So You’re Bored. Welcome To The Club, Population: All Of Us.

I have an 18-year-old and a 15-year-old, so I'm supposed to be well past the 'bored' years. But here I am, on a Tuesday afternoon, drafting a list of 'things to do when overly bored.' I mean, at this point it feels like some sort of conditioned response. You can't just shrug off a time in your life where a toddler obsessed with the word 'bored' would yell, 'Mom, I'm BORED' eight-seven times before lunch. That's an experience that stays with you.

On a Tuesday at about 2:47 PM, my kids would start to tell me one by one, then all at once, that they were BORED. Not like, sort of bored, or a little bit bored. They are bored in the most soul-sucking, world-ending way. “Mom, my LIFE is over” kind of bored. They had at one point at least 4,000 toys, an entire backyard, an iPad, and I’m pretty sure I even bought them a real trampoline. None of that mattered. The only one who could rescue them was me, apparently. Dad was on a “work call” and I’m 78% convinced that it was a podcast.

Picture me. A mother. At 2:48 PM on a Tuesday, I am searching "what to do when bored" as if I'm a reality show contestant whose only reward is peace and quiet.

I made this list because I have BEEN there. I survived 47 consecutive snow day. I lived through what felt like a biblical week long stomach bug. I distracted a four year old in a doctors office with a hair tie and pure will. I'm qualified to make this list. I am over qualified. My kids are now 15 and 18 and the complaints about boredom have officially stopped. They've been replaced by a very quiet house, which I would have, frankly, paid cash money for in 2015.

Here are 55 real, actual things you can try when you’re bored. Some are for the kids. Some are for you (because your boredom was real too, I see you). Some are for the dog (yes, the dog was bored too, I could SEE it in his eyes). All of them are tried and tested. All of them got us through and will get you out of the doom-scroll spiral that we both know is the actual reason you’re on this article.

Get your coffee. Or your wine. Or perhaps a coffee with a little bit of wine. I'm not your boss. Let's go.

55 Things To Do When You’re Bored At Home

1. Take a walk around the block.

The answer to my fears, embarrassingly enough, was simple – shoes, outside, and walking. The clarity, gossip from the neighbors, and the moment of peace from being unreachable. Healing. Kids are optional.

2. Bake cookies from scratch.

Not the Slice-and-Bake. I love the Slice-and-Bake. But on bored days we did the real thing. Flour everywhere. Kids "helping." A vague feeling that someone put in the salt twice. The cookies turned out ugly, yet somehow amazing, and I was a Pinterest mom for about 11 minutes.

3. Build a blanket fort that takes up your entire living room.

Every single blanket, pillow, and dining room chair went into construction. When we were done, it wasn't just a living room, it was a construction project. Monument. Kids loved it. I loved it. I wasn't taking it down for 48 hours and my husband said nothing, because he KNEW.

4. Have a kitchen dance party.

Pick a Spotify playlist like '2007 BANGERS' and blast it up so loud your neighbors text you Dance like no one's watching, especially because no one REALLY is Watching. Your kids are too embarrassed to see this. This is therapy. This is exercise. This is a whole vibe.

5. Do an actual sheet mask.

Not a speedy five-minute one. The entire 20-minute, strange-looking, “mommy why” scenario. Go into the bathro, close the door, and drink something cold. When you come out with that cool, dewy main character look, you will be a different PERSON.

6. Try a recipe you’ve been pinning for two years.

You know the type. The 'premium' soup. The 'simple' sourdough. The lemon ricotta pasta from that influencer you hate, but for some reason, you trust. Today's the day. Look it up. Make it. Take a terrible picture. Just tell yourself it's self-care.

7. Watch a movie you loved as a kid.

13 Going On 30, The Princess Diaries, and Now and Then are great options if you want to feel EMOTIONAL. Something rewatches as a kid in the 90s on a snow day is super healing. It probably fixes something deep in my soul, even if I can't explain it scientifically.

8. Reorganize your spice cabinet.

I know how this sounds. But there is an unhinged joy in throwing out that jar of cumin from 2019 and getting all of your spices in matching jars. You will feel like a Real Adult. You'll feel like Khloé Kardashian. You'll send a pic to your sister.

9. Read an actual book.

Not your phone. Not a blog. A book. With actual pages. I know, who has the time? But we all have time to scroll for 47 minutes about a celebrity divorce. Direct that energy to chapter one of something good and your brain will weep with gratitude.

10. Do a puzzle on the kitchen table.

Set out a 500-piece puzzle. Do three pieces every time you go by. By Saturday, you've finished the puzzle, and the kids think they're geniuses too. Glue it together and hang it in the garage like a trophy. Win.

11. Plant something. Anything.

A container of basil. A strange type of succulent. A little tomato plant from Lowe's that looks sad. The act of placing a living creature into dirt and making a commitment to it does something to a woman's nerves. In addition, if the plant survives, you have basil. Free basil, ladies.

12. Call a friend you haven’t talked to in months.

Yes, like how an animal would do it in the 1990s. Smash the phone, catch up on everything, spill the tea on everyone, laugh until you snort, and immediately plan a wine night. You will feel SEEN, and that is the most underrated mom feeling in the world.

13. Do gentle yoga in your living room.

Find a 20-minute YouTube video that says “for stress” or “for moms” or “for women who slept three hours.” Do it on the floor with your toddler sitting on your back. Any way you did it, you stretched, and that counts. You are basically Gisele.

14. Declutter ONE single drawer.

Don't clean the entire house. You will spiral. Just clean one drawer. The junk drawer. The makeup drawer. The drawer full of Tupperware. Empty it. Sort it. Throw the junk out. Then close the drawer and relax. Tomorrow you can do another drawer.

15. Make a vision board.

Gather some magazines, scissors, a glue stick, and a poster board. Cut out pictures of what you want. Whether it’s vacations, kitchens, abs, or peace. Glue it down and hang it up. Not saying this works, but my friend did it and now she’s in Tulum.

16. Make a real photo album.

Not a digital one! Order prints from your camera roll. It costs about eleven dollars. Put the photos in a physical book. Your kids will FREAK. They will look at the book for hours. You'll look like Mother of the Year. It's EASY!

17. Journal.

Just give it a try. Write three sentences. Write about what you ate. Write about something that annoys you. Write about something you are thankful for. That's all you have to do. Do this for a week and you'll be just like Carrie Bradshaw, if Carrie had three kids and a Costco membership.

18. Take a bath. With a candle. With a book. With a snack.

Your time is precious. Please, for the love of all that is holy, lock your door, and tell your family that you've gone missing. They'll manage. They survived without you for far longer, and they can for another 35 minutes. When you're done, you'll be revitalized. Wipe the sweat from your brow, as the water was hot, the lights were dim, and the snacks were calling. You will come out changed.

19. Learn a TikTok dance with your kids.

You will look silly. Your back will hurt. Your tweens will say "Mom, no," then they will love it. Choose a slow one. Practice for 20 minutes. Record it. Don't post it. Or do, I'm not your boss.

20. Try a new hairstyle.

A messy bun is not a hair style, it’s literally a coping mechanism. Do something different. Try a French braid, a claw clip with bangs out, or a scarf headband like your a 1960’s housewife. Your husband will NOTICE for once. Your friends will text you. Reinvention is free.

21. Picnic in the backyard.

You can even call your 12-square-foot patio a backyard. Throw out a blanket, pack a sandwich, and get eaten outside. Your kids will feel like they're living in a fairy tale, while you can experience a hallmark movie. Plus, the dog will love it as well, so it's a win for everyone.

22. Make homemade pizza for dinner.

You can buy the dough at Trader Joe's and set up a toppings bar for people to create whatever they want. It's a little bit wild but it's a fun way to spend an evening. There's a lot of cleanup, but the happiness a child gets from making their own pizza is priceless.

23. Color in an adult coloring book.

Grab some colored pencils from Target for about four bucks. Go to your kitchen table, grab a coffee, and color a mandala. Your blood pressure will hit rock bottom. You will finally comprehend why your grandma was always so calm. It’s been coloring all along.

24. Karaoke night.

Play YouTube karaoke and let the family loose. Sing "Total Eclipse of the Heart." Watch your seven-year-old slaughter "Let It Go." It might be the best evening you have had all month. There will be pictures. There will be tears. There will be ice cream after.

25. Indoor scavenger hunt.

Here are some items your kids can search for in the house:
1. A spoon
2. A shoe
3. A toothbrush
4. A cup
5. A book
6. A sock
7. A toy
8. A dog
9. A towel
10. A remote
11. A board game
12. An umbrella
13. A potted plant
14. A hat
15. A phone

26. Make playdough from scratch.

Salt, flour, cream of tartar and water playdough recipe takes ten minutes to make and kids think you're a wizard. The mess is contained and it lasts for a week. The dopamine hit is real. Five stars

27. Throw a tea party.

Real cookies. Real cups. And maybe even a hat. The snacks will even get your kid to join. Use the special mugs no one ever uses because they’re “special.” Today is special. Today is a Tuesday and we are SURVIVING.

28. Write actual thank-you notes.

Take out the stationery you purchased three Christmases ago. Write to people who deserve your thanks. A friend. A teacher. Your mom. Like an old-timey lady. See how it boomerangs joy back to you in 48 hours. It’s a real thing.

29. Give yourself a real manicure.

Move back your cuticles and file the nails. After that, there are two more coats and a top coat. Then you get to wait twenty minutes with your hands out and do nothing at all while the paint dries. Like a royal. Choose a color you normally wouldn't. It goes away in four days anyway.

30. Make a no-bake dessert.

Rice Krispie treats, no-bake cookies, and those chocolate-peanut butter cookies on the back of the oatmeal box. Quick, easy, and border-line unhealthy. You'll be a hero by 4 p.m! The kids can even help make them, and they'll be so proud!

31. Pajama day. Officially.

Announce it as an official holiday: pajama day. It’s a day where no one in the house gets a change of clothing, including you! There will be movies, snacks, and blankets. Meals will be replaced with all day snacking. It’s the most revitalizing activity a family can do, PLUS, it’s completely free! Who doesn’t love free?

32. Make a digital photo book on Shutterfly.

Make a book from your last 12 months of photos! They offer huge discounts on these books, about 50% off every couple of weeks. You will cry, your kids will cry, your mom will cry when you gift one for her birthday. It's all teary!

33. Visit the library.

The library is a fantastic resource that offers incredible free services. Your library card gives you access to unlimited entertainment and allows you to check out books to take home. You can also attend story time and craft hour for free at most libraries. Some even give out free passes to museums. If you don't already have a library card, you should get one today.

34. Board game tournament.

Get every game from your closet. Duel style. Single elimination. Winner chooses dinner. The competitive edge will entertain everyone for hours, and you'll be laughing harder than you have all week. Monopoly is forbidden. We're not here to end our marriage.

35. Toilet paper roll crafts.

Place empty rolls in a container. Add some markers, glue, googly eyes, paper scraps, and walk away. Kids go insane. They will make entire civilizations and bug-eyed creatures. Pinterest moms know, and so do you.

36. Sundae bar.

For eight dollars, you can buy ice cream with three toppings, whipped cream, and cherries, and set it up as a buffet. The children will think they've stepped into an amusement park. Film the event; they'll remember it for the next fifteen years.

37. Try a new workout video on YouTube.

Pick whichever 20-minute workout by Caroline Girvan or Heather Robertson you need to do. You’re going to hate every second of it, but you’re going to love yourself for it after the workout. You’ll be able to text your sister, ‘I worked out’ and you’ll feel insufferable, but in the best way possible.

38. Make slime.

I know it sounds horrible, and it feels like a war crime against your carpet, but maybe do it on the kitchen counter instead. It will involve glue, baking soda, contact lens solution, and food coloring. The kids will go insane. You will too, but silently in your little corner with with an ice cold glass of something.

39. Lego challenge.

Set your timer for 30 minutes. The winner is whoever builds the most creative structure. Prize? Picking the next show for family movie night. Motivation will be UNHINGED. Kids will be focused and silent. You will be able to enjoy your own thoughts. Pure bliss.

40. Make a time capsule.

Get a shoebox, decorate it, and write letters to your future selves. You could put a picture of your school, a tiny toy, a little note about what you did on that day, and a drawing. Tape the box shut and plan to open it in five years. You will DIE LAUGHING. This is the kind of stuff kids remember forever. Mom of the year.

41. Speed-clean one room.

Get a bag ready to declutter (to donate or trash before you start), put on a song you love, set your timer for 15 minutes, and positively GO! You won't stop, and you won't think. Just put stuff from your floor to your bag. You will feel amazing after your time is up. You'll feel like Beyonce in a Mom Uniform! Best of all, your room will be between 70 and 80% better.

42. Watch a documentary.

If you have anxiety, don't pick a true crime one. Go for something interesting instead, like chefs, queens, or octopuses (or is it octopi?). You'll learn a lot! And you'll feel really smart. You'll spend the whole night telling your husband random facts, and he'll act interested. As he should!

43. Plan your dream vacation.

And if you really aren't going, get out some paper and a pencil and some fun little stickers to create a vision board. Set it up on your wall as a fun little place to inspire you to actually take this trip. Now you have a place to put your flight and hotel info as well as fun restaurants you've found along the way and as they say, Manifest, baby!

44. Smoothie bar morning.

Frozen fruits, yogurt, juice, and a few add-ins. For this one, let the kids build their own. They'll put in whatever they want, including things that shouldn't go together, and drink it with pride. You can sneak spinach into yours and feel healthy. Everyone is winning!

45. Tie-dye old white t-shirts.

Imagine some $5 packs of white tees from Target with a tie-dye kit. Set it out on the patio and let the chaos begin. The shirts will be ugly and everyone will be proud. You’ll have summer pajamas for the whole family and a memory the kids will reference for years to come.

46. Make friendship bracelets.

Embroidery floss and a YouTube tutorial. For two hours you can enjoy blissful silence while you braid the strings. The finished product is cute, the experience is meditative. You’ll feel like a true artist when you gift them to family. Live the dream.

47. Write a letter to your future self.

Get some paper. Address an envelope to yourself and write to your future self. Write about what your life is like now and what you would like it to be like in a year. Seal it and write \"Open April 2027\" on the front. Next April, open the envelope and have an emotional moment. It will be worth it.

48. Try a 10-minute meditation.

Take advantage of Calm's free version, or check out the YouTube video titled "For Moms Who Can't Even." Sit, breathe, and do your best not to think about the laundry. If you fail, that's okay. Just keep trying. The act of trying itself is a victory.

49. Reorganize your closet.

Pull everything out. Try everything on. Donate what you haven't fit into since 2019. Color code what’s left. Step back. It’s a BOUTIQUE. It’s a CAPSULE WARDROBE. You’re practically a fashion influencer now.

50. Listen to a podcast while you fold laundry.

A true crime podcast, an episode of Smartless, or something equally juicy? Folding clothes? Entertaining your brain? The two-birds-one-stone of it all is true galaxy brain motherhood.

51. Make a bucket list.

From big things and small things, to silly things. Things you want to do this year, this decade, or in this lifetime. Write them down. Stick them on the fridge. Half the magic is in writing them, the other half is in crossing them off.

52. Bake bread.

Yes, real bread. Just like in the olden days. You will be one with the colonial women because this is going to be great. Watch it rise, watch it bake, and take in the smell of the house. There is no smell on this earth that is better than the smell of fresh baked bread on a Tuesday afternoon.

53. Sit and watch the sunset.

You can do this from your porch, driveway, or even a parking lot. Just sit and watch the clouds and sky. Leave your phone inside, and do not make any plans. Just spend five minutes. It is free therapy. Would recommend.

54. Themed movie night.

Choose a film. Pair the food. Movie about Italy? Pair with pasta and Italian soda. Movie at the beach? Goldfish and lemonade. The little ones will be shocked. You'll have the feel of an event organizer. The TikTok girls will be mad that you came up with the idea first.

55. Take a nap.

Absolutely! If you can, try to take a break. You could spend 20 minutes, 90 minutes, napping on your couch, on your bed, or even with a kid on top of you. Taking a nap is a productive use of your time and will help recharge your battery. I can guarantee that the world will not fall apart in a mere 20 minutes.

The Real Truth About Boredom

Here's what I figured out somewhere along the way. Boredom was never the enemy. It's just your brain saying, "hey lady, we have not done a single new thing in three weeks and we are SHRIVELING." It's a signal. A nudge. A little fairy on your shoulder whispering, bake the cookies, take the bath, take the nap.

Next time you, your kids or friends, your dogs, or yourself feel bored, don't panic. you can just choose a numbered activity. Pick number fourteen cause that drawer has been mocking you for ages. Pick number eighteen cause you've EARNED IT. Pick number fifty five cause YES naps count. Naps are a love language, and always will be.

You can bookmark this list. You can send this to a friend. You can tell another mom you saw this on Pinterest and fake write it yourself. I won't tell.

And one more thing, because I have to say it. My kids are 15 and 18 now. The bored years went by fast. Faster than anyone told me they would. The toddler asking for a tea party is gone. The kid who needed 47 toilet paper rolls and a glue stick is gone. Use the list. Use it now. While they're still asking.

Let your mind rest. You can do it.