How to Alleviate Boredom at Home

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Updated: March 28, 2019 | References

Boredom is a common problem that plagues many people, but it can easily be conquered. To overcome boredom you can choose to use your time productively or you can relax, but the key is finding activities that you enjoy that will dissuade you from the idea that there is nothing to do. Most importantly, appreciate the free time you have because you won't always have it.

Method One of Four:
Being Creative

  1. 1
    Start a craft project. Maybe you aren't in the mood to straighten up your house, but you want to do something a little more fun. Start by looking around your home and seeing what decorations you could add to the walls. You can also be inspired by going online and searching for do-it-yourself craft projects. Try to find a project that uses things you have lying around the house so you won't have to travel to the store and spend money.
  2. 2
    Cook a new recipe. Experiment with baking or cooking by finding a new recipe online, or one that you've been wanting to try from your favorite cookbook, and spend part of the day making the food. If you are by yourself and the recipe makes a lot, consider halving it, or bringing the leftovers to your neighbors.
    • Bake homemade chocolate chip, sugar, or peanut butter cookies.
    • Make a cake and decorate it beautifully.
    • Prepare freezer meals for the week.
    • Make candies like caramel, toffee, or rock candy.
  3. 3
    Start a blog, journal, or write a story. When you have a lot of time on your hands it's a great time to pick up the writing project you have been wanting to start. Maybe you could start a blog about your favorite topic, or you could start a journal letting it be an outlet for emotions or thoughts that you've been feeling. You could also take this time to write a short story or begin a novel.
  4. 4
    Pick up painting. Find an image online that you would like to replicate on a canvas or paint a still life. If you aren't an expert painter it could be good to start with something simple and work your way up to something more advanced. You can also watch online painting tutorials that instruct people how to paint certain scenes.
    • You can also try out different styles like water colors, acrylics, oils, pastels, etc. It could be fun to pick your favorite painting and try to copy it yourself.
  5. 5
    Start or add to a scrapbook. Pick some of your favorite pictures and have them printed out, and then create a scrapbook with them. You can create a digital scrapbook online, or you can take scrapbook paper or construction paper, put it in a binder, or make it into a book. Then, cut out your pictures and glue them onto the paper, adding any text or embellishments on the pages to go along with the pictures.
  6. 6
    Try out gardening. Gardening can be a fun skill to have because you can grow your own fruits, vegetables, herbs, or spices. If you already have a garden, take this time to tend to your garden, removing any weeds, watering your plants, and adding any new plants that you want to your garden. If you want to start a new garden, first decide what plants you want to grow and then choose an area of your yard you think would be best.
    • When choosing plants, it's helpful to look up what grows best in the area where you live. Some plants grow better in dry, arid climates or in lots of sunlight, while others may grow better in shaded, more humid areas.
    • Do research on the type of soil and tools you'll need and pick them up at your local gardening or hardware store. Then, start your garden by preparing the land, adding the soil, and then planting your new plants!

Method Two of Four:

  1. 1
    Have a spa day. Some days you just need to relax and de-stress, and a day when you have no obligations weighing on you is a perfect day to enjoy a spa. Start by creating a calming environment by turning out some lights and lighting candles. You can also put on some spa or classical music to further help you relax.[1]
    • You can take many different approaches with your spa day. You can fill up a bath with nicely scented bubble bath and soak in the tub until you are wrinkly, make a facial mask and relax as your pores are cleansed, do a pedicure or manicure (or both!), or apply some homemade facial and body scrub.
    • Use essential oils in your bathtub, in a hot pack for sore muscles, or in a body scrub for more relaxation.
  2. 2
    Exercise. This may not seem relaxing, but when you exercise your body releases endorphins which can improve your mood. Visit your local gym to do some cardio or strength training, or find some workout videos online. If you are looking to really relax, yoga is a great alternative to extreme cardio or strength training workouts. You can also go on a long walk, which can be refreshing and a form of exercise all at the same time.[2]
  3. 3
    Read a book. When you have extended time on your hands it lends for a great opportunity to pick up a book and get through a good portion of it. Read that book you've been meaning to get into for a while, or find a new book online at a library.
    • You can visit Goodreads online for some book recommendations, and you can often check books out from your local library online and read them on a Kindle or Nook, so you don't even have to leave the house!
    • Create a cozy corner in your home to snuggle up while you read your books.
    • Make a cup of tea or a hot drink to go with your cozy afternoon.
  4. 4
    Binge watch TV or movies. Start a new show on Netflix or Hulu and binge watch an entire season, or watch that movie that you've been wanting to see that just came out on DVD. Sitting in front of a TV with some popcorn and candy can kill at least a couple hours of your time, if not more.[3]
  5. 5
    Do a puzzle. You can find cheap puzzles at a dollar store, or if you live with your parents your mom or grandmother likely has one lying around the house. Start an advanced puzzle, or spend an hour or two doing an easier puzzle. Then, once you have completed the puzzle, apply some puzzle glue and frame your puzzle. Puzzles can make cool paintings or pictures for decoration.
    • Instead of a picture puzzle, why not try a logic puzzle or word puzzle?
    • You could do something more creative and make your own puzzle.
  6. 6
    Listen to a podcast or music. There are endless podcasts online covering hundreds of topics that you can download to your phone or computer. Take some time to explore the different categories to find an interesting podcast and do some things around your home as you listen to it. Or you can take time to relax by listening to some music.
    • Find new music on Spotify or download free music.
    • Subscribe to a new podcast and download it to your phone to listen to later.
  7. 7
    Spend time with your pet. Loving on your animals and spending time with them is one of the best ways to relax, and your pet will love the extra attention. Dogs have actually been used in therapy and to help assist with depression, so it's clear that they can often help lighten your mood. How can you not smile when your dog or cat climbs into your lap or sits at your feet, eager for attention?[4]

Method Three of Four:
Improving Areas of Your Life

  1. 1
    Research ways to make money from home. If you don't have a regular job and are looking to earn some extra income, there are a lot of different avenues online to make some cash. You can sell items you have made on Etsy, make some money taking online surveys, or do freelance writing or editing.[5]
  2. 2
    Learn a new language. While this seems like a difficult task to do on your own, there are a lot of resources that can help you get started learning a new language. You can purchase software like Rosetta Stone, visit a website like Memrise, or you can download a free app like Duolingo.[6]
  3. 3
    Catch up with an old friend. You have lots of time on your hands so why not call up that old friend you've been meaning to chat with? If it's during the day and they aren't available, you can always shoot them an email or write them an old fashioned letter.
    • Because letter writing is few and far between, sometimes it can be really exciting to receive a handwritten letter -- and it shows thoughtfulness because it takes more effort than sending someone a text.
    • You can also send them a postcard.
  4. 4
    Create a budget. While you are organizing your home, why not organize your finances as well? Creating a budget can seem constricting to some, but having an idea where your money is going can be freeing and stress relieving. Come up with some common categories like rent, food, gas, miscellaneous, etc. and apportion the amount of money you usually spend on each of these things to those categories.
    • If you are unsure how much money should go in each category, look at your bank statement from the past two months and see how much you spent on each category. You can also find budget helpers online if you need some more ideas for different categories or how to apportion your funds.
  5. 5
    Look up ways to volunteer. If you constantly have extended time on your hands, this is a great way to use it -- by helping others out. You can usually find a lot of volunteer opportunities just by researching online. Maybe you like working with animals or the elderly, or you'd rather volunteer to promote the arts. Either way, there are likely some opportunities in your area to spend your time helping others.[7]

Method Four of Four:
Being Productive

  1. 1
    Write a to do list. Take time to think through everything you'd like to get done around the house, whether that's cleaning, organizing, or other household tasks. Then, go down the list and check off things as you do them. It can feel great to check things off a list that have been piling up for days or weeks.
  2. 2
    Deep clean your house. Cleaning often gets neglected when busyness takes over, so it's possible that your home could use a really good, deep cleaning. Start by straightening up your home, putting things into their places, and then bring out the heavy duty cleaning supplies. Give your bathroom and kitchen a heavy scrub down, vacuum and dust the living room and bedrooms, and sweep and mop your floors.[8]
    • Depending on how dirty your home is, these tasks could take an entire day! If your place is really dirty, don't overwhelm yourself by trying to get it done all at once. Spend a few hours cleaning, and then reward yourself with a break while doing something fun.
  3. 3
    Reorganize your closet. Another way to pass your time is to clean out your closet and organize its contents. Rearrange your clothes in order of season and color, and arrange your shoes by style and color. This is also a good time to clean out any junk or random items that you have stored in your closet that don't belong there or could have a better place to stay.
    • As you are organizing your closet, this could be a good time to get rid of clothes you don't wear anymore or that don't fit anymore. A good way to figure out how often you wear something is to turn the hangers of all of your clothes backwards, and then when you wear that piece of clothing turn it the right direction. Then, after a few months you should see which clothes you haven't worn.
  4. 4
    Reorganize your books. If you have a large collection of books, and it's difficult to find the book you are looking for, take time on this day to organize your books. You can organize them by author, title, or genre. This is also a good time to get rid of old books you won't read again or copies of books, as well as to dust your bookshelves, as you'll be moving books off the shelves to rearrange them.
  5. 5
    Get rid of old things. As you are cleaning and reorganizing things, create a pile with things that you don't use or want anymore to give to Goodwill, donate to a friend, or have a garage sale. Along with clothes and books, go through any furniture, supplies, or other items around your house and donate or sell the things that you think could benefit someone else.
  6. 6
    Do laundry. Laundry often piles up, just like dirt around the house, and a day where you have nothing to do is a great time to knock out a few loads. Separate your laundry by colors if you like, and afterwards you can even take time to iron items if necessary.
  7. 7
    Organize different rooms. As you go through each room to clean it, why not organize it as well? Clean out your fridge and throw away old leftovers, organize the pots and pans in your kitchen, rearrange the items under your bathroom sink, etc. There's bound to be many areas in your home that could use some reorganization, so take some time on this day to organize and restructure your life. It will likely help remove any stress that you are feeling too!

Community Q&A

  • Where can I buy a cheap canvas?
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  • Be open-minded. We often find ourselves bored at home because we take it for granted. Appreciate the free time you have, because it won't always be there.
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  • Remember you don't have to be doing something every second of every day. It's okay to have free time, as long as it is not too much.
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  • Take this time to organize your room. The more tidy and cozy it is, the more you'll want to be there.
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About This Article

49 votes - 71%
Co-authors: 17
Updated: March 28, 2019
Views: 35,742
Categories: Beating Home Boredom
Article Summary

To alleviate boredom at home, try listening to new music and downloading any songs you like to add to your collection. Or, you can put on a good podcast while you tidy up around the house, play with your pet, or cook a delicious meal. Alternatively, if you're feeling creative, you can try drawing, painting, or writing a short story. You could also exercise to release endorphins and improve your mood, or you could do some yoga if you're looking for something a little more relaxing.

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