Buzz
Staying at home can sometimes feel really boring. You might struggle to find something interesting to do to fill up your time when you can't go anywhere. Don't worry – there are plenty of activities you can do to beat boredom while you're stuck at home. You can try playing games with family, watching movies, making snacks, or even building a pillow fort. You have many fun options to turn a dull day into something more exciting.
Steps
Relax
Share your favorite movies with your friends online. Watching movies is a great way to pass the time, but watching alone can get pretty boring. Invite a few friends online to use screen-sharing apps to watch movies and videos together. Programs like Netflix Party, Gaze, Watch2gether, and Twoseven can help you stay connected while lounging at home!
- If you don't want to use screen-sharing apps, you can set up a movie time with friends – pick a time to watch the movie together and text each other while enjoying it!
Watch some fun videos on YouTube. If you're feeling down or bored, explore YouTube for content that catches your interest. Look for meme videos, game playthroughs, reaction videos, or anything else that brings a smile to your face.
- Twitter and Facebook are also full of funny videos you might want to watch.
- You can also find entertaining videos or memes on video-sharing platforms like TikTok.
- This is a great solo activity to enjoy on your own.
Boost your mood with your favorite music when you're home alone. Use apps like Spotify or SoundCloud to create playlists for different occasions. If you're in the mood to discover new tracks, you can use Spotify's “Start Playlist Radio” feature by clicking the three dots next to a playlist. The sharing feature also lets you share your favorite songs with friends and family!
- Try exploring new music genres or artists you've never heard before.
- Create your own playlists. You could make one for relaxation, workouts, or reading sessions.
- This is a perfect chance to practice lip-syncing or playing air guitar.
Try a new game to change the atmosphere. Playing video games can be a fantastic way to turn a dull day into an exciting one. There's a game for everyone, from fast-paced shooters to object-finding games. No matter what genre you prefer, gaming is a great way to cope with a day spent indoors. It's also a fun way to interact with friends online when you can't go outside.
- If you enjoy sandbox games where you can build your own world, try games like Minecraft, the Sims, or Animal Crossing.
- If rhythm games are your thing, you might enjoy osu!, a free computer game. You may also like titles like Just Dance.
- Browse online gaming platforms like Steam to find free games to play.
- If multiplayer online games are more your style, try games like League of Legends, World of Warcraft, Overwatch, Smite, or Dota 2.
Share your stories with friends and family. Being stuck indoors can be a perfect opportunity to chat with loved ones. The stories we share with each other can help lift our spirits. You can tell your own stories or share interesting ones you've heard elsewhere. Feel free to talk about anything that you and others find intriguing.
Learn something new.
Learn a new language online to broaden your horizons. Download an app like Duolingo on your phone to study and practice a new language with easy-to-follow exercises. For a bit of a challenge, invite friends and family to join you in learning a new language so you can all practice together!
- If you'd like to practice more, you can check out some websites that connect learners from different countries. Platforms like HelloTalk, Tandem Language Exchange, and Conversation Exchange are excellent places to start!
Take a personality quiz to learn more about yourself. Search online for free personality tests, such as MBTI or Enneagram. These tests only take a few minutes to complete, but they can reveal a lot about yourself when you get the results. To make it even more fun, invite friends and family to take the test as well and compare your results.
- You can take the free MBTI personality test here: https://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test.
- Find a free version of the Enneagram test here: https://www.eclecticenergies.com/enneagram/test.
Register for free online courses with friends. Look for websites from prestigious universities to see if they offer online courses. You can enroll in introductory programming courses or other interesting classes. For a more enjoyable experience, invite a few friends to join you in taking the courses so you can share notes and insights.
- Harvard University offers free online courses that you can take! Visit their site here: https://online-learning.harvard.edu/catalog/free.
Learn programming online for free. Explore free programming websites like Codecademy, Free Code Camp, Codewars, HackerRank, and CodeFights. Challenge yourself with different lessons, activities, and exercises every day to become a proficient coder. You can also invite friends to join you on this journey!
- You can also learn programming for free on websites like edX, Upskill, MIT OpenCourseware, and Khan Academy.
Try creative activities
Prepare a delicious snack. If you're stuck at home, ask someone to help you prepare a tasty snack. Doing something together that you both enjoy is a great way to lift your spirits.
- You could bake cookies, sponge cake, or brownies together.
- Try making s'mores on the stove.
- Blend some fruit and enjoy a smoothie together.
Draw or sketch to spark creativity. Don't be afraid – you don't need to be a professional artist to create your own art! Drawing can be a wonderful way to express yourself and banish boredom. If you're feeling tired of being stuck indoors, make your own fun by creating some interesting artwork.
- If you're not skilled at first, don't worry! A simple stick figure drawing can be a masterpiece to someone!
- If you're an artist, challenge yourself by drawing pebbles or horses.
- There are many types of art and crafts you can try, from chalk art to sculpting. Have you ever made an infinity mirror or a galaxy in a jar?
- Artistic creation is a great solo activity.
Write a song, compose poetry, or create a story. Spend some time journaling or writing song lyrics to express yourself. If you prefer other formats, try writing poetry, creating a short story, or even starting a novel. Let your creative flow fill the pages to make the most of your time alone at home.
- Journaling is a great way to connect with your thoughts and emotions.
- If you have friends who enjoy songwriting, invite them to collaborate on a song! Ask them to send vocal or music tracks, and then mix them with your own to create something amazing.
Make refreshing changes to your home. Redecorating a part of your house or room can be a fun way to keep from feeling down. Changing the decor can make your room or house feel brand new and inspire you. You can redecorate as much or as little as you like to create a space that suits you.
- Move furniture around to give the room a fresh new vibe.
- Try swapping items from one room to another to see how they fit.
- Create something fun, like a 'fort' made of cushions or blankets.
- Consider painting a picture to hang and give the room a new look.
Surprise your friends and family with homemade treats. Check your pantry and fridge to see what ingredients you have at home. Don’t settle for pre-made, reheatable meals – try making something with a variety of ingredients, like cookies, muffins, cupcakes, or even a savory dish. You can cook while everyone's out and have the meal ready when they return!
- Looking for something easy yet delicious? Recipes like nachos or spaghetti are simple and tasty.
- Do you have basic ingredients like flour, eggs, sugar, and others at home? Check out recipes based on what you have on websites like SuperCook. Visit: https://www.supercook.com/#/recipes.
Plan a dream vacation with your friends. Sit down with someone and talk about the travel destinations you've always dreamed of visiting. Discuss where you want to go and what you'd do there. Let your imagination soar with adventures you both would enjoy.
- Chat about the adventure ideas you both have in mind.
- Talk about the things you love about the places you wish to visit.
- Grab a map and sketch out the routes you'd like to take.
- Use Google Street View to take virtual strolls through your dream locations.
Get Moving
Get up and dance around your house. Dancing is an easy way to move your body and boost your energy. Find a few of your favorite songs, turn up the volume, and start moving! You don't need to know any specific moves – just enjoy dancing however you like!
- Create a playlist of your favorite dance tunes.
- Make up your own dance moves or learn the steps to a new dance style.
- You can dance solo or invite friends to join in!
Change the mood with fun exercises. Just because you're home alone all day doesn't mean you can't exercise. Many workouts require no equipment and use just your body weight or movements. Try exercising at home to beat the boredom.
- There are many online videos with exercise tutorials.
- Exercises like push-ups or squats can help build muscle strength without weights.
- Cardio activities like jumping jacks are great for staying active.
Relax with stretching or yoga poses. Whether or not you're working out, stretching is a great idea when you're home alone. Stretching can help relax your mind while improving your range of motion and flexibility. When stuck inside, try gentle stretches to get your body moving and shake off the boredom.
- Always stretch gently to avoid injury. Stop immediately if you feel pain while stretching.
- There are many free yoga tutorials available online that you can follow.
Stimulate your brain
Challenge yourself with a logic crossword puzzle. Pick up a book or search online for some crossword puzzles. This brain game involves filling in squares with clues provided. Start with easier puzzles or try more challenging ones!
- You can find free logic crosswords here: https://logic.puzzlebaron.com/
Take on a truly challenging jigsaw puzzle with some friends. Dig out an old puzzle from your cupboard or buy a new one online to begin the fun. Find a large, flat surface to work on and start putting the pieces together. When you finish the picture, you'll feel a great sense of accomplishment.
- You can start with smaller 500-piece puzzles, then gradually tackle larger ones!
- If you start feeling stuck, take a break! There’s no time limit to completing the puzzle, and you can always come back to it later.
Break out the board games and play with friends or family. Board games have long been a beloved pastime for many. Ask around to see who in your household wants to play a board game. Most board games are designed for multiple players and offer hours of fun.
- Monopoly, Trouble, Sorry!, and Settlers of Catan are some great games to try.
Learn the art of Origami to pass the time if you're alone. Try your hand at paper folding for a fun distraction. Start with simple shapes like the fortune teller game and gradually work your way up to more intricate creations like the Ninja Star.
Try the origami course by Mytour. Learn how to fold 8 origami shapes, including a paper heart, compass (north, south, east, west), paper crane, origami butterfly, origami turtle, flying bird, ninja star, and paper lily.
Advice
- Though it may not sound like much fun, cleaning your house is a very useful way to prevent boredom. Once you've tidied up your space, you'll find that you're much more productive!
