Over the last week our worlds have been turned upside down on us and we’ve all been forced to face a new norm. Staying at home has become a necessity, and while I’m sure some of us are basking in the time off, if you’re like me you’re probably getting a little restless. So what are we going to do with all this free time while we are stuck at home? Luckily I’ve put together a list of over 40 things to do when you’re bored at home to help keep you busy!
Whether you’re the kind of person who copes better through times like this by being still and investing in self-care, or you need to dive head first into productive tasks, this list of things to do when you’re bored at home will have something for you. Oh – and everything I’ve linked is available on Amazon and can be shipped directly to your place so you don’t have to step foot outside.
By the way if you’re looking for more posts to help keep you busy during this time check out these posts:
Table of Contents
Take it Slow
Before this craziness and the need to stay home so many of us lived lives that were a constant go-go-go. Now that we’ve been given the gift of time we can embrace slowing down.
1 – Read a book
Whether you love escaping into the world of fantasy, have a guilty pleasure for beach reads, or prefer reading biographies… Now’s the time to finally lay back and relax with a cup of tea and a good book. Or if you want to save yourself money in the long run grab yourself a Kindle.
Here are some of my absolute favourites I’ve been reading lately that’ll surely make staying at home just a little more enjoyable:
- The House by the Sea – Santa Montefiore
- The Island – Elin Hilderbrand
- The Rome Affair – Karen Swan
- The Girl You Left Behind – Jojo Moyes
2 – Binge watch a series
With so many amazing shows and Netflix series that have come out over the last few years, now you can finally catch up on them. Maybe you’re like me and you have been meaning to finally watch Game of Thrones, or maybe you still haven’t seen Breaking Bad.. or better yet maybe you haven’t watched Friends *gasp*. If you haven’t seen Friends, may I recommend you start with that. Located in Canada? It’s still available on Netflix!
Check out my list of 40 binge worthy shows to watch on Netflix here!
If you’re more of the reality TV junkie I absolutely love Hayu which is like the Netflix for reality TV. Lately I’ve been hooked on Below Deck!
3 – Embrace nap time
I don’t know about you but as an adult one of the things I’ve missed most is nap time. Adult naps are something must of us have been dreaming about, but our crazy lives didn’t allow. Grab your favourite sleep mask and ear plugs before nodding off into a deep mid-day sleep. Embrace nap time. It’s all yours now.
4 – Start a gratitude journal
We aren’t in easy times right now which is why I think it would be so incredibly useful to start a gratitude journal. Take some time each day to focus on the things you are thankful for. Maybe you’re thankful for your own health right now, your family, the experiences you’ve had so far in life. Maybe you’re thankful for smaller things like coffee, your warm bed, and Netflix. Focusing on the things we are grateful for can help shift our perspectives and lift our moods when we need it the most.
Check out these gratitude journals below to get you started!
- The One-Minute Gratitude Journal
- Good Days Start With Gratitude Journal
- Five Minutes a Day Gratitude Journal
5 – Plant some new plant babies
If you have a black thumb like me now’s the perfect time to change that (or try to lol). Grab some seeds and try your hand at growing some plant babies to brighten up your space and provide some much needed oxygen. Plus it always feels good to have something to take care of doesn’t it?
I’ve heard if you talk to them and provide them with positive words of affirmation they do better too.
Check out this Nature’s Blossom indoor herb starter kit from Amazon
6 – Pull out that adult colouring book
Do you remember that adult colouring craze from a few years ago? I bet almost all of us have at least one barely touched adult colouring book sitting at home waiting to be used. Put on your favourite mellow playlist and get colouring girl. I think colouring is quickly bound to become one of my favourite things to do when I’m bored at home.
If you don’t have any colouring books at home here are a few available on Amazon. Obviously my favourite is the swear word one.
- F*ck Off I’m Coloring! Swear word colouring book
- Disney Dreams Collection colouring book
- Island Dreams colouring book
Build your Skillset
7 – Take an online course
Whether you’ve been wanting to break a habit, build your leadership skills, perfect your morning routine, learn photoshop, or learn how to apply the science of happiness to your life there’s an online course for that.
If you’re looking to work on your productivity you’ll love this free eBook!
8 – Pick up a new hobby
Maybe you’ve always wanted to learn how to knit, decorate cakes, or make flower crowns… do it now! You can find easy how to’s for almost any hobby on Pinterest and Youtube. Plus a lot of supplies can be purchased on Amazon or ordered online so you don’t have to worry about leaving the comfort of your own home.
9 – Learn how to play an instrument
You knew you kept that recorder from elementary school for reason! Just kidding. But seriously, if there’s an instrument you’ve been wanting to learn to play order it from Amazon and get learning. I’m thinking of taking up the ukulele and a friend of mine recently ordered a keyboard.
- Rockjam digital piano keyboard with stand and stool
- Soprano Ukulele beginners starter kit
- Pyle Pro beginner acoustic guitar
10 – Learn a new language
I’ve been saying for the past 5 or so years that I will finally learn German. How much of this do you think I’ve completed? Absolutely none. With apps so easily available from companies like Babbel, Rosetta Stone, Duolingo and Memrise you can easily learn a new language from the comfort of your own home. Time for me to finally get started!
Focus on your Business
11 – Take an online course to build your business
Been meaning to learn SEO to better your business? Or maybe you’ve wanted to add an e-commerce portion to your site but have no idea how? Now you can learn how to do all of those little things you’ve been meaning to learn in order to build your business. There are tons of courses available online so get crackin’!
12 – Revamp your website
If you’ve been feeling a little blah about your website, blog, or online space why don’t you take the time to give it a little revamp and refresh? You may find yourself feeling more motivated to work on it once it’s looking fresh AF.
13 – Tackle the long list of blog posts you’ve been meaning to get to
If you’re a blogger you probably have a list a mile long of all the blog posts you’ve been meaning to write. Now is the time to sit down and start tackling that list.
14. Start building your Pinterest
Pinterest for bloggers and online businesses is so incredibly valuable. Since I started focusing on growing my Pinterest it’s grown my blog traffic exponentially. Read up on some blogs on how to grow your Pinterest or take an online course.
My biggest tip: INVEST IN TAILWIND to grow your Pinterest. It’s the #1 thing that has helped me grow mine from 344 monthly viewers to 270k. You can get $15 off your Tailwind subscription here!
Get in the Kitchen
15 – Try out a new recipe
Maybe you’ve always wanted to try roasting a whole chicken (don’t laugh, I literally did this for the first time last weekend) or you’ve been itching to try out a new chilli recipe. Better yet, maybe you want to get super fancy a la Julia Childs and try a Boeuf Bourgignon or Coq au Vin… do it!
My absolute favourite recipe as of late is this one for pan seared salmon with a sage brown butter sauce. It’s absolutely DIVINE.
16 – Bake something special
Whether it’s funfetti cookies, a red velvet cake, or deep dish brownies… Who needs a better reason than time at home to bake something sweet? Make your family favourite or try something new. I just may finally give baking macarons a go for the first time… Keep your fingers crossed for me.
17 – Perfect your bartending skills and learn how to make your favourite cocktails
Since we are all avoiding bars right now, why not bring the bar home? Look up the recipes to some of your favourite cocktails and get mixing. I’m sure your roommate or significant other won’t mind being your guinea pig and giving your concoctions a taste test.
Invest in your Health
18 – Workout from home
Just because you’re stuck at home doesn’t mean you can’t make fitness a priority! There are tons of great online fitness classes involving little to no equipment that you can easily do from home! Lately I’ve been hooked on the Sweat app by Kayla Itsines. I’ve been doing the PWR at Home program in it and it’s been amazing. You need minimal equipment, I purchased the below off Amazon, and you get an incredible workout!
- Resistance bands
- Adjustable speed jump rope
- Free weights – I’ve been using 8lb ones
- Recovery bands
- Yoga mat
19. Release your inner yogi
Even if you’ve never taken a yoga class in your life it’s never too late to start and no better time than in the comfort of your own home. If you prefer a slower pace and more calming exercises this will definitely be for you. I find yoga to be very meditative but a lot more effective for someone like myself who can’t be too still. My favourite yoga YouTube account is by Boho Beautiful – check out her videos here!
20 – Try your hand at meditation
Ok, so I haven’t quite been able to get into meditation myself but I have friends that RAVE about the benefits. Get started with some meditation videos on youtube or try out the Headspace app! At a time when we are all panicking inside this can be especially useful.
Get Organized
21 – Do your taxes
If there’s one thing I dread/fear more than anything else each year it’s definitely doing my taxes. I tend to put them off till the LAST second each year and let the constant dread of them eat away at me. Although in Canada deadlines have been pushed back for taxes why not just file them early so you no longer have that stress looming over you? With everything that’s going on the world the last thing we all need is more stress on top of it.
22 – Reorganize your closet
I actually got this done a few weeks ago and it felt so good that I had to include it on the list. Take some time to declutter your closet, sort piles into give away, sell, and keep. You’ll feel so much better when you finally have room in your closet and can actually see all the items you own. By the way, if you are wanting to sell some of your clothes I’ve found Poshmark to be extremely useful especially since it doesn’t involve meeting people in person.
23 – Marie Kondo your drawers
Although it’s very difficult to keep a perfectly manicured Marie Kondo drawer, I will admit that having everything folded perfectly is extremely satisfying. Not familiar with the technique? Check it out below!
24 – Spring clean your home
I feel like this one could be broken down in 20 or more points alone. Whether spring cleaning for you means wiping down the baseboards, vacuuming under the area rugs, or dusting the obscure corners of your bookshelves you an barely reach… tackle one task each day and your newly cleaned home will start to feel that much more enjoyable to be in.
25 – Refresh your office space with some new accessories
Looking for more things to do while you’re stuck at home? Why don’t you give yourself an office revamp to kickstart your productivity! Check out this post with my favourite Amazon office supplies and accessories to get you started.
26 – Finally fix that thing you’ve been meaning to fix
I bet we all have at least one thing we’ve been meaning to fix for AGES but have never gotten around to doing. Maybe it’s a button that fell of a coat a year ago, a door that squeaks every time you open it, or a hole you’ve been meaning to fill in the wall (I’ve had one of these for a couple years – oops!). Take the time now to finally fix that thing you’ve been meaning to fix.Get Creative
Get Creative
27 – Try a DIY project
I used to be obsessed with DIY projects and crafts (or at least looking them up) but never got around to doing so many of them. Now’s a great time to take on a fun DIY project don’t you think? Pinterest is a great platform to find all sorts of neat DIY projects and crafts. Feel free to check out my DIY Project Pinterest board here!
28 – Release your inner artiste and try painting, drawing, or illustrating
Yes, I spelled it that way on purpose. If you’ve always had a creative bone in your body why not try making some art? I used to love drawing as a child and now I can’t remember the last time I drew anything (other than a bath). Put on a flick and let your creative juices flow.
29 – Write someone you love an old fashioned letter
Cheesy? Maybe. But I bet a loved one would just adore getting a surprise letter in the mail. Whether it’s a grandparent you can’t see right now or your parent overseas, take the time to write them and tell them how much they mean to you. Who knows, maybe they will write you something back!
Check out this cute stationary set
30 – Film some TikTok videos
I find it quite humorous how I went from old fashioned letters to TikTok videos but here we are. I haven’t been able to get into TikTok myself but it’s HUGE right now. Learn a TikTok dance, try one of the challenges, or film a silly comedy sketch. It’s good to distract yourself with some senseless, goofy stuff sometimes and TikTok is chock full of it.
You can follow me on TikTok here – I share lots of travel tips & videos!
31 – Start a Blog
You probably think this is the absolute worst time to start a blog. Blog traffic for most bloggers has dropped significantly (mine is down over 50% – send help!) because people just aren’t looking regular blog content up. But here’s the thing, setting up a well organized, visually pleasing, easy to navigate blog takes time… plus it takes awhile to rank for SEO! Use this quieter time to set your first blog up and get a nice list of 10 or so blog posts started. Once people are searching blog content again you’ll be well past the newbie stage and already look like a seasoned veteran which will work in your favour.
Pamper Yourself
32 – Perfect a makeup technique you’ve always wanted to try
Maybe its a sultry smoky eye or the perfect eyeliner wings you’ve always wanted to try out… Or maybe it’s time to up your contour game or learn to do ombre lips. Pull up those makeup tutorial YouTube and play around! You don’t have to worry about being seen in public if you screw up, and you’ll have a brand new skill to flaunt when this is all over.
33 – Try out a new hairstyle
I’m always seeing sooo many amazing hairstyles on Pinterest and Instagram that I’ve wanted to try, but never got around to doing. Whether it’s Miley Cyrus buns or a fancy wedding like updo, now is your chance to get creative and give this do’s a go.
34 – Finally learn how to French braid your hair
I had to put this on the list because guys, at the ripe old age of 31, I still don’t know how to French braid my hair. If you’re like me I think it’s about time we learn…
35 – Paint your nails. Better yet, try some nail art
Because most of us can’t go out now to get our nails done, why not do them at home? Better yet, try your hand at some nail art. There’s tons of inspiration on Pinterest (check out my nail inspiration board here) and tutorials on how to do your own nail art on google and youtube. If you don’t have the proper tools try using toothpicks to paint designs on your nails, that’s what I used to do! Or you can grab a super affordable nail art kit below with all the tools you need from Amazon to be delivered to your door!
36 – Draw yourself a nice hot bubble bath and just relax
I firmly believe bubble baths can do wonders for the soul and we all need this right now. Start indulging in those long, luxurious bubble baths you just didn’t have the time for before. Use your best bubbles, bath bombs and salts. Pour yourself a glass of wine. Grab a book or prop your laptop on the toilet with a Netflix show and just CHILL.
If you run out of bath bombs you can order these off Amazon for a great deal!
37 – Take a spa/self care day
Forget just partaking in one self care ritual and spend a whole day doing it all. Put on a face mask, give yourself a pedicure, try a body wrap, have a long bubble bath and exfoliate your whole body. Put on your most luxurious creams and potions after before wrapping yourself in a cozy bathrobe you’ve been warming up in the dryer. Ah… bliss.
Get Social
You may be stuck at home but that doesn’t mean you can’t be social! Now more than ever we need to lean on our friends and family.
38 – Throw a Skype/Facebook video chat cocktail party with your friends
Just because you can’t get together and have a real party with your friends doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have a virtual one! I love the idea of getting dressed up as if you’re going out for the evening and having a video chat with all your friends. Make some fancy cocktails with your newfound bartender skills and get in some quality bonding time. Plus it will feel really good to actually get dressed up, because if you’re like me you’ve been living in your pyjamas.
39 – Have a virtual karaoke party
I don’t know about you guys but I LOVE me some karaoke. Whether you’re busting out your favourite songs with the people you live with or doing it virtually with your friends, karaoke can be a great distraction and (hello) an absolute blast. Don’t worry if you don’t have a karaoke machine at home, there’s tons of karaoke apps like Smule – The Social Singing App, Karaoke – Sing, and the Voice – Sing Karaoke. Or you can honestly just look up Karaoke versions of songs on Youtube which is what I do.
40 – Call your grandparents
Grandma & Grandpa are probably feeling pretty lonely right now. Take the time to give them call or pop on a video chat. I bet it would brighten their day!
41 – Play board games
Why not pull out some of those board games that have been sitting on the shelf and have a game night with your family? Or if you’re home alone there are tons of online virtual games you can play with friends online!
Here are some of my favourite board games to play when I’m bored at home:
Start Dreaming
42 – Make a travel bucket list
Travel may not be on a lot of people’s minds right now but as a travel blogger myself I can’t help but dream. I’ve been reading blogs, pinning on Pinterest, and writing my list of places I want to visit when this is all over. It may seem like something irrelevant right now, but for me it makes me feel better to remind myself of what a beautiful world we live in.
My favourite place I’ve ever visited is Greece. If Greece is on your list definitely check out this post I wrote, you’ll quickly see why I fell in love with it!
My current travel inspiration has come from the InstaTravel book by Aggie. I love looking at the pictures and letting my mind escape.
I hope you guys enjoyed this post on things to do when you’re stuck bored at home. Although we don’t have much choice right now there’s definitely a lot of things we can do to keep busy and make the most of it 🙂
By the way if you want a quick list version of the below to refer back to I’ve created the following just for that 🙂
Plus feel free to pin one of the below if you want to refer back to this post later!
With love, Kirsten
Vox
Monday 30th of March 2020
We are heading into our third week and I think I have done most of these. I am trying to remind myself that this can’t last forever and that I need to use the time meaningfully AND to keep me from not freaking out. Even though my kids are grown—18 and 21–they are here and I don’t want them getting discouraged about the start of their new lives. That means I can’t get too down, because I need to support their mental health. Thanks for reminding me that I should return to this list of positive and purposeful things to do with this unexpected “gift” of time.