COVID-19 has taken a toll on all of us, and it’s time for us to go back to our normal lives. Sadly, as we all know, that won’t be very easy, as we are all very used to staying at home and being bored with nothing to do. The vaccine is currently available, so parents and elders have started to become vaccinated. With some people still not ready to embrace the new normal, they would stay at home and play on their electronic devices all day long.
Yes, I get it, it’s fun and addicting, but it’s not healthy. Society is changing and generation Z is all about social media and technology, myself included. I still can’t believe people used to live without phones. So, for parents or teens looking for something fun to do instead, here’s a list of suggestions with things to do when you’re bored.
Board Games
If you look closely, there are actually many things to do when we´re at home bored out of our minds. For example, we could play board games. Before the whole pandemic happened, many of us would go out and see friends, or go to the movie theaters, but we never really paid attention to what we could do at home.
Board games are a great way to spend time with family and kill time. You could play fun games, strategy games, detective games, brain games and many others. Some common fun board games you can play are Exploding Kittens, Monopoly, Taboo, Pictionary, any card game, Game of Life, Uno, Scrabble, Clue and Charades. These are obviously just a small percent, but they are my personal favorites. Many board games are made for family and friends, so if you’re alone, you can play with a friend virtually, zoom calls are always a solution.
Books/Audio Books
Another example of things to do when you’re bored is you could read a book. Many people find books either fun to read, or very boring. They can’t find books that keep them sitting still, and they can’t focus. So instead of reading, you could listen to audio books. You can borrow the audio books over your local library´s online site. There is an app called “Libby” where you can sign in and connect it to your local library to borrow books online. It’s a great app to use, and I highly recommend it.
I personally love sitting down with a blanket and pillow and reading a hardcover book in my hand, but audio books are fun to listen to if I´m washing the dishes or cleaning the house. If you are interested in Greek, Roman, Egyptian or Norse mythology, I highly recommend the Percy Jackson book series. It gives a look into a teenage demigod´s life. Rick Riordan is a very descriptive author and his characters give you a new insight in life, it brings your wildest imaginations onto paper. You can find more book suggestions for teens in my other article.
Baking/Cooking
If you love cooking or baking, go search up some recipes to satisfy your taste buds. I have always been a huge foodie. I love eating food, and I love trying new things. Although I am not the most adventurous in trying new foods, I have definitely had my fair share. Restaurant food may be delicious, but there’s nothing better than a warm home cooked meal.
Some fun recipes I like to make are all from the website Tasty. There are so many options to choose from, I personally love their dessert recipes. It’s so fun to watch the little videos they make while baking the dessert or cooking an entree. I find baking cookies is an easy way to kill time and reduce the stress on your mind.
YouTube Channel/Blog/Podcast
A fourth example to keep yourself busy is to start a YouTube channel, a blog or a podcast. During the quarantine, I have decided to start a YouTube Channel on Asian dramas (Check out “Worship Asian Drama”), help write articles for a blog like this one and be part of a podcast. You probably heard my voice on the “1st Mentor Podcast”.
If you´re not that creative, it’s still okay. YouTube is a creative place to come up with any content you want. You don’t have to do it for likes or subscribers, just do it for yourself. Sometimes, people find comfort just filming themselves and talking in front of the camera. You don’t have to upload the videos if you do not want to, you always have a choice. This will also be a great memory keepsake for when you get older.
Writing is a stress reliever for some people if you enjoy writing. It’s a great way to express yourself and keep your memories alive. If you want to get feedback, you can share your stories on an app called Wattpad. I myself love reading different fanfics from my favorite shows or books there.
For podcasts, it’s a great way to share anything you want to talk about, and again you don’t have to do it for the subscribers, this is all for yourself. If you hate sharing your face in front of the camera and like sharing things, writing and podcasts are the best for you. Of course, on YouTube you don’t always have to show your face either. There are ways to work around it.
Exercise
During life before the pandemic, a lot of us have been walking or moving around, getting our exercise. Or we´ve been super busy and have no time to exercise. But now at home, we don’t bother to get up and walk around, go for a run, or play any sports. So now during the pandemic, you can get the summer body that you have always wanted. Just turn on YouTube, change into your sportswear and grab a yoga mat.
Ab workouts have been helping me shape the body that I want. I am not always eating the healthiest, but getting into the mood will always help. Cardio and dance workouts are really helpful as well, do the exercise that you enjoy the most. These are just suggestions and all based on my opinion. If you don´t like these, modify them to suit yourself. It’s also good to get a breath of fresh air, you can go out to a local park and ride bikes, or take a walk. Hiking is also a great way to look at scenery and just enjoy nature’s beauty.
Gardening
If you are interested in plants, then gardening is a perfect activity for you. Although I´m not a garden enthusiast, I have always found eating from your organic garden is better than going out and buying foods. It’s much healthier, cheaper and has no chance of pesticides, that’s if you don’t add any. If you don’t have a backyard, that’s okay too. Planting by the window also adds some green to your home, brings some fresh air to your home and makes your home feel fresh. You can always buy some seeds off of Amazon and plant in your home, it’s not only fun but healthier for yourself.
Now that you have read this article, go do something instead of sitting around and binge watch on Netflix. Board games, books, audiobooks, baking, cooking, creating a YouTube channel, a blog, a podcast or exercising are great things to do when you’re bored. I hope you find the activity that suits you the best, remember to have fun, stay in, stay healthy and get some sun!
