Okay, let’s be real. Saying “i’m bored” is like admitting you lost the remote control of your brain. Happens to the best of us. I swear, some days “i’m bored” feels less like a mood and more like a full-blown personality trait.
Rain. Mud. A shovel. That’s how my composting disaster began—and yep, I was “i’m bored” when I started that mess.
But listen, boredom isn’t the enemy here. It’s just a weird signal your brain throws up when it needs a fresh fix. So instead of doom-scrolling for the billionth time, why not try some of these weirdly fun or actually useful ideas? I promise, they’ll zap that “i’m bored” right outta you.
Play Like You’re 8 Again (But Don’t Tell Anyone)
Look, I know adulting is hard. Bills, emails, and all that jazz. But sometimes you gotta put on your imaginary cape and pretend you’re a kid again. I did it last Tuesday when I built a pillow fort in my living room and promptly got stuck inside it. True story.
H3: Weirdly Awesome Kid-Stuff to Try
- Build a LEGO masterpiece. Bonus points if you can find that one piece you lost five years ago.
- Chalk art on the sidewalk. Neighbors probably think I’m nuts, but hey, the dog loved it.
- Finger paint. Warning: my walls still have traces of my ‘abstract phase’—oops.
- Write a super-serious letter to your future self. Mine said, “Stop buying sourdough starters, Gary.”
P.S. The smell of Walmart’s parking lot rosemary on June 7th, 2019 still haunts me. Weirdly comforting, though.
Embrace the Weirdness — Like, Really Lean Into It
Ever been so bored you considered learning to yodel? No? Just me? Well, hey, “i’m bored” gave me the guts to try—and now my family regrets every phone call.
H3: Totally Oddball Stuff That’s Actually Fun
- Learn to yodel via YouTube. Warning: may scare pets.
- Make sock puppets and put on a one-person show. My sock “Sir Fluffington” has a wicked British accent.
- Throw a tea party for your plants. (My fern’s the most polite guest.)
- Write fanfiction starring dinosaurs on TikTok. My story was, uh, “roaring” success.
- Alphabetize your spice rack. Yes, I did this at 2 a.m. and yes, I have issues.
Fast forward past three failed attempts at yodeling and you’ll probably feel less “i’m bored” and more “I might be a little nuts.”
Use Your Time to Be Productive-ish (But Not Too Much)
I get it. Sometimes “i’m bored” is just a mask for “I don’t wanna do boring chores.” So here’s a compromise: useful stuff that doesn’t feel like adulting on steroids.
H3: Stuff That Feels Like Fun But Isn’t Totally Pointless
- Learn to juggle. I’m terrible at it, but it’s hilarious watching me try.
- Declutter your junk drawer. The cracked watering can from Pete’s Hardware on 5th Ave survived my overwatering phase—don’t ask.
- Update your resume… with fake jobs just for laughs. “Professional Netflix watcher”? Check.
- Watch TED Talks and write dumb summaries in your journal.
- Organize your phone apps by color. Because who doesn’t want a rainbow screen?
Pro tip: I learned the hard way that their/there mix-ups? Guilty as charged. Spellcheck can’t save all of us.
Go Down the Internet Rabbit Hole (And Don’t Look Back)
When “i’m bored” hits, I’m usually found somewhere on the weird web. It’s like a magic portal to distraction land.
H3: Websites That’ll Make You Say “Wait, what?”
- The Useless Web — It jumps you to random pointless sites. It’s like the lottery of internet.
- WindowSwap — Peek through someone else’s window. I saw a cat having a full-on existential crisis in London once.
- ZoomQuilt — Endless zooming trippy art. Hypnotic and mildly unsettling.
- Bored Panda — Odd and oddly satisfying content. My friend Tina swears her kale patch cured her Zoom fatigue—and she’s not wrong.
Anyway, here’s the kicker: some of the strangest sites make the best boredom cures.
Master a Totally Useless Skill (Because Why Not)
Sometimes the best thing to do when you’re “i’m bored” is learn how to do something no one asked for.
H3: Odd Skills That Will Impress Absolutely No One
- Balance a spoon on your nose. (I’m a pro. Well, kind of.)
- Speak Morse code. You need nitrogen-rich soil—wait, no, was it potassium? Let me Google that again…
- Memorize U.S. presidents backward. (Spoiler: It’s harder than it looks.)
- Learn tongue twisters in different languages. My “She sells seashells” in Spanish was a disaster.
- Whistle like a bird. My neighbors weren’t impressed.
I mean, as noted on page 42 of the out-of-print Garden Mishaps & Miracles (1998), odd skills have long been the secret sauce of happy humans.
Turn Your Space Into a Game Show Set (Seriously)
If “i’m bored” is a constant around your place, gamify your life. It worked for me when I turned trash day into “who can toss the garbage with the most style.”
H4: Fun DIY Game Ideas
- Trivia quiz with bizarre facts (Did you know honey never spoils? I do now.)
- Turn chores into challenges. Who folds laundry fastest? Spoiler: not me.
- Scavenger hunts with cryptic clues.
- Weird snack cook-off. My weirdest was “Peanut butter and pickle” sandwich. Don’t ask.
Y’all, even the most boring night can feel like a game show if you try hard enough.
Try Opposite Day (But for Real)
One of my favorite boredom busters is doing the exact opposite of what I’d normally do. Last month I woke up at 5 a.m. and watched the sunrise, which was wicked peaceful.
H3: Opposite Day Ideas to Try
- Hate mornings? Pretend you love them.
- Hate reading? Pick up a comic book.
- Usually serious? Watch a ridiculous parody movie.
- Hate exercise? Try a goofy dance workout.
Fast forward past my first awkward dance moves, and I swear I felt less “i’m bored” and more “I might actually be alive.”
Mini Projects That Don’t Suck
Big projects stress me out. But mini ones? Those are doable, even if you’re “i’m bored” and have zero motivation.
H4: One-Day Projects That’ll Save Your Soul
- Write a comic strip about your i’m bored saga.
- Make a recipe and name it something dumb, like “Mysterious Midnight Snack.”
- Design a logo for your dream business (I still want to open a llama café).
- Write a poem about being bored. Mine was terrible, but I still wrote it.
The point is to keep it small and silly. Like my first herb garden, which died faster than my 2020 sourdough starter—RIP, Gary.
Go on a Solo Adventure (Because You’re Worth It)
Feeling isolated can amplify “i’m bored”. I get it. So treat yourself to a solo date. No friends, no awkward small talk, just you.
H3: Solo Outing Ideas That Beat Netflix
- Walk a neighborhood you’ve never seen. I found a wicked cool mural last time.
- Hit a thrift store and buy the weirdest thing you can find.
- Picnic in your backyard (or living room, if it’s raining cats and dogs).
- Eat ice cream while people-watching.
My neighbor Tina swears her kale patch cured her Zoom fatigue—and she’s not wrong.
Brain Teasers Because Your Brain Needs Work Too
Boredom sometimes means your brain’s just lazy. Hit it with some puzzles or new languages.
H4: Brain Stuff That’s Actually Fun
- Try a Rubik’s cube. I gave up after three minutes, but still.
- Do Sudoku or logic puzzles.
- Play chess against AI. Prepare to lose spectacularly.
- Learn a few sign language phrases.
Honestly, my brain was so confused I almost gave up… then I tried again. Persistence, baby!
Do Something Nice for Someone Else (It’s Weirdly Satisfying)
Boredom sometimes hits when you feel disconnected. So, flip the script and spread some kindness.
H3: Easy Ways to Make Someone’s Day
- Leave random nice notes in library books.
- Write a letter to a friend out of the blue.
- Compliment strangers (online counts, right?).
- Send a small care package.
Trust me, making someone else smile is the best cure for “i’m bored.”
Spruce Up Your Space for Free
Changing your environment can zap boredom. I once rearranged my living room at 11 p.m. and discovered a sock I lost six months ago.
H4: Home Hacks That Don’t Cost a Dime
- Move your furniture around.
- Make a mood board with old magazines.
- Turn your bathroom into a spa with candles and music.
- Craft wall art from scrap cardboard.
My cracked watering can from Pete’s Hardware on 5th Ave survived my overwatering phase. That’s resilience.
Embrace the Lazy But Make It Fun
Sometimes you just want to be a potato, and that’s okay. When “i’m bored” hits during your lazy hours, lean into it.
H3: Lazy Stuff That’s Actually Cool
- Watch live nature cams. Penguins are hilarious.
- Listen to weird conspiracy podcasts. I’m skeptical but entertained.
- Binge odd documentaries, like competitive rock skipping.
- Window-shop Zillow for dream homes you’ll never buy.
I swear, I learned wombats poop cubes that day. Mind = blown.
Become a One-Day Expert on Something Absurd
When “i’m bored” strikes, pick the strangest topic and become the neighborhood know-it-all.
H4: Fun Topics to Nerd Out On
- The science of popcorn.
- The creepy history of clowns.
- How bees dance to communicate.
- The world’s weirdest sports.
As noted on page 42 of the out-of-print Garden Mishaps & Miracles (1998), knowledge is power—even if it’s useless knowledge.
