Nighttime boredom is common. Often when we wrap up all our tasks and to-dos for the day, we're left thinking: What should I do when I'm bored at night?
If you find yourself scrolling on your phone nonstop when you're bored at night, let us stop you right there, because there are a lot of awesome alternatives to this habit.
From bubble baths to board games and hobbies, here are some ideas for what to do when you're bored at night.
What to Do When You're Bored At Night
1. Take a bubble bath
Seriously though, is there anything more relaxing? Taking a bubble bath—or a warm bath in general, sans bubbles—can relax your muscles, promote better sleep, improve circulation, and strengthen your immune system.
2. Work on a side hustle
If you're looking to make money, a side hustle can go a long way and be a great way to spend those boring nighttime hours. If you don't have a side hustle yet, think about any hobbies or skills you enjoy—how can you monetize them? Once you think this through, you may be able to find your perfect side hustle.
3. Play board games
The name might imply that board games are, well ... boring, but trust us, the right board game is anything but! Settles of Catan, Scrabble, Codenames, Monopoly, and more can all be fun games to play if you a group around.
4. Give your home a deep clean
Ok, so this might not sound like most fun activity in the world, but cleaning can be extremely therapeutic and can even get you into a flow state. Plus, when you wake up in the morning, you'll be really happy that deep clean happened. Feeling like the whole house is too intimidating? Start with just one room—like the bathroom, for example.
5. Learn a new language
If you're looking to fill up some empty hours, learning a new language can be an excellent and highly productive way to pass the time. Sites like Duolingo, Mondly, Babbel, and Rosetta Stone can all help get you started on this journey.
6. Meal prep
Meal prep is the ultimate gift you can give yourself, and a great way to pass those boring nighttime hours. If you're looking to fill the void, prep a few healthy lunches for the rest of the week—you'll be so happy you did it when you're not spending $13 on salads every day.
7. Get some fresh air
During the summer months, it stays light out late, which means you can break up the evening by taking a walk outside around your neighborhood, local park, or anywhere else.
8. Write out a gratitude list
There is truly never a bad time to make a gratitude list, so if you're feeling bored at night, writing out 5-10 things you're grateful for is an excellent use of your time, and will get you in the perfect mindset for a great night of sleep.
9. Make a list of life goals
A little ambitious? Sure. But taking the time to make a list of life goals is an excellent way to spend your down time, especially when you're bored at night.
10. Make a to-do list
Another great list to make? A to-do list. Sometimes, we have a hard time sleeping at night because we're worried about everything we have to do the next day—and a to-do list can help you get all of that out on paper.
11. Call a friend
Connection is everything. And too often these days, we fall into the trap of texting or communicating with our friends via social media, versus picking up the phone and actually calling them. So take it from us: Pick up the phone and make a call! It's a great way to beat nighttime boredom.
12. Journal
There's no doubt that journaling is an excellent use of time, so if you find yourself bored at night, try journaling. You can free-write, do shadow work, work in your bullet journal, or do anything else that strikes your fancy.
13. Pick up a new hobby
Hobbies are underrated. The truth is, the right hobby can bring us so much joy—so find something that interests you, whether it's knitting, ceramics, singing, or anything else, and start spending more time doing it.
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