Things to Do When Bored: 20 Real Ideas Shared by Teens

Boredom gets a bad reputation.

Most people treat it like something to avoid. The moment boredom appears, the instinct is usually to grab a phone, open TikTok, or find something—anything—to fill the time.

But boredom isn’t always a bad thing.

Sometimes it’s what happens right before you discover a new hobby, learn a skill, spend time with friends, or find something you’re genuinely interested in.

We wanted to know what teens actually do when boredom strikes, so we asked them directly through a challenge in the Modak app.

The responses were exactly what you’d expect—and completely unexpected at the same time.

Some teens turned to gaming. Others picked up a sketchbook. Some went outside. A few started thinking about philosophy. One person even prayed for the polar bears.

If you’re looking for things to do when bored, these real answers from teens might give you a few ideas.

About this article: The ideas discussed in this article reflect comments submitted by participants in a Modak community challenge and are intended for educational and informational purposes only. References to AI tools describe hypothetical uses suggested by participants and should not be interpreted as descriptions of current product features, financial advice, or guarantees of financial outcomes. Responses are shared in participants’ own words and are published with their permission.

Things to Do When Bored at Home

For many teens, boredom starts at home.

That’s probably why some of the most common responses involved activities that are easy to do from your bedroom, living room, or backyard.

One participant shared: “When I’m bored if I’m not playing video games I’ll either read a book or watch a movie.”

It’s a simple answer, but it highlights something many teens seem to understand instinctively: boredom doesn’t always disappear when you do more. Sometimes it disappears when you switch things up.

Reading was one of the most common non-digital activities mentioned throughout the challenge.

One teen explained it this way: “I read a book to escape reality for a small amount of time.”

Whether it’s fantasy, mystery, manga, or nonfiction, books offer a way to step into a different world without ever leaving home.

Creative hobbies also appeared over and over again.

One participant wrote: “I like to draw when I’m bored.”

Another shared: “When I’m bored, I like to listen to music or draw. They’re both things that help me relax.”

Drawing might be one of the simplest boredom cures on the list. All it takes is a pencil, a piece of paper, and whatever ideas happen to show up.

Interestingly, creative activities were one of the largest categories in the entire challenge, showing that many teens use boredom as a reason to create rather than simply consume entertainment.

That tracks with decades of research: the American Academy of Pediatrics has long documented the cognitive, emotional, and social benefits of unstructured, child-led free time like reading or drawing.

Fun Things to Do Online When Bored

If you ask a group of teens what they do when they’re bored, gaming is probably going to come up.

And it did. A lot.

Gaming was the most common response in the challenge, but many teens didn’t describe it as a solo activity. For them, gaming was also a way to connect with friends.

One participant explained: “I usually play social video games with my friends — they’re fun. Maybe also VR because it’s exercise.”

That answer perfectly captures how blurry the line between digital and real life can be. Gaming can be entertainment, socializing, and even physical activity all at the same time.

Another teen gave one of the most relatable responses in the entire challenge: “I draw/sketch, watch anime, read mangas, listen to Juice WRLD, talk to some friends, play video games, and go outside.”

That answer reads less like a plan and more like a typical Saturday.

And honestly, that’s probably why it feels so real.

Sometimes boredom isn’t solved by finding one thing to do. It’s solved by moving between several different interests throughout the day.

Productive Things to Do When Bored

Not every boredom solution has to involve entertainment.

Some teens use free time to learn, think, build skills, or challenge themselves.

One participant shared: “I like to code or solve Rubik’s cubes.”

It’s the kind of answer that reminds you boredom can sometimes become an opportunity to learn something new.

Another response stood out immediately: “I do math which I enjoy and I reflect on myself and my life, as well as read classic books and cuddle with my cats.”

There aren’t many people who voluntarily choose math while bored.

But that’s exactly what makes responses like this interesting.

Everyone experiences boredom differently.

For some people, productivity means checking things off a to-do list. For others, it means thinking, learning, or exploring ideas.

One participant took that idea even further: “When I’m bored I think deeply about stuff. I like thinking about philosophy.”

Out of nearly 1,000 responses, this was one of the most memorable.

It’s also backed by science: NIH-funded research has found that letting the mind wander during quiet, unstructured moments can boost creative thinking.

It’s also a reminder that boredom sometimes creates space for curiosity. When distractions disappear, interesting questions tend to show up.

Things to Do When Bored in Class

Let’s be honest: almost everyone gets bored in class sometimes.

The challenge is finding something to do that doesn’t distract other people—or get you in trouble.

Interestingly, several responses from the challenge involved activities that start with paying attention to your own thoughts.

One participant shared: “When I’m bored I think deeply about stuff. I like thinking about philosophy.”

Another wrote: “I do math which I enjoy and I reflect on myself and my life, as well as read classic books and cuddle with my cats.”

While you probably shouldn’t pull out a Rubik’s Cube in the middle of class, boredom can be an opportunity to think, reflect, or even come up with new ideas.

Many artists, writers, and entrepreneurs have talked about how moments of boredom helped spark creativity. Sometimes your brain just needs a little quiet space to make unexpected connections.

If you’re feeling bored during class, try:

• Sketching ideas in a notebook during free time
• Brainstorming goals you’d like to achieve
• Thinking about a future project or hobby
• Writing down questions you’re curious about
• Challenging yourself to stay engaged with the lesson

You might be surprised by what comes to mind when you give yourself a moment to think.

Things to Do When Bored Outside

Not every boredom cure happens indoors.

A lot of teens said that getting outside helped them reset, recharge, or simply find something new to do.

One participant shared: “I play outside with my friends and when it’s cold outside, I like to play dollies with my baby sister.”

What makes this answer interesting is how adaptable it is.

Good weather? Go outside.

Bad weather? Spend time with family.

Either way, boredom doesn’t last long.

Another teen wrote: “I go outside and run with music and my dogs for training for track and cross country!”

For some people, physical activity is the fastest way to break out of boredom. Others preferred something a little more adventurous.

For example: “I explore the woods.”

Three words. No explanation needed.

Another participant said: “I go on to my trampoline and practice my backflips.”

Whether it’s sports, exercise, outdoor adventures, or simply practicing a skill, many teens use boredom as an excuse to get moving. Always practice physical activities safely and with appropriate supervision. The CDC recommends that teens get at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day—so a spontaneous backflip session on the trampoline counts for more than it might seem.

Things to Do When Bored With Friends

One of the biggest themes throughout the challenge wasn’t gaming, reading, or even creativity.

It was connection. A surprising number of responses involved spending time with other people.

One participant shared: “When I am bored I hang out with my best friend Matthew, or my boyfriend Ashton. Usually we go walk around somewhere and enjoy each other’s presence.”

There’s something refreshing about that answer.

No expensive plans. No complicated itinerary. Just spending time with people you enjoy being around.

Another participant wrote: “I walk to my friend’s house and play games on Roblox with him.”

It’s a perfect example of how modern friendships often move seamlessly between online and offline activities.

Sometimes boredom disappears because you found something exciting to do.

Other times it disappears because you’re sharing the experience with someone else.

That connection matters more than it might seem: an NIH-funded study found that strong friendships have a bigger influence on teen mental health than social media use does.

The Most Unique Boredom Ideas We Received

Some responses didn’t fit neatly into any category.

Which made them even better.

One participant shared: “When I’m bored I usually do homework. I know that’s even more boring — or I read a book or I’ll watch my phone.”

The honesty is impossible not to appreciate.

Another teen wrote: “I sleep, paint, draw, shower, etc… I don’t like to stay still.”

The contradiction somehow makes perfect sense.

Then there were the responses nobody could have predicted.

Like this one: “I pray for the polar bears.”

Or this: “I like to sketch out outfits, characters, and jewelry when I’m bored!”

These answers might be unusual, but they reveal something important: boredom often gives people permission to follow whatever interests them, no matter how random it seems.

How Boredom Can Turn Into a Passion

One of the most interesting patterns in the challenge was how often boredom led to skill-building.

What starts as something to pass the time can eventually become a serious hobby—or even a long-term goal.

The best example came from this participant: “I do yo-yo tricks for hours on end trying to get good enough to go pro.”

That’s a pretty big goal for something that started as a way to avoid being bored. But that’s exactly how many passions begin. A random interest becomes a hobby. A hobby becomes a skill. And a skill becomes something you genuinely care about.

One of the biggest lessons from this challenge wasn’t which activity was the most popular. It was how different all the answers were. Some teens picked up a controller. Others picked up a sketchbook. Some went outside. Some called a friend. Some practiced backflips. Some thought about philosophy. One person prayed for the polar bears.

The next time you’re bored, you probably don’t need a perfect plan.

Maybe you’ll read a book.

Maybe you’ll go outside.

Maybe you’ll learn a new skill.

Maybe you’ll discover an interest you didn’t know you had.

That’s one reason challenges can be so valuable. They encourage you to try new things, share ideas, and see how other people spend their time.

And sometimes, all it takes is one question to discover a new hobby, a new goal, or a new way to spend your afternoon.