Looking for some free activities to fight boredom? As we’re hitting the year mark of the pandemic, being stir-crazy due to working from home is nothing new.

You’ve already searched through all the tv shows on Netflix and mindlessly scrolling on social media drives you nuts since you’re just seeing the same content over and over again. You have already video-chatted with all your friends this month and you don’t really want to be on another Zoom call.

Enjoy this creative list of free activities to keep you entertained and to try something new!

1. Stretch… but while listening to WILDLY different music.

It could be as simple as finding a new artist in a genre you already love, or you can go crazy with it! Try electro-swing, k-pop, Hawaiian ukulele, heavy metal, or something random that you find. While you might not like it, you might just discover a new genre that is right up your alley while doing some great stretching exercises!

2. Start learning a language.

This gives your mind something to process and be rewarded for! Whether it’s finally learning how to speak to your grandmother from Italy or learning Japanese so you can watch anime without subtitles, learning a foreign language is a great way to keep your mind sharp! (It is also an amazing new skill to complement your resume.)

If you’re looking for a great place to start building your language skills, check out Duolingo. Their free version is incredibly fun and it offers variety in the ways you can practice, from listening to podcasts to solving grammar puzzles.

3. Make something delicious!

While your tried-and-true recipe for chocolate chip cookies is always fantastic, we encourage you to create something new.

Try cooking ratatouille for dinner or experiment with whipping up vegan pancakes, so you can always have a snack even if you’re out of eggs! Bacon-wrapped chicken that is smothered in brown sugar and spices is always a wonderful addition to any meal!

Be sure to try our no-bake energy bites recipe if you’re looking for a quick snack!

4. Draw or colour a picture.

You don’t have to recreate the Mona Lisa. It’s wonderful just to doodle for fun! Drawing gives your hands and minds something to focus on.

This is even better if you can draw with someone. You could host a mini-contest about it, or even just embrace the camaraderie while you create.

5. Make a new game.

This can be as simple or as complex as you desire it to be! All you have to do is look around your house for items you already have. Find old board games that you have lying around. Combine the pieces that you believe would work together and create your own set of rules.

Here’s an example of a two-player game:

All you need are two dice and two decks of cards. Give each person a deck of cards that they will set up for a game of Solitaire. Before either person starts solving their cards, give both dice to one person.

Once you start, the person with the dice will roll them until they get doubles. In the meantime, the other person has to solve as much of their Solitaire deck as they can. The moment doubles are rolled, that person yells “switch!” and the roles are reversed.

The winner is the person who can first complete their Solitaire game. It’s not complicated, but it is something new, and exciting, and can be incredibly competitive.

6. Grab a camera and go for a walk.

It doesn’t matter if it’s a ginormous professional camera, your phone, or a disposable film camera. Just head outside and start snapping at any little (or big) object that interests you. Not only are you getting fresh air and exercise, but you might return home with some neat photographs!

7. Meditate

This is a great opportunity to allow your mind to reset. You can use an app that is designed to walk you through a guided meditation practice, like Calm or Headspace, or you can do it on your own.

Find a quiet place you can sit comfortably without being disturbed. Take a few deep breaths, in through your nose and out through your mouth, and start with a full body scan. You can use a soothing spa playlist to get you in the mood or pure silence, whichever you prefer.

Once you’re settled, the goal is to allow your mind to relax. Focus on your breathing or a mantra to help guide your mind to peace.

8. Sing to narrate your activities.

You don’t have to be a Broadway hopeful or Andrea Bocelli to do this one! Allow yourself to be silly and free and you make little melodies as you put the dishes away or vacuum the carpet. Loud or quiet, this allows you a safe way to be creative and to live in the moment.

9. Bring out your inner child with science experiments!

Connect with your inner child and make little plastic toys out of milk! The process is very simple and it can be done with things you have just lying around your house! Steam Powered Family is a great resource for a lot of science experiments, but never forget that you can always go back to the classic baking soda volcano!

10. Make art out of magazine clippings!

All you need is some old magazines, scissors, and glue. Find images that you like, carefully cut them out, and glue them to a piece of paper or cardboard in a way that speaks to you. You could use it as fashion inspiration or just as a chance to create an easy but rewarding piece of art!

Boredom is inevitable, but there is always a way to turn it around into something good! If you love these ideas, awesome! If they inspire you to try something new, even better! Life really is too short to be sitting on the couch because you’re feeling bored!

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Written by Kayla Willsey

Updated June 15, 2021