99 Super Productive Things To Do When You’re Bored
When your wallet’s feeling light and boredom creeps in, it’s easy to think there’s nothing to do. But guess what? You don’t need a fat bank account to make your time meaningful!
In fact, these productive things to do are free, inspiring, and you can do them at home. So, turn off your tv and turn up the volume on your future.
Let’s turn “nothing to do” into “so glad I did.”
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Productive Things To Do When You’re Bored
Note: This is a money site, so many of these actions build your wealth. But you’ll also find health and wellness ideas that boost your quality of life.
1. Set 3 specific financial goals. Write them down and make sure they have an attainable deadline.
2. Move your body for 30 minutes every day. Preferably in nature. You’ll feel better and think more clearly.
3. Update your budget. Or start a new budget that better serves you.
4. Set up an automatic savings transfer.
5. Check your credit score. List 1-3 ways you can improve it and start with one.
6. Make a meal plan for the month starting with food you already have. Or try it for a week. Decide you aren’t going to eat out.
8. Host a garage sale or sell on Facebook Marketplace what you’ve decluttered.
9. Prioritize your to-do list. Do the most difficult thing FIRST – Eat that frog!
10. Give your savings accounts motivational names. Make saving feel good!
11. Declutter your digital spaces. A clearer mind means sharper focus on what matters.
12. Review your financial statements to better understand where your money is going and where it’s being held.
13. Brainstorm ways to make an extra $500 a month. Too much? Come up with a list for making $300 a month instead. Circle your top 3.
14. Meal prep for the week. Don’t forget about snacks!
15. Read for 30 minutes from a book you can learn from.
16. Unsubcribe from any marketing emails in your inbox.
17. Go on a walk with your pets or family.
18. Do the financial literacy scavenger hunt.
19. Take on a diy project instead of paying someone.
20. Show appreciation to someone you care about. Write a thank you note or compliment.
21. Audit your expenses. Where do you see low hanging fruit?
22. Audit your daily life. Where can you simplify? Delegate? And automate?
23. Do something fun that doesn’t cost money.
24. Update your resume or LinkedIn. Use free templates or guides online to prep for your next opportunity.
25. Cut back or quit a habit that drains your wallet and health. Make a plan for how this will happen. Things like:
- Start a no alcohol challenge
- Quit smoking
- Cut out soda
26. Play Money Bingo
27. Fill out a commitment card to get serious about at least one goal/habit in your life.
28. Set up sinking funds for money you know you’ll need in the future. (Most online bank accounts allow you to name different “buckets”)
29. Audit your media. How much time are you really spending watching tv, playing video games, and scrolling your phone?
30. Open a bank account for your kids. Then, take them to the bank and show them how to deposit money.
31. Utilize your library card! And check out other free venues around your town.
32. Start the emergency fund challenge and decide how you’ll fully fund it.
33. Try a spending freeze. Too much? Start with a low spend challenge.
34. Pack a cold lunch to bring to work.
35. Go the extra mile for someone. Give your customers or family members more than they expect from you.
36. Learn a new skill on YouTube. From budgeting to cooking to coding—there’s a free tutorial for almost anything.
37. Make a business plan for a side hustle or passive income stream. Start with at least one action task.
38. Move your money to a high yield savings account or CD. Online accounts like Capital One often offer 3% instead of .5%. The difference adds up!
39. Make healthy freezer meals for emergencies.
40. Plan your entire week ahead. Don’t forget workouts, downtime, and connecting with family too.
41. Shop around for something – insurance, internet, phones, etc. Don’t just accept that the first price is what you have to pay.
43. Journal. Work to let go of what you can’t change. And to change the things you can.
44. Listen and read from people who empower you. Read motivational quotes.
45. Learn something that helps you improve your chosen craft.
46. Rebalance your retirement portfolio. If you don’t have one, make a plan for how you’ll start investing.
47. Join the Wealthy Woman Newsletter and get the best wealth building insights right in your inbox.
48. Take your change into the bank and turn it into cash. Then put that cash into your savings account or toward debt. Every penny counts!
49. Go on a “walk meeting” at work.
50. Call a friend or family member to check up on them.
51. Start a garden.
52. Have a date night at home with your partner or friends, using what you already have.
53. Make a healthy choice. Eat a salad or try a new healthy recipe.
54. Meditate, pray, or just sit in silence and allow your mind to wander.
55. Do that task that you’ve been putting off for a week.
56. Make a list of everything you need to say no to this week.
57. Work on turning your limiting beliefs into ones that serve you. Work on your money mindset.
58. Create a debt management plan if you have debt. Don’t forget this debt snowball tracker to help.
59. Ponder your purpose and how you want to show up in the world. Then write it down.
60. Start an accountability group. Then, do regular check-ins.
61. Tidy up your home. Clutter lowers self-control, so help yourself by living in a tidy space.
62. Try an after dinner ritual that brings your family closer, but doesn’t cost money.
63. Do the 5 in 5 Money Saving Challenge
64. Design a family routine that helps your kids be more accountable with household duties.
65. Create a new money mantra for yourself.
- “I choose belief over worry.”
- When you think “I can’t do this” turn it into “How can I do this?”
- “Save for tomorrow, not just today.”
66. Make your own natural cleaners. Not only does it save you money, but it’s better for you too.
67. Laugh. Watch a funny show, tell jokes, or be with friends.
68. Listen to music that lifts you up.
69. Start a 30 day savings challenge. It’s one small action a day, for one month.
70. Make a Vision Board to dream a little bigger.
71. Make a rotating grocery list. This saves both time AND money!
72. Take a nap. Sometimes, what your body and mind need most is….REST. When this is the case, there’s nothing more productive than extra sleep.
73. Reorganize your fridge so that the food you need to use up is in the front.
Related: 17 Ways to Waste Less Food
74. Reach out to someone you know for something you need. Kids clothes, books, babysitting, carpooling, etc. See if you can do a trade instead of paying for something. (Chances are, you have something they need too.)
75. Set up your money to automatically transfer into a giving fund.
76. Do something that scares you a little. Try the “Ask for It” Challenge!
77. Turn a critical eye to your closet – and work on a capsule wardrobe.
78. Walk or bike somewhere.
79. Watch a sunrise or sunset.
80. Develop a millionaire morning routine.
81. Turn off notifications from social media and texts (this has improved my focus by 3x)
82. Visualize your ideal day. What time do you get up? How do you make the most your precious 24 hours?
83. Try a pantry or freezer challenge. Clean out your kitchen, save money, and help the Earth all at the same time!
84. Read to your kids.
85. Make a gratitude list. Notice the good around you and those things will grow.
86. Look up your corporate discounts and points. What employee benefits are you leaving on the table? It’s time to find out!
87. Make your own birthday cards. Seriously, have you seen how expensive cards are these days? Your recipients appreciate a heartfelt card more anyways.
88. Volunteer your time.
89. Track your finances.
90. Try the Hidden Cash Challenge
91. Discover what your net worth is. How can you raise it over time?
92. Start a longer savings challenge for 6 months or a year.
93. Learn about taxes. No it’s not the most interesting topic in the world. But asking for help or understanding the loopholes can literally put thousands more into your pocket.
94. Invest your HSA money. Did you know that, in most cases, your HSA money doesn’t have to just sit in a bank account?
95. Plan ahead to get creative with gift giving. Speaking up is not easy, but you will cut your future stress in half. Draw names at Christmas instead of gifting to each person, and use other strategies to lighten the load.
96. Implement the Pareto Principle (the 80/20 rule). 20% of your actions give you 80% of your results. IN ALL ASPECTS OF LIFE. Work on that which makes the highest impact.
97. Set Mini Goals. Studies show that people are more successful when their goals are shorter. With that in mind, set a savings goal for the next week, month, or quarter that feed into your larger goals.
98. Brainstorm ways to make your home more energy efficient.
99. Start. Right now. Pick 2-3 habits and just do it.
What’s Next?
Next, join the Free Wealthy Woman Newsletter to get ongoing tips, insights, and resources that help you build your wealth faster than you thought possible.
Don’t forget to save these productive things to do on Pinterest for later!
