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This list of fun things to learn when bored is the cure to all your boredom problems!
You know that feeling when you are sitting around your house and feel like there is absolutely nothing to do?
You are painfully bored but have no good ideas to entertain yourself?
Believe it or not, this is a perfect time to learn something new! This list of fun things to learn when bored is sure to bust your boredom instantly!
20 Fun Things to Learn When Bored
1. Learn a New Language
This is probably the most expected thing to learn on this list but it’s a good one so I had to include it. I took 3 years of Spanish in high school and have forgotten almost everything! It’s a goal of mine to start learning it again and pick it back up.
Maybe for you, it’s French or Chinese… whatever language it may be, look up some tutorials and start learning it next time you’re bored!
2. Learn Photography Skills
Photography is such an art. I used to think it was simple… you just take a picture, how hard can it be, right?
WRONG.
I took a photography class in college and I was SHOCKED at how much goes into it. But it is so much fun to learn!
There are tons of photography tutorials on YouTube or on websites. Definitely a great skill to have!
(And you can make it a side hustle too if you learn enough!)
3. Learn How to Meditate
This is another thing that I think is so often overlooked. Meditation actually takes a lot of learning, practice, and skill!
To be able to properly meditate, there are specific steps you should follow.
Meditation (and all mind-related skills) are great things to learn when bored.
Using a meditation app or online class can be one of the best ways to do this.
Alo Moves offers some of the best mindfulness and meditation classes I’ve ever taken. You can start a free trial on Alo Moves to get a feel for it.
Meditation is so great for mental health, mental clarity, and overall wellness! Definitely a skill worth learning next time you’re bored.
4. Learn How to Cut Your Own Hair
To be honest, this is what prompted me to make this list of things to learn when bored…
I was bored at home the other day and spontaneously looked up “How to Cut My Own Hair”… and guess what?!
I learned it and I DID IT. This is not only something fun to learn when you’re bored, but it can actually be a big money-saver too!
5. Learn How to Start a Blog
Starting a blog is NO EASY TASK!
But it sure is fun to learn! My entire blog actually started out of boredom one day… and now it’s a full-on money-making side hustle.
(Update: It is now my FULL-TIME job!)
I got started by just purchasing my blog domain with Bluehost hosting… and then I took it upon myself to learn everything I could! I started to teach myself by utilizing YouTube, Google, and blogging courses.
{Learn all about how I started a blog that makes me money here}
Definitely recommend learning how to start a blog if you find yourself bored often. Who knows what it may turn into! You may end up making some money from it like me!
6. Learn Yoga
Much like meditation, yoga can be a great tool for mental health, physical health, and overall wellness!
I personally really love using AloMoves for my yoga classes. It feels way more personal – like you are one-on-one with the instructor.
There are also tons of follow-along YouTube tutorials for yoga! My favorite is Yoga With Adriene on YouTube.
7. Learn New Organization Tips
Learning how to organize and what to organize can totally change your home!
There’s an art to organizing that actually takes some time and patience to learn. Many people believe that organizing is easy to learn, just a lot of work.
I’d argue that it’s exactly the opposite. Hard to learn yet easy to do… ONCE you know how to do it properly and efficiently!
Give it a go! Add organizing to your list of things to learn next time you’re bored!
This is a skill that will serve you well for your whole life!
8. Learn Computer Shortcuts
Did you know that it is only in this past year that I learned *Command + Shift + 3* takes a screenshot on a Mac? What the heck else am I missing out on with these computer shortcuts?!
This is actually something I really want to learn when bored. I feel like these should be common knowledge and they’re not… or maybe I’m just getting old? LOL!
9. Learn About Nutrition
It is SO important to know about your body’s nutritional needs.
To me, it is fascinating to know how different nutrients react and affect your body. When you know how to properly fuel and nourish yourself, you can live and feel your best…
Now that’s a good thing to learn about in your free time.
RELATED POST: 10 Best Afternoon Snacks for Energy
10. Learn a Card Trick
Fun fact: I had this card trick book when I was younger and it was seriously my FAVORITE thing. I still know some of the tricks so, yeah, I’m pretty cool. ๐
But seriously, this is such a fun thing to learn when bored… and it makes you more fun at parties. LOL!
11. Learn How to Draw or Paint
My sister actually took up painting recently in her free time and she is already SO GOOD!
She just started with a small canvas, some watercolor paints, and some online tutorials. It’s crazy how fast she learned.
Learning how to paint or draw is a great option for a skill to learn when bored. It is fun, kills time, and is an incredible outlet!
12. Learn a Dance
A new dance is always a fun thing to learn when bored.
Even before the TikTok dance era, I was always on YouTube watching fun little dance tutorials and learning them at night when I got bored.
This is a great way to kill your boredom and it’s a great at-home workout too!
13. Learn How to Make Coffee at Home
As a former Starbucks barista, I actually have an entire post all about how to make coffee at home.
This is a habit I recently adopted just because it’s fun to do and I love my coffee! But learning to make my own coffee at home has actually changed the game. I honestly prefer homemade coffee drinks now AND it saves me so much money.
This is a win all around. Definitely add coffee to the list of things to learn when you’re bored!
14. Learn How to Take and Edit Video
Videography is a lot like photography. It looks a LOT easier than it actually is. There is a TON to learn when learning how to take good videos.
To add to that even more, editing videos is another art itself. I took a video class to learn how to take and edit videos and I still have lots to learn.
This is definitely a good thing to learn when bored because it will take up lots of time! The learning is never truly done.
Plus (a major bonus!) you can sell your skills afterward.
Videographers and video editors are SO needed in the freelancing space. I am always seeing job postings on Upwork (a site for freelance work) looking for videographers/editors — and they pay really well.
15. Learn How to Cook
I strongly believe everyone should know how to cook at least a FEW dishes really well. Like anything, learning how to cook takes time and practice… making it the perfect skill to learn when you are bored!
RELATED POST: 180+ Simple Dinner Ideas (+ FREE Booklet)
MasterClass is a great way to learn how to cook (among other things). They offer classes for super cheap from professionals and big names. For example, Gordon Ramsey offers a class all on cooking!
Cooking shows, videos, and even a good old recipe book can also teach you all you need to know. There are so many resources out there for cooking!
16. Learn How to Code
THIS IS SUCH A GOOD THING TO LEARN IN YOUR FREE TIME.
There is seriously such a market out there for coders if it interests you. The amount of time that I have spent on tech support with a coder for my blog is insane.
If you have any interest in computers, code, etc., this is a great skill to learn when you are bored. Master this and you can get paid MAJOR to help people like me out. (This is another job that is in super high demand on Upwork.
17. Learn How to Make Candles
Did you know you can make candles in your slow-cooker?!
I didn’t until I decided to learn this in my free time.
Forget spending hundreds at Bath & Body Works, go grab your slow cooker (this is mine that I SWEAR BY if you need an affordable one!), and get to making some candles!
*Note: they honestly burn way better and longer than store-bought candles too!*
18. Learn Self-Improvement Skills
My two favorite ways to learn self-improvement skills are:
- Self-Improvement Books
- Self-Improvement Blogs
Books and blogs, baby! They have taught me so much and helped me to become a better person.
To get you started on learning some self-improvement skills, I have a HUGE list of 30-Day Challenges for Self-Improvement.
If you are interested in going the book route, you can check out my Top 10 Books for Self-Discovery list or my post all about How to Start a Wellness Journey for some great options.
My Top 3 Self-Improvement Books Are:
Untamed:
Atomic Habits:
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**k:
19. Learn How to Do Your Nails at Home
Another great thing to learn when you are bored for MANY reasons!
Doing your nails at home allows you full control over them, lets you be creative, keeps you in the comfort of your own home, saves you TONS of money, and helps you overcome boredom!
Whether you are a regular polish, gel polish, or full-on acrylic girl, there is an option for you at home.
I started doing my own acrylic nails at home. They turn out just as great and cost a FRACTION of the price.
Definitely one of the best skills I’ve learned when bored.
20. Learn “People Skills”
You know when you meet someone new and don’t know how to break the ice?
Or you get caught in an awkward pause in the conversation and have no idea what to say?
I took these miserable moments as motivation to learn people skills when I got bored. This may seem intuitive but there are actually tons of tips and tricks you can LEARN to make yourself more of a “people person”.
Working on people skills has helped me overcome social anxiety, be a better conversationalist, have better communication in my relationships, work better with team members at work, and (best of all) lessen those DREADFUL awkward breaks in conversations.
This is probably not at the top of your ideas for things to learn when bored… I had no idea I could “learn” this either. But it has made such a huge difference for me.
Nicolle says
Yes to Yoga ๐
And the rest as well of course! Nail art takes a lot of patience (for me it did), but is so much fun to do!
Delaney says
I love love LOVE yoga!
Katherine says
Thanks for that great list! Those are all idea! The nice thing is, once you leave it, you can go to the next! This is being passed along to some of my โboredโ neighbors. Thanks!
Delaney says
So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks, Katherine!!
Natalie says
Learning to code would be so useful. Always tell myself I need to look into that. Lol.
Delaney says
Right?! I’ve paid too much money to get help. I need to learn too! Haha!
Kali says
Nice list! Very different to others Iโve seen.
Delaney says
Thanks so much, Kali!
derra says
i am on summer break going from year 11 to 12 and its hard to find new things to learn so I thank you
Delaney says
Of course! I’m glad you found some inspiration here! Enjoy your summer!
Kate says
Thank you so much for this amassing list, I’m not so good a people skills so this really helped me.
Delaney says
So glad you enjoyed, Kate!
Angela Bordio says
Thanks! This is something I want to share with everyone, since it is a very helpful article for any kind of ocassion.
Delaney says
Yay! So glad you found this helpful!!
Mel says
don’t think I’ll learn people skills as I don’t really like people. in the end it’s the subtle art of not giving a f…! Perhaps I’ll do a basket weaving course, (that my therapist suggested)!or brush up on my French & Italian that I learnt in year 7, or perhaps I can teach others my dancing moves ๐คฃ.!!!! Go swimming, start a veggie patch, or start a doggy walking group. ( Frankie loves to socialise)๐๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ Thanx for the help Del. See u at my Zumba classes๐