How to Shake Off Boredom

Baking or Cooking. The beauty of baking or cooking is that the activity itself helps you lose track of time, and by the end, you have something delicious to enjoy (hopefully). Try searching for a fun recipe in your old cookbooks or on the internet, and start experimenting.

Self-Beautification. Try different makeup looks to see how they change your appearance. Browse through your wardrobe and try on outfits that you can wear in the coming days. Mix and match jewelry, makeup styles with your outfits, and choose suitable accessories.

• Manicure. Paint your nails with trendy designs or paint each nail a different color.

Watch a Movie. You can watch a movie online, rent a DVD from a store, or even visit a cinema. Try exploring a genre you don't typically watch, like a documentary or a fantasy film, for a fresh experience.

Practice a Skill. If you don't have anything better to do, now is the perfect time to hone a skill you already have. If you play soccer, grab a ball and practice dribbling or shooting at the goal in a nearby park. If you know how to play the piano, try practicing some songs. You don't have to play them from start to finish; just focus on a few sections or your favorite songs.

Clean Your Room. Tidy up your room to create a clean, organized space. A tidy room gives you a sense of accomplishment and helps restore your energy to combat boredom, motivating you to do other tasks.

• Reorganize your wardrobe. Boredom is a good time to tackle tasks you usually avoid, such as organizing your closet. Check for clothes that no longer fit or that you don't wear anymore. Your mood will improve as you make space for new things.

Clean Areas You Normally Ignore. Head to the attic or garage and see what you can clean or throw away. You might even find lost items while tidying up!

• Commonly overlooked cleaning spots include remote controls, behind the refrigerator, bathroom doorknobs, light switches, and dishwashers. Grab a cloth and clean from top to bottom.

Decorate Your Home. If you have some free time, it's the perfect opportunity to tackle one of those home decor projects you've been putting off. Turn on some music for added motivation and energy!

• Decoration. Hang up that painting you've had stored away for months. If you can, rearrange your furniture or repaint the walls for a fresh look.
• Fix Household Issues. It could be a leaky sink or a sagging porch step. Spend a little time fixing a creaky door, and you'll feel accomplished instead of bored!

Spend time with your pet. If you have a pet, take care of them by giving them a bath or trimming their nails. You can also teach your dog a new trick to impress your family and friends.

Call or text a friend who is free and knows how to make videos, and ask them to join you in creating a short film. This could be someone you chat with often or even someone you rarely talk to.

Explain to them any video ideas you have. Let them know you want to create a video on the theme 'What to do when you're bored.'

Create a list of 10 to 50 tasks you need to do. The number of tasks will depend on how many things you can think of.

Set up your camera. You can use the iPad's camera, a video-enabled camera, or your iPhone's camera. Make sure you have the necessary apps to edit and ensure compatibility; there are plenty of such apps available in the app store.

Record the video. It's best to have one friend explain what the activity is, and then ask another friend to demonstrate the activity by filming two separate videos.

Combine these two videos into one using an app from the app store. Remember, there are many apps you can download and try. If you don't like one or feel it's not suitable, delete it and search for another app.

Review your video. If you're not satisfied, go back and re-record the parts you don't like or try again. If you're happy with the result, feel free to upload it to social media platforms like Facebook, Google+, YouTube, or Twitter, or even Instagram—although Instagram limits video uploads to 15 seconds. But sharing what you've accomplished with friends is already worth it.

Watch the video again when you're feeling bored in the future. It will remind you of the fun things you've done when you were feeling down.

Observe the people around you. One of the most exciting aspects of traveling is being in places filled with people to watch. Whenever you're feeling bored in busy spots like train stations, airports, bus stops, or cafes, observe the people around you.

• Imagine stories about the people you meet. The woman wearing zebra-patterned leggings might be an international spy on her way to a meeting with her boss. She dresses in bright clothes so people won't notice her face.

Eavesdrop. Listen in on the conversations happening around you. Try to catch odd or unusual discussions without letting anyone know you're eavesdropping. Instead, act as if you're reading a book or a magazine.

• Rewrite the things you overhear into a short story or a poem.
• If you're traveling with friends, make it a fun challenge to see who can overhear the most peculiar conversation or strange comments.

Disguise yourself with a new persona. While traveling, you can be anyone you want. Become a trustworthy and gentle person on the plane, at the bus stop, or while waiting for a train. See if people trust you based on your new look!

Create games. Sometimes, this is the only way to entertain yourself, whether you're an adult or a child. You can play the "I spy" game, which is quite fun for kids during car trips. Or, you can create your own game depending on where you are.

• Create a scoring system for the annoying people around you. This can be especially useful when you're stuck somewhere during peak holiday season. There's always someone who annoys others strongly, so turn their disruptive behavior into a game to make it more acceptable. For example, add 10 points if someone cuts in line, or 5 points for a child yelling throughout the flight.

Call or text a friend. Check in on how they're doing and share your quirky travel experiences with them. You can brainstorm ideas to pass the time. You'll have someone to chat with and kill time together.

Exercise. A great way to cure boredom is to do some physical activity. Endorphins released during exercise help you feel better and happier. Go for a run, ride a bike, walk around your area, practice yoga, skip rope, or hula hoop.

• Use this time to explore where you're living. You'll be active, chase away the boredom, and who knows, you might discover a hidden spot or two.

Take a little adventure. Drive, take a bus, or bike into the city. Hop on a bus to a place you wouldn't normally visit, ride your bike through a neighborhood of fancy houses, or look for a hidden park.

Contribute to a local food bank. Especially if you've spent time decluttering your home, now is a great chance to donate unused items to a food bank. Things like gently used clothes (still in good condition, not faded or torn) or canned goods you no longer need.

• You can also volunteer at the food bank by restocking or serving food if you're able. It's a wonderful way to make a difference instead of wasting time doing nothing.

Doodle. This is a great way to keep your hands busy while your mind stays focused on what your teacher or professor is saying. You can also do this at work, while thinking about upcoming projects, or just to look busy in front of your boss.

• If you have some skill, you can even organize a doodling contest with friends or coworkers. Try creating an amazing drawing on a blank sheet, or doodle on someone else's paper to make something truly spontaneous.

Join a creative project. If you want to challenge yourself at work or in class, and you're feeling bored, maybe the current challenge isn't enough. Try suggesting a challenging project to your boss or teacher and see what happens.

Tidy up. When you have some free time at work or school, take the opportunity to get organized. Sometimes this can even help you increase productivity. Clean your desk or sort through loose papers. Make sure everything is in its proper place and easily accessible.

Clean your computer. Wipe the screen clean, and scrub between the keys. If your computer is white, make sure to clean it thoroughly so it looks as good as new.

• Organize your computer desktop so it's easy to find what you're looking for. Put all your photos in a folder labeled 'Pictures' and ensure all your files are in appropriately named folders.

Meditate. If you have extra time and feel a bit fed up, use this time to meditate. Meditation helps calm your mind and focus on the tasks ahead. It’s a fantastic way to recharge your energy.

• Sit quietly at your desk and close your eyes (or pretend you're working). Take deep breaths and focus on your breathing. If any thoughts come up, just let them pass by.

Read. Reading is a great way to pass the time; just pick up a book, magazine, or newspaper. Reading helps you lose track of time and keeps your mind engaged with something interesting. Sometimes, free time is an opportunity to try something new.

• You could hide a book under your textbook in class or at your desk. Pretend you're focused on studying or working, but actually, you're doing something much more exciting.
• Read detective stories and try to guess the ending before it's revealed, or dive into some fantasy or science fiction tales. Explore genres like fiction, philosophy, spirituality, or even sacred texts like the Bible or the Quran.
• Check out what books you can borrow from the library and take them with you to class or work. Some libraries even offer online databases where you can search for books without leaving the classroom or office.

Learn something new every day. Free time is a perfect opportunity to pick up something fresh and interesting. You can then impress your friends and family. For instance, learn magic tricks, figure out how to blow fire, or even create a chainmail (email that asks recipients to forward to others)!

Go online. If you have a computer with internet access, you can browse the web. Just be sure that your boss or teacher doesn’t catch you.

• Visit online shopping sites like Amazon or eBay and search for the weirdest items you can find, then share them on your Twitter, Facebook, or Tumblr account.
• Browse Instagram, Facebook, or Vine. Upload photos, share stories, and check out others' posts and images.
• Watch any video on YouTube. Pick a comedy sketch if you want to lift your spirits, or choose an entertainment clip to stay on trend.
• Use Pinterest. Pick a topic of interest, create a board, pin the images you like, or browse photos from others.

Chat with a coworker. Sometimes, the best way to pass the time is by having a conversation with a colleague. Pick someone you don’t know well and learn more about them (Where are they from? Which school did they attend? What are their hobbies outside of work?). You might even end up making a new friend.

Compromise. Alright, you may not agree on everything. Pick an activity you want to do and combine it with something your friend enjoys. For example, you might want to watch a movie while your friend prefers baking. In that case, you could bake a red carpet-themed cake decorated with edible movie-related designs (if you're an experienced baker), and afterward, watch a movie about baking. This might be a rather poor example, but hopefully, it sparks your creativity.

Listen to music. There could be something in your favorite song that inspires you. It may seem like a quirky idea, but how would you know if you don’t try? Listen to a song that resonates with you and see if it sparks any inspiration.

Eat. To avoid excess calories from processed food, consider cooking with friends. You can burn off those extra calories through physical activity. Eating when bored isn’t necessarily a bad habit if you know how to balance out the extra calories and choose healthy options. If you're planning to exercise, make sure to drink plenty of water beforehand. You can even turn your workout into a game—race your friends on bikes or simply chase after them.