If you’re anything like me, you probably enjoy being productive even when you’re supposed to be taking a break.
Thankfully, there are several ways to keep yourself productive during downtime that can help you stay on track.
18 Productive Things to Do When Bored
1. Start the new hobby you’ve always wanted to try.
You don’t have to be productive all the time. If you have some extra time off, use it to start a new hobby. Look up some information online and bookmark any good resources you find.
You can begin hobbies such as photography, arts and crafts immediately with what you have at home if you’re feeling adventurous.
2. Organize your emails for a calm inbox.
While it may not sound like the most fun task, taking the time to organize your emails can help reduce stress and increase productivity at work.
Organize your emails by grouping together similar types, like receipts and order tracking. Take advantage of your email provider’s sorting features, like the “promotions” and “social” folders, to automatically sort your Facebook updates and newsletters.
A great way to organize your email is by creating priority folders at the top of your email’s folder bar. Here’s how to do it:
- Create a Priority 1 and Priority 2 folder at the top of your email bar
- Sort emails appropriately as they come in. Priority 1 for the high-priority items, and Priority 2 for tasks lower on the totem pole.
- During your workday, tackle all your Priority 1 emails first, then move on to your Priority 2 folder.
This system will help you keep your inbox clean and organized, and will also help you improve your productivity and prioritization skills during work hours.
3. Plan some fun activities.
You can use your extra time to plan a fun date night or family day-trip.
Maybe there’s a holiday you could celebrate with friends or family. Make a list of some events you’d like to add to your calendar. What days do you have free in the next few months that you could use for some fun? Maybe there’s a holiday you could celebrate with friends or family. Make a list of some events you’d like to add to your calendar.
Start by brainstorming a list of potential activities, then narrow it down by considering your other commitments and what would work best for you. Think about things you’ve always wanted to do, or things you used to enjoy but stopped making time for. Once you have a few ideas, do some research to see what’s available in your area and what might be a good fit. Don’t forget to also consider your budget when making your final choices.
If you want to reduce stress, set aside some time for activities you enjoy. This will help you to relax and make the most of your time off.
4. Set your appointments.
It may not be as fun as planning a day trip, but setting your appointments for the next few months (or even the year!) can help you make sure you have the time to get necessary appointments like doctor and dentist appointments out of the way.
If you need to get a routine cleaning or flu shot, now is a good time to do it since you have some free time. You can also schedule your next appointments for when things return to normal.
5. Take a course.
There are many websites where you can learn new skills for free. Coursera, Udemy, and Skillshare are just a few of these sites. You can sign up for any of them and start learning right away.
There are many sites that offer free or discounted courses, which makes it easy and inexpensive.
If you prefer learning in person, you may want to check your local recreation center or community college for upcoming courses.
If you want to be productive and do something useful, taking a course is a great option. Many courses offer certifications that can help improve your resume and help you advance in your career. Or, you can learn a new skill just for fun!
6. Learn a new career skill.
In addition to using courses to improve your skills, there are a few other ways to add new skills to your career toolkit.
First, you’ll need to find a good skill that is relevant to your desired career.
Then, the real fun begins with these methods:
- Volunteer – While you’ll be hard-pressed to land a job using a skill you’re just starting to learn, often you can find volunteer opportunities that will let you learn within their organization. Learning in this environment is beneficial as it allows you to make a change in your community, looks great on a resume, and can even provide unique networking opportunities (but more on that later).
- Use a multimedia approach – Don’t be afraid to collect any and all resources pertaining to your new skill. In fact, reading books, articles, listening to podcasts, watching videos, and attending events centered around the skill are all great ways to develop the skill in a well-rounded manner. Of course, don’t forget to practice!
- Use your resources – If a friend or family member has your new desired skill, reach out! Chances are, they’d love a helping hand with their own projects and don’t mind teaching a few tricks along the way. A bonus to this method: Family and friends might give you a deeper or more unique insight into the skill, unlike a book, event, or course normally would.
The text is saying that there are many ways to learn new skills, even if you only have a limited amount of time.
7. Write in a journal.
You are always overthinking things and have a lot of thoughts going on in your head.
Keeping a journal has been really helpful in managing my stress levels. I find the act of writing itself to be therapeutic, and I always feel better after getting all my thoughts down on paper.
Journaling can help you manage your thoughts or reflect on your life, which can help you set goals for the future.
8. Map out your five-year plan.
I understand that five years is a significant amount of time, and many of you may believe that it is impossible to plan for the next five years of your lives.
Although you don’t need to have every detail of your life planned out, it can be helpful to have a general idea of what you want your life to look like in the next five years in order to know what goals to set now.
You and your spouse may discuss buying a home or having children over the next five years. These are both things that take a lot of planning and money.
If you want to achieve big goals, it is helpful to start planning early and to set smaller goals along the way. This will help you be better prepared when the time comes to achieve the big goal.
9. Write a meal plan.
I really enjoy meal planning because it has saved us a lot of money on groceries and we don’t have to spend time wondering what to make for dinner.
We sit down every Sunday to plan out our meals for the week. This way, we can make a list of exactly what we need to buy at the store. It saves us from coming home tired and frustrated, having to try and figure out what to make for dinner.
10. Go for a long walk.
I love taking long walks because they’re a great way to get some exercise while also enjoying the outdoors. Plus, it’s a good way to make sure my dog gets some exercise too.
I love to take walks with my fiance or friends to catch up and spend uninterrupted time together. But if I’m walking alone, I use that opportunity to listen to new episodes from my favorite podcasts.
11. Pick up a camera.
I used to never take pictures and I would always tell myself that I need to take more, but I never follow through when I have the chance.
I’ve been trying to take more pictures lately and it’s been great! I’ve been working on getting better at using my nicer DSLR camera, but also just taking some pictures of our everyday life on my phone.
12. Start a garden.
If you find yourself with some free time this summer, consider using it to take up gardening. It can be a very productive way to spend your time!
Gardening is relaxing to me because I can be outside, weeding and taking care of the plants. It’s also great to have fresh produce at home while saving money on groceries.
I’m looking forward to gardening again when we have a house with a yard.
13. Plan a dream vacation.
I know a lot of people who love to travel but don’t do it very often. I think this is because it can be expensive and takes a lot of planning.
Start planning your dream vacation by brainstorming everything you want to do. Having a detailed plan will motivate you to start saving.
14. Revise your budget.
It’s been a while since you took a look at your budget, right? If it’s been a while, then now is the time to take another look!
Budgeting is not a one-time task that you can set and forget. It is something you need to stay on top of.
Here are a couple of resources to help you start and maintain your monthly budget:
15. Start a side hustle.
Starting a side business has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. It’s not only brought in extra income, but it’s also pushed me to learn new skills and make new friends.
This post will tell you more than 35 ways that you can make extra money on the side.
16. Watch a documentary.
I like to watch documentaries in my free time because I find them educational. I admit that I was nerdy in school, but I still enjoy learning new things.
There are a wide variety of documentaries available on many different topics, so there is something for everyone to enjoy.
17. Discover the educational side of YouTube.
Although it is often associated with cat videos and millennial trends, YouTube can be a great source for educational videos and free courses. A quick search can reveal TED Talks and videos about how to change the oil in your car.
I find that having YouTube on in the background while I work helps me get through my to-do list. I often choose a TED Talk or a recorded productivity round-table to listen to.
18. Read a book.
I love reading books. It’s one of my favorite past times. I usually read a mix of different genres including novels, personal development books, memoirs, and business books.
I’ve grown a lot as a person and in my business by reading a lot. I also know that reading has helped me become a better writer.
Here are some resources to check out if you want to start reading more:
Final Thoughts
There are many things that can be done productively during downtime instead of mindlessly scrolling through Instagram or watching Netflix. Although those activities may be enjoyable in the moment, most people do them enough already.
Use your spare time wisely by choosing from this list of productive activities!
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