What to do when you're bored: 95 creative ways to reset

Personal Growth

Aug 25

Written By Calm Editorial Team

Clinically reviewed by Dr. Chris Mosunic, PhD, RD, MBA

Bored again and don't know what to do? These 95 creative and no-pressure ideas can help you move through boredom without guilt, stress, or endless scrolling.

No matter who you are or where you live, you know what boredom feels like. Maybe you’ve been lying on the couch, hoping someone will reach out or that inspiration will strike. Or you’ve opened your fridge four times for a snack, even though you’re not actually hungry. You’re not overwhelmed or tired, you’re just feeling blah.

While it can be annoying, it’s a mistake to link boredom with laziness or indulgence. In reality, being bored is simply an emotional cue, much like sadness or joy. If you can meet the feeling with curiosity instead of judgment, you may find that it will guide you to what you need — whether that’s inviting over some company, starting a creative activity, or simply sitting in nature.

Once you allow yourself to invite your boredom in and listen to its cues, you can take action. And we’re here to help. Here are some low-stakes ways to help you reset your attention, stir a little joy, and feel a bit more connected.

Why boredom isn’t a bad thing

It’s easy to see boredom as something that needs to be solved. After all, we live in a world where stimulation is always a tap away and busyness can be seen as a badge of honor. If you’re not multitasking, optimizing, or producing, it can feel like you’re wasting time.

But psychologists have found that boredom can serve a purpose: It gives your brain a break from constant input, which can open up space for creativity, self-reflection, and problem-solving. When children are bored, they automatically reach for their imagination… something we can all learn from, since most adults move straight to self-criticism instead.

So, instead of a problem, what if you treated boredom like an invitation? It could be a gateway to a new hobby, mindful movement, or simply a quick boost of creativity on an otherwise mundane day.

What to do when you’re bored: 95 mindful ideas

Instead of immediately reaching for your phone when you’re bored, consider some of these easy ideas that have been designed to meet you where you are. They gently shift your attention without demanding performance or perfection — and often, they give you a chance to just be.

Take a look at the list below and consider the ones that call to you. You don’t have to do them all, but try out a few to help spark larger discoveries about the things that light you up.

Creative sparks (for when you want to feel inspired)

Sometimes boredom feels heavy — like you don’t have the energy to start something big. That’s where small, playful, creative acts come in. Just a little curiosity and a few minutes can shake up the monotony and make space for something delightfully unexpected.

Doodle without a plan: Grab any pen and let your hand wander across the page without thinking. No goal or rules — just shapes, lines, and whatever appears.
Make a collage out of junk mail: Rip up flyers, catalogs, or old receipts and piece them together into something weirdly satisfying.
Invent a new word and define it: Mash together random sounds until you land on something fun, and then give it a meaning. Think “glumbish: the cozy slump after finishing a good book.”
Write a haiku about how you feel right now: There’s no pressure to make it perfect, but just letting your emotions out can feel really good.
Take five photos of things that match a color: Pick a color and go on a mini scavenger hunt. Snap five quick pictures and watch your world feel oddly curated.
Make a playlist for a mood (boredom counts): Build a soundtrack for “folding laundry at midnight” or “mild optimism.” The sillier the title, the better.
Try blackout poetry with a newspaper or magazine: Cross out words in an old article until you’re left with a strange little poem.
Design a new flag for your home, your mood, or your pet: Grab some paper, draw a few symbols, and make it official.
Pick a random word and write a one-paragraph story: Use the first word you see—lamp, fork, or cloud—and spin it into a tiny story. Don’t edit it, and just let momentum guide you through.
Draw a map of a made-up place: Sketch islands, lagoons, or beaches — wherever you’d most like to visit, if it just existed.
Make a comic with stick figures: If you can’t think of a plot, consider it optional.
Write a fake recipe using the weirdest ingredients you can imagine: Some inspiration? “Serves two: three teaspoons of moonlight, a pinch of lost socks, and one unasked question.”
Write a short letter to your future self: Date it, keep it honest, and tuck it somewhere random. Future you will be thrilled (or deeply confused).
Describe your current surroundings like it’s a scene in a novel: Turn “I’m sitting on the couch” into “She sat amongst the quiet chaos of mismatched coffee mugs and an unwatered fern.”
Pretend your pet (or houseplant) is narrating your day: Write from their point of view. Extra points if they’re sassy and vaguely disappointed in you.
Write a review of the last dream you remember: “Three stars. The plot was confusing, but the flying sequence was impressive.”
Take an imaginary vacation: Where do you go? What do you see? Close your eyes and daydream yourself somewhere far away.

Small movements (for when your body wants to do something)

Just moving a little bit can wake up stiff muscles, shake off restless energy, and help you feel a little more grounded. No yoga mat or sneakers required: It’s all about you, your body, and maybe just a little bit of silliness.

Do a single, slow stretch: Reach your arms overhead, pause, and feel that satisfying release. Hold it for a few seconds longer than you think you need.
Try balancing on one leg for 30 seconds: Plant your foot, lift the other, and wobble with pride.
Sit on the floor and reach for your toes: Don’t put any pressure on yourself to touch them. Just fold forward and breathe into the stretch.
Dance to a song you swear you don’t like: It might just become your favorite song after two minutes.
Do three lazy jumping jacks: Go as slow as you need to. The purpose is to have a few hops to beat out the stiffness.
March in place while humming: Lift your knees, hum a tune, and see if your body finds a rhythm.
Trace shapes in the air with your toes: Lie down or sit back, and spell out letters or doodles with your feet.
Clench every muscle in your body and release: Squeeze from head to toe, hold for three seconds, and then let it all go. It’s an instant exhale.
Stretch like a cat: Arch, curl, and really lean into it.
Do shoulder rolls while counting backward from 20: Roll forward, then back, and let the tension melt away one number at a time.
Push your feet into the ground and feel it push back: Stand still, press down firmly, and notice that steady, solid support.
Lie on the floor in starfish pose: Spread out like you’re claiming the entire room. Stay there for a moment, and just breathe.
Tap your fingers to the beat of your breathing: Inhale, tap. Exhale, tap. Repeat.
Walk around your space and touch five textures: Let your hands wake up your senses. Aim for something smooth, rough, soft, cool, and warm.
Squeeze a pillow as hard as you can, and then let go: Squish and release, and let your breath settle at the same time.
Stand in a doorway and gently stretch your arms against the frame: Lean forward slightly and feel your chest open.
Flop dramatically onto the couch like you’re in a soap opera: Overact and sigh loudly. Make it theatrical for fun.

💙 Enjoy a Dance Break with Mel Mah for a dose of movement.

Curious moments (for when your brain needs gentle stimulation)

Your mind doesn’t always want a challenge. Sometimes, just a little something new is enough. These small, playful ways to spark curiosity can shift you out of autopilot and make the world feel a little bigger… even if you don’t leave the couch.

Look up three fun facts about your favorite animal: Whether it’s penguins or platypuses, dive into the trivia.
Read a Wikipedia page at random: Click the “random” button and see where it takes you. From cheese trading in the 1700s to the top six tennis players ever, you really never know what’ll come up.
Watch a nature cam live stream: Tune into an eagle’s nest, coral reef, or panda enclosure, and let your brain slow down with theirs.
Name three things you’ve never noticed in your room before: That scratch on the baseboard or the way the light hits your wall? No matter what it is, count it.
Try a mindful counting practice: Close your eyes and count slow breaths or ambient sounds. When you lose track, just start again.
Read a poem out loud: Even if you’re not a poetry person, pay attention to how the words sound in your own voice.
Look up how something works (like Velcro or wind turbines): Watch a short video or read a quick explainer. The simpler the thing, the more satisfying it is to finally understand it.
Open a book to a random page and read one sentence: Let it be your fortune cookie for the day.
Learn how to say “thank you” in five languages: Say them out loud, and with dramatic flair.
Watch a two-minute video on a topic you’ve never explored: From glassblowing to bee dancing, let your algorithm surprise you.
Play “Which historical figure would hate this object?”: Scroll through your desk and decide if Julius Caesar would approve of your stapler.
Imagine a made-up invention that solves one minor annoyance: A self-filling coffee mug? An instant nap button? Dream big.
Write down 10 things you’d put in a time capsule: Mix meaningful (like your favorite photo) with absurd (think one unmatched sock).
Pretend your house is an exhibit in a museum: What’s on display? Curate your life as if strangers will study your snack drawer.
Think of three questions you’ve never asked anyone: They can be deep or ridiculous. (“Do penguins have knees?” counts.)
Try a breathwork visualization using ocean waves: Imagine each inhale pulling back like the tide, and each exhale rolling into the shore.
Observe the shadows in your room and how they move: You’ll find the light catches a certain way at a certain time, and then never again.
Try to recall your earliest memory in as much detail as possible: See how much comes back, from sounds to senses.

Grounding and sensory resets (for when you’re feeling disconnected)

When your thoughts feel scattered or your body feels far away, grounding yourself can bring you back to the present. These simple sensory resets are small, practical ways to reconnect with yourself, one breath at a time.

Try the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding method: Notice five things you see, four things you feel, three things you hear, two things you smell, and one thing you taste. It’s a full-body check-in.
Breathe in for four, out for six: Inhale slowly to a count of four, and then exhale even longer. It’s like pressing the calm button on your nervous system.
Hold a mug of something warm with both hands: Wrap your fingers around it, feel the heat, and take in the scent before you sip.
Run your hands under cold or warm water, and notice the sensation: Pay attention to how it changes against your skin. Stay with it for a few breaths.
Smell a spice or herb from your kitchen: Let the scent pull you fully into the moment.
Listen for the farthest sound you can hear: A car in the distance, a ticking clock, or the hum of an appliance — stretch your focus outward.
Light a candle and watch the flame: Let your eyes rest on the slow flicker until you feel yourself settle.
Wrap yourself in a blanket and sit by a window: Get cozy, look outside, and feel held by the quiet.
Touch something soft, rough, cool, and warm: Rotate amongst textures (like a blanket, countertop, and mug) to wake up your senses.
Chew gum or a mint and focus on the flavor: Make sure to notice every detail, like the burst of taste, the temperature, and the way it changes as you chew.
Try five intentional breaths: Count them out slowly, and pause in between.
Let a spoonful of honey melt slowly in your mouth: Pay attention to the sweetness, the texture, and how it lingers.
Use your phone to record ambient sounds and replay them: Capture the hum of your space, and then listen back. It’s grounding in a strangely comforting way.
Soak your feet in warm water: It’ll help bring your baseline body temperature down and promote sleep.
Sit or lie down and imagine roots growing from your feet: Visualize them reaching deep into the ground, steadying you like an old tree.

💙 Connect to yourself during this Grounding meditation with Tamara Levitt.

Social connection (for when loneliness sneaks in)

Loneliness has a way of creeping in quietly, even on ordinary days. These simple, low-pressure ways to connect can soften that feeling and remind you that you’re not as alone as your brain sometimes tries to tell you you are.

Send a silly meme to a friend: A quick “this made me think of you” can spark a smile immediately.
Voice note someone just to say hi: Who needs a perfectly worded text anyway?
Text a random compliment to a loved one: An unexpected piece of praise always lands well.
Imagine you’re connected to every person in the world right now: Picture the web of billions of people breathing, moving, and living alongside you.
Make a list of people who’ve helped you, even if it’s in small ways: Write their names down. It could be a teacher, a friend, or even just the barista who remembers your order daily.
Leave a positive review for a business you like: Tell the internet how much you love your favorite café. This small act of kindness can have a big ripple effect.
Write a kind email or comment and don’t overthink it: A simple “this made my day” is enough.
Think of someone you miss and send them a silent wish: Close your eyes, picture them, and mentally send a “hope you’re okay.” It all counts.
Watch someone teach something on TikTok or YouTube: Let a stranger’s enthusiasm for bread-baking or astronomy make the world feel a bit friendlier.
Do one small kind thing (a text, a tip, a thank-you), and notice how it feels: Kindness doesn’t just help the other person. It shifts something in you, too.

Emotional support (for when boredom feels heavier)

Sometimes boredom isn’t just boredom: It’s loneliness in disguise, or maybe a quiet sense of uneasiness that won’t disappear. These gentle, grounding practices help you meet yourself where you are and offer a little care without trying to overhaul your entire life.

Name the emotion you’re feeling right now: Even if it’s “meh,” put the feeling into words. Naming it can make it feel smaller and easier to hold.
Give your feeling a shape, color, or character: Turn “restless” into a spiky orange ball or “sad” into a slow, blue cloud. This helps make the feeling less abstract and easier to problem-solve.
Write down three things that are okay today: They don’t have to be big. It could be as simple as the coffee was good, my socks are warm, and the Wi-Fi works.
Reframe your mood with a weather report: “Partly cloudy with a chance of snacks” sounds a lot less intimidating than “bad mood.”
Try the STOP method: Stop, take a breath, observe what’s happening, and proceed with a little more steadiness.
Place your hand on your chest and say, “This is hard, but I’m okay”: Your body sometimes needs reassurance.
Write a short list of things you’ve made it through: Remind yourself you’ve done hard things before, and you’re still here.
Sit by a window and let yourself just exist for one minute: Watch the world happen without needing to do anything about it.
Use your boredom to notice what your body is asking for: Sometimes, it’s as simple as a snack or a nap.
Try the “get lazy” technique and let yourself fully flop: Release every bit of effort for just a minute. Melting into the couch is medicinal.
Recall a time you helped someone or made them laugh: Replay it like a highlight reel, and let yourself relive the warmth of that moment.

💙 Learn supportive tools during this Accept Your Negative Emotions session with Jay Shetty.

Little joys (for when you just want to feel something good)

If you want to feel better quickly, it’s much more sustainable to reach for a small, simple thing than a grand gesture. The following ideas are low-effort ways to bring a little more light into your day.

Watch one animal video: Pick one (try baby goats or an owl blinking slowly, for example), and let it do its magic.
Make a mini shrine to things that bring you joy: Gather a few objects you love—like ticket stubs, a cool rock, or a pen that writes perfectly—and give them a tiny, honored corner.
Do absolutely nothing for one full minute, and don’t apologize for it: Lie down, close your eyes, and just exist.
Flip through a photo album or camera roll and find one image that makes you smile: Linger on it. Remember where you were and how it felt.
Wrap up in a blanket like a burrito and stay like that for three minutes: Just be the coziest, human-shaped snack imaginable, without any agenda.
Pick a favorite scent—lotion, tea, a candle—and just sit with it: Inhale deeply, let it fill your senses, and notice how it shifts your mood.
Watch a sunbeam or patch of light move across the wall or floor: Do nothing else. Just watch the slow drift, and let yourself soften with it.

What to do when you’re bored FAQs

What are fun things to do when you’re bored at home?

Fun is relative, but often, some of the most engaging things you can do at home are the simplest: rearranging a small space, playing music you haven’t listened to in years, or trying a new way of doing something familiar (like making your usual cup of tea), but with extra attention.

You might play a low-stakes game like, “What’s the most ridiculous outfit I could wear from my closet?” or explore an old photo album and narrate it like a documentary. The key isn’t in doing something big, but permitting yourself to be playful… even if it’s just for five minutes.

What’s a quick way to stop feeling bored?

When boredom feels urgent, the fastest reset is usually physical. And no, that doesn’t mean rushing to a HIIT class. Here are a few other suggestions:

Try changing your posture: Stand up, stretch, or walk to another room.
Do one intentional breath: Inhale for four, exhale for six.
Take a quick stroll: Even a minute around your living room is enough.

Just one full minute of movement can interrupt monotony. The act of creating one small shift is enough to remind your body and mind that you’re still in motion.

Can boredom be good for you?

Boredom can be incredibly useful, though it rarely feels that way in the moment. Psychologists see boredom as a signal that tells us our current experience isn’t satisfying or meaningful, and that we might need something more aligned with our needs and values.

Boredom then creates space for introspection, and can even spark creativity, especially when we resist the urge to immediately fill the gap with distractions. It’s a kind of emotional reset — an invitation to slow down and notice what’s missing without judgment.

What should I do when I’m bored and don’t feel like doing anything?

This experience is more common than you might realize. You may feel too depleted to start something, but too restless to sit still.

In these moments, the kindest thing you can do is lower the bar. Instead of trying to do something, try to simply notice how you’re feeling without needing to change it: Lie down, breathe, or even stare out the window.

Even doing nothing can be as important as doing something, especially when your body or mind is asking for rest. Often, once you allow yourself that pause, a flicker of interest or energy will surface on its own.

How can I be mindful when I’m bored?

A common misconception about mindfulness is that you need a full meditation practice to reap its benefits. But mindfulness can be as simple as paying attention to your senses.

Notice the way your feet feel on the ground, the temperature of the air around you, or the sounds drifting through your space. You could wash a dish slowly, sip something warm with full attention, or just sit and observe your thoughts without reacting to them.

Mindfulness during boredom is less about meditation and more about re-entering the present moment (as ordinary as it might be), and letting that be enough.

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Calm Editorial Team