytour and YouTube, provide step-by-step guides for mastering various tricks.
Immerse yourself in art
Explore the vibrant world of art. Seeking inspiration? Dive into specialized art platforms such as DeviantArt (for alternative art), Behance (showcasing graphic design), Flickr (a hub for photography), and Juxtapoz (offering insights into contemporary art).
Create your own masterpiece
Unleash your creativity through art. Feel the artistic urge? Numerous online drawing and painting tools await, catering to all skill levels. Here are some popular choices:
Embark on a journey with Google Earth
Embark on an adventure with Google Earth. Google Earth provides an immersive exploration of virtually any location you desire. With Street View, you can roam the bustling streets of Tokyo or even attempt to locate celebrity residences like Drake's in Calabasas. Take a peek at your own home and see if any windows are left ajar.
Challenge your geographical knowledge with GeoGuessr
Put your geography skills to the test. Dive into GeoGuessr, where you're presented with random street views from Google Earth and tasked with pinpointing their locations worldwide. The closer your guess, the more points you earn.
Discover captivating listicles
Indulge in engaging listicles. Fancy a rundown of the 25 Best Sandwiches in the World in GIFs? Or perhaps a nostalgic trip through the top 20 toys beloved by 90s kids? Buzzfeed, Upworthy, Bored Panda, Bustle, and similar platforms offer amusing and informative lists on various topics you never knew you cared about. Dive in for some lighthearted entertainment without breaking a sweat.
Stay informed with local news
Stay updated with local news online. Stay connected to stories that impact you by accessing your local news outlet online. In today's digital age, many overlook local news, prioritizing celebrity gossip over issues concerning their own communities. Utilize the web to stay informed about your surroundings.
Explore news based on interests
Discover the latest on Google News. Visit https://news.google.com/ to explore news tailored to your interests or location. Personalize your experience by signing in with your Google account!
Dive into insightful blogs
Explore niche or specialized blogs. No matter your interests, you'll likely find an online community that shares your passion. Into gaming? Dive into PC Gamer or IGN for the latest updates. Music enthusiast? Explore Complex, Pitchfork, Stereogum, Bandcamp, or Brooklyn Vegan. Delve into these communities to connect with like-minded individuals or simply to broaden your horizons.
Enroll in a free online course
Expand your knowledge with free online courses. Enhance your skills while enjoying the learning process. Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) offer a plethora of free resources. It's like attending lectures at prestigious institutions such as Harvard, all from the comfort of your home. Explore MOOCs through databases like this one.
Explore the Internet Archive
Take a trip through internet history. Curious about the internet's past? Explore archived versions of websites dating back 10 or 15 years. The Internet Archive offers a tool to revisit old web content.
Explore and contribute to a wiki
Engage with and contribute to wikis. Since you're already here, why not become a part of the community and start contributing? Platforms like Mytour and Wikipedia rely on user-generated content and active users to perform various tasks essential for their operation. From monitoring recent changes to initiating new articles, participating in a wiki can be both fulfilling and enjoyable.
Connect with friends through chat
Stay connected with your friends. Sure, you've thought of this already, but perhaps there's a novel way to communicate you haven't explored yet. Share links, images, and videos that will bring laughter to your friends. Initiate a meme exchange. Some messaging platforms like Discord offer integrated games to enjoy while conversing with friends online.
- Consider options like Facebook Messenger, Skype, WhatsApp, and Kik for online chatting.
- Feeling isolated? Try video chatting with friends to recreate the feeling of hanging out together. Reach out to an old friend and catch up via Facebook video chat or Skype. Just remember to video chat only with those you know well.
Engage with Facebook
Utilize Facebook or create an account. Facebook offers a convenient way to pass the time. Share your own content, browse through updates from others, and chat with friends instantly. It's a fantastic platform for staying connected and enjoying leisure time online.
- If your News Feed feels mundane, delve deeper into profiles of people you're not familiar with. Your best friend's second cousin's girlfriend's Facebook page likely holds plenty of unseen content.
- Contribute your own content. Research indicates that individuals who spend more time consuming others' content and less time sharing their own tend to feel more bored and depressed. Update your status, upload photos, and interact with others by writing on their walls.
Engage with Twitter
Craft Tweets. Establish a Twitter presence by creating an account and following celebrities, friends, and intriguing personalities to immerse yourself in the hashtag culture, if you haven't already. If you possess wit, brevity, and the ability to captivate, you can amass followers and entertain them with amusing Tweets regularly. Just refrain from starting Twitter feuds with Nicki Minaj. It's not advisable.
Pen a Yelp review
Share your thoughts on Yelp. Ever dined at a restaurant and formed an opinion about it? Of course you have. Why not share it online? On a serious note, providing consumer feedback is a constructive way to spend time online and derive enjoyment. Let your voice be heard.
Explore Pinterest
Discover interesting content on Pinterest. Pinterest serves as an excellent platform for discovering and sharing recipes, home decor ideas, fashion trends, and lifestyle tips. Its user-friendly interface makes it easy to navigate, making it an ideal choice when you're seeking enjoyable online activities. Create a profile and start pinning away!
Engage in online forums
Participate in a specialized online forum. Without online forums, concepts like memes, 'lulz,' and well-placed .gifs wouldn't have flourished. While breaking into these communities can be daunting, vibrant communities exist for every subculture imaginable, from punk rock to skateboarding to anime to video games. Find a forum aligned with your interests, create an account, and engage in discussions safely.
Customize your computer desktop
Revamp your desktop. Feeling uninspired? Give your computer a fresh look. Tech-savvy individuals refer to this as a desktop makeover. Begin by right-clicking your Windows desktop and selecting Personalize, or choose System Preferences on a Mac. You can also tweak other aspects of your computer, such as window colors, sound schemes, mouse pointers, and desktop icons.
- Explore Google Images or reputable wallpaper websites online to discover captivating wallpapers for your computer. Sharks sporting birthday hats? Intriguing. Or perhaps an elegant snapshot of your favorite celebrity or a trendy pattern.
Revise your screensaver
Update your screensaver. Browse through your image collection and select a fresh screensaver or download one. You could opt for a slideshow of your photos (yawn) or one that mimics the Matrix (cool).
Rotate your screen 180 degrees
Rotate your screen upside down. Pressing {{keypress|Ctrl|Alt|Down} on a PC or Mac will flip your screen upside down, perfect for a prank! Restore it to its normal orientation by pressing Ctrl+Alt+↑.
Capture a selfie
Take photographs. If you have a webcam, experiment with taking selfies, creating quirky still-life compositions in front of your computer, or playing around with picture filters. Transform yourself into a whimsical alien with an unusual nose, or adjust the colors until you resemble someone seasick.
Enhance a photo
Enhance photos. If you have Photoshop or Gimp installed, manipulate images to create bizarre and meme-worthy compositions. Imagine your grandmother's face on Danzig's body? You're off to a good start.
Modify a video
Create a video! Both Windows and Mac come equipped with built-in video editing software. Utilize Clipchamp on Windows or iMovie for macOS. Here are some ideas:
- Produce a tutorial. Activate your webcam and lead your viewers through a task you're familiar with. Whether it's brewing espresso or knitting a sweater, there's an audience eager to learn from your expertise.
- Edit clips of your loved ones. Craft a lively video featuring the important people in your life. Enhance it with music and text to evoke a cool or nostalgic vibe.
- Make a short film. Have a screenplay idea that's been on your mind? Now's the perfect opportunity! With an inexpensive camera and free editing software, the possibilities are endless.
Compose a melody
Compose a melody. Most modern computers come equipped with internal microphones and software that enable you to record a melody (or any sounds) onto your computer and begin manipulating it within minutes. You don't need to be exceptionally talented or have instruments at your disposal. Record yourself humming, then experiment with distortion settings to produce unique sounds. Layer recordings of random Bible passages with the sound of your dog snoring for an avant-garde masterpiece. Mac users can explore GarageBand, while Windows users can try Audacity.
- Host a podcast reminiscent of old-school DJs, discussing your favorite songs between each track on your playlist. Curate a themed playlist and record conversations to intersperse. Consider involving a friend for added enjoyment.
- Remix existing songs, such as speeding up a Rihanna track to create a death metal rendition or manipulating death metal tracks to produce ambient drone music. The trend of slowing down tracks by 700% even gained meme status recently, transforming everything from dial-up sounds to Nickelback songs.
Initiate a journal
Begin a digital journal. In ancient times (like the 1970s), people actually kept diaries where they eloquently documented their lives with intricate detail. Surprising, isn't it? Spending a couple of hours on your computer jotting down your thoughts can be quite rewarding, especially when internet access isn't available. Open a word-processing program (such as Word, Writer, or Notepad) and start chronicling your day. Maintain a continuous log. Who knows, you might enjoy it enough to transition into creating a blog someday.
Craft a brief narrative
Embark on a short story. Open your preferred writing software and dive right in! (Or sketch out an outline if that's more your style). If you're seeking a free writing tool, give Google Docs a try! Visit https://www.google.com/docs/about/ to begin. Mac users can explore Pages, Apple's built-in writing software.
Master programming
Master the art of coding. If you're weary of conventional methods of computer entertainment, why not elevate your passion? Learning coding empowers you to conceive and develop your own computer programs from scratch. It's akin to acquiring a new language and can pose a challenge, yet the rewards are immense (plus, it enhances your resume.)
- There's a plethora of programming languages available. While there's no definitive path to mastering programming, here are five languages often recommended for beginners:
- Python
- C/C++
- Java
- Javascript
- Ruby
- Explore CodeAcademy.com for interactive coding tutorials across various programming languages, free of charge.
Acquire web design skills
Explore the realm of web design. Are you constantly immersed in the online world? If so, delve into the fundamentals of web design to craft your own websites and contribute to the online sphere! Some basic web design skills intersect with the previously mentioned list of fundamental programming languages (for instance, many websites utilize Javascript). Conversely, mastering skills like HTML coding opens up opportunities to delve into web-centric programming.
Experiment with a different operating system
Dive into unfamiliar operating systems. Did you know that you're not restricted to the operating system your computer initially came with? It's true — Macs can operate Windows, PCs can run macOS, and both can embrace Linux! Setting up these configurations may pose challenges, so refer to the support page of your chosen program (or peruse our help articles) if you encounter any obstacles.
- To run Windows on a Mac, utilize:
- Boot Camp (pre-installed or available for free download)
- Parallels Desktop for Mac
- To install macOS on a PC, opt for:
- A bootable USB drive
- A virtual machine application like VMWare.
- Also, consider alternatives such as Ubuntu, Debian, and Haiku.
Enhance your computer
Boost your computer's capabilities. If your computer isn't performing up to par, think about upgrading its hardware components. Depending on your objectives, this process can surprisingly be quite straightforward (particularly for PC users, as most Mac upgrades necessitate Apple's intervention). However, due to the delicate nature of computer components, it's crucial to attempt this only if you possess the necessary expertise.
- Here are some components that can be adjusted or replaced to enhance a computer's performance:
- Graphics card
- Sound card
- Fan/cooling system
- RAM
- Processor/CPU
- If you're feeling particularly adventurous, consider making computer maintenance a hobby. Some individuals enjoy disassembling and reassembling their computers for recreational purposes — much like enthusiasts who tinker with automobiles. Moreover, this practical knowledge will furnish you with an intimate understanding of a computer's internal workings that many can only dream of.
Pointers
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If you have a penchant for fashion and creativity, explore Polyvore, a platform where you can unleash your style experimentation.
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If you're out of ideas, simply scout for entertaining software on Google and see if you stumble upon anything amusing to tinker with.
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If your computer is occasionally used by kids, take a peek at their browsing history. Sometimes, it can lead to a good chuckle!
The suggestions provided here stem from the real-life experiences of Mytour readers like yourself. If you have a helpful hint you'd like to contribute to Mytour, please share it below.
- Explore some podcasts; popular ones include The Anthropocene Reviewed, 99 Percent Invisible, and The Habitat.
- If you're keen on free animation software, give stykz.com a try!
Cautions
- Exercise caution when downloading freeware games from unfamiliar sources. Some 'free' games may contain viruses or malware. If uncertain, research the website's reputation (Wikipedia often provides articles on websites and harmful software), or stick to 'open source' games.
- Keep in mind that not all information found on the Internet is trustworthy. Books offer a slightly safer alternative!
