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61 Productive Things To Do At Home | Be Effective When Bored

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Do you ever feel like you don’t have any motivation to work at home? Well, there are productive things things to do at home that can help! Whether cleaning or organizing, doing these tasks will make you feel refreshed and get those creative juices flowing.

Here are some productive activities to do at home.

Productive Things To Do At Home When Bored

You may wonder what productive things to do when bored? Here are some things to do when you’re feeling bored.

1.Learn a new creative skill

You could learn something new to make you feel productive! There are many websites where learning is free and open for the public, such as Codecademy, Udemy, Skillshare.

You can learn many different languages like HTML, CSS, Python and much more! All you need is the internet!

So make sure to look at some of these websites if you’re feeling bored and not productive – remember to always be productive in everything you do. It also helps with relaxation after a stressful day at work or school.

2.Learn a new language

By learning a new cultural activity or speaking a foreign language? Perhaps sign up for an international cooking class or dance party!

Another benefit of learning a new language is that it can help you when going to a foreign country, such as Spain, Mexico, or France.

3.Drawing or colouring

There is a lot of colouring book for adults out there.

You can find one and spend your free time drawing and colouring. Drawing can help you to be more productive later on.

4.Knitting

Productive Things To Do At Home Next productive things to do at home is knitting. You can use the leftover fabrics from previous projects to create something new!

Perhaps a pillow cover, scarf or even make-shift curtains for a window in your home?

The benefits of learning these two skills will make you feel very productive when making things with your hands.

Also, suppose you use your new knitting skills to make something for someone special in your life.

In that case, they will appreciate it because of the time invested into making them a custom gift.

5. Cleaning up the house

When cleaning upkeep in mind that there are different levels of cleaning (from top to bottom): clean desk, clean keyboard/mouse, organize files on hard drive/memory stick and create backups, clean computer case/inside laptop or desktop monitor.

You can also vacuum the floor with attachment, dust light fixtures like ceiling fans and arched doorways (they accumulate lots of dust), wipe down window sills, wash baseboards (with a sponge dampened with water), mop floor with microfiber mop  (remove dust bunnies), clean toilets, sinks and bathtubs (with bleach to help kill germs) and also the walls in between tiles.

Cleaning your house not only productive things to do at home, but will make you feel relieve when look at the shining house.

6. Wash your car

Productive Things To Do At Home Another productive thing to do at home is cleaning your car. You can wash it off with soap bubbles and water from a bucket, sponge, rag or whatever you may have available for use when cleaning up!

You can use a microfiber towel. Its texture is similar to velvet but not as soft, so the microfiber towel picks up more dirt than regular cotton cloths. They are also great at drying windows.

7. Go outside!

When you’re feeling overwhelmed with things to do, take a step back and get some fresh air.

Go walking or jogging (if you like exercise). If the weather is bad where you reside and would instead not go out in the rain or snow… then perhaps you’d enjoy going outside to enjoy nature if possible? Perhaps do some gardening?

8. Have fun with your pets

If your pet is playful, then I’m sure they will want to play fetch!

This can be very enjoyable and relaxing if done with the right attitude 😉

When playing fetch, they must bring the ball back to you. If they don’t bring it back, it’s best to let them play with a stuffed animal.

9.Workout Your Mind

You can meditate or do other mental work to relax and clear up any stress from your mind.

Meditation doesn’t need to be done for long periods either. Just try doing it at least once per week (or whenever you need to) and see how it helps your overall productivity.

It’s also great for clearing out the thoughts in your head so that new, refreshing ideas can flourish within you.

10. Learn how to play an instrument

If you’re feeling productive at home, why not sign yourself up for some music lessons?

Playing an instrument can be another cultural activity that will allow you to express yourself through creativity when using your hands. You can play the piano, guitar, ukulele, banjo, saxophone or even the drums!

Want to learn how to play the piano? Here is a guide on playing the piano.

11. Cooking

This is something I enjoy doing when I have time.

It’s a great way to bond with kids and husband at home by cooking or baking together. Cooking is one of the activities for family bonding.

12. Paint on canvases/special paper > Washi tape decorations

Painting on canvas is so much fun because it’s a project you can do on your own or with others. It’s very relaxing!

I’ve done this before. It’s great getting to know yourself by exploring your creative expression on canvas/special paper using different paintbrushes, oil pastels and, of course, markers.

You can also use heavy-duty poster-board paper, which is more common for kids to draw with, but if you have access to paints, why not try painting on that too?

13. Photography

If you enjoy taking pictures of everything around you – then why not make a photo book with your best photographs?

It can be quite an exciting project if you like to take pictures on your phone.

14. Writing

If you enjoy writing stories, then why not write a novel about your life? Or perhaps make an autobiography of yourself?

If you’re interested in being more productive at home, then why not use this time to learn how to be more self-aware by writing down the good things that are happening to you right now!

It’s essential to appreciate the beautiful little moments we have every day because they go by so fast!

They’ll stay forever if you keep them in your heart.

15.Do some sports

We do need to keep our bodies healthy, right? You can try out this tip – watch the local sports centre and go for a run or go to class!

Have you ever had a dance-off with your friends or family members? Or maybe even watched music guidance videos while making some dance moves?

If you’re wondering what sport/dance to try out – then why not do both in the same daytime period!

16. Practice Yoga at home

Did I mention this already? Well, there’s a reason for that. It’s because it’s essential to practice yoga to keep your body healthy and strong.

There are many types of yoga exercises you can do at home, depending on your goal.

Do you want flexibility? Or maybe balance? Or perhaps even more confidence or self-awareness? Do the one which is right for you!

17.Workout your body

Go work out at home using items from around the house!

Home gyms are really affordable nowadays. So I would recommend checking them out.

Although it’s probably better to go outside for a jog instead on your treadmill (or try jogging up the stairwell if you can’t afford it at the home gym).

18.Plan the next month or quarter

There are the things I do to stay productive in my free time. When I have a lot of free time, I plan out the next month or quarter of my life with goals and tasks.

This is best done in a calendar format, using three-month increments to map out what you want to accomplish each month.

19. Calculate your own income taxes

I find this extremely helpful because I’ll be paying more later if I don’t pay attention to everything before each year’s due date.

20.Join a cashback program

Some people might not know what a cashback program is, but it’s a site that offers cashback for joining. You can earn up to 85% on your purchases, and you’ll have instant access to the money you earn.

You can earn an unlimited amount of money, and you get paid in as little as 12 hours. All you need to do is sign up for an account with them.

I’m sure several sites offer this service, such as Ebates. Still, they aren’t always the cheapest – so be careful when selecting which one to sign up for!

21.Like an emergency alert

I don’t know about you, but I’m a massive fan of having an emergency alert on my phone.

You get notifications about any and all emergencies happening anywhere in the world, and it’s all for free!

It’s such a fantastic app that tells you exactly what to do in the case of an emergency – and it’s convenient IF something happens near where you live.

I highly recommend downloading it now before disaster strikes :p

22.Declutter your home

Decluttering is a great way to stay productive at home. And have many benefit.

There are many different decluttering methods that you can do, but I’m going to list the two I know of:

1) The KonMari Method

2) Decluttering in phases

The KonMari Method: This method is based on “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” by Marie Kondo.

She teaches people how to go through their homes and pick up anything that “sparkles”. Then, you have two options: either keep it or throw it away (I would suggest the latter).

Once you’ve gone through your entire home and picked out everything that sparks joy, then you’re done with this stage. This may look like a lot of work, but it’s actually much easier than you think.

Decluttering in phases: In this method, you declutter by room (for example) instead of doing the whole house at once. You can start out in one room. This will take around 5-10 minutes.

Just pick up anything lying on the ground. Then, move to another room. Do the same thing until you’ve finished with all rooms.

The point here is that if you don’t have as much free time during each day, it can be beneficial to just spend 10 minutes picking things up instead of trying to go through an entire house at once (since that can take hours).

And, if you want to be productive at the same time, you can listen to an audiobook while cleaning house!

23.Create or update your vision board

A vision board is something I made for myself, and it was beneficial in staying motivated.

It turned out so awesome too. Now that I look back on my vision board, I’m getting all sorts of ideas for blog articles and stories.

And I also get inspiration from things on my vision board when planning my day – so overall, it’s an excellent tool for staying productive! 🙂

24.Read books from the library

If you’re a fan of reading and want to stay productive at home, then I have good news for you!

Instead of buying books that you may not like (or won’t read), you may borrow them from your local public library instead.

By doing so, you can borrow any book in the library as many times as you want, and they’ll send it to your house via postal mail for free.

There are so many wonderful books out there to read, so why spend money on one when you can get it for free?

The only thing is that sometimes the waitlist for popular books can take a long time.

But suppose it’s something really important to you. In that case, you could always try reserving it online or call the local library to ask if they have any other copies available.

One of the incredible benefits of libraries is that they carry many books that would otherwise be hard to find.

Especially if you’re looking for something unique like an old classic book or something along those lines.

25.Organize your home/office Workspace

I know personally, I get so much more productive when my desk is clean, and everything is organized. It makes me feel like I’m ready to face anything that comes my way!

Plus, having access to all the things I need without needing to search for them eliminate the stress of being unable to find what I’m looking for.

I’m the type of person who likes to keep things clean and tidy, but I also hate doing housework. So, it can help me feel refreshed (which can lead to more productivity).

But if you’re not really into cleaning or organizing as a hobby, then it may be a little harder for you.

Plus, it depends on what your home/office space looks like currently. If you don’t have enough room or anything, then organizing might be much more challenging.

26.Use a timer

Using timers is one of my favourite ways to stay productive. They help me get through tasks without getting distracted by other things (like TV, chores, social media, etc.).

For example: let’s say you need to edit a photo. An excellent way to stay productive while editing that photo is to set a timer for 10 minutes – then work on the photo until the timer goes off.

When the timer goes off, take a quick break for 2-3 minutes (to do something like check your email or social media), then when you’re done with that, take another 5-10 minute break and repeat!

A lot of people don’t realize how important breaks are for staying productive! If you don’t give yourself a little time here and there to relax, it can make you feel burned out really fast!

27.Start a business from home

Some of the many ways you can start a business from home are starting an online shop, creating podcasts or videos for YouTube.

Also, using social media to grow your following on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter.

Other ideas include starting a blog and monetizing it with ads/affiliate marketing and freelance writing for sites like Hubpages.

If you’re more of an artistic person, you may want to try making crafts out of recycled items. Here’s a link to help you get started with some simple home business ideas.

28.Wash your car

If you have weather that allows it, wash your car at home!  You could use a bucket and sponge or one of those washing brushes.

I’ve found that using an ordinary floor-mop will work just as well too (you can always buy new heads for them).

You could also try cleaning the inside. It makes the inside look new again, and it helps prevent odours from building up over time!

29.Write out what you did during the day

If you struggle to stay productive, then this is something to try: make sure to set some time in your day (or the night before bed) to write down everything you did that day.

It helps make sure you’re being productive, plus it’s something you can reflect on to see where you could have been more or less productive and adjust accordingly.

For example: what tasks did I finish that took longer than they should?

Did I get distracted by social media too much today? How can I ensure I’m more focused tomorrow?

30.Brainstorming ideas for your project

Brainstorming is a great way to help stay productive because when you brainstorm ideas, it gets the creative juices flowing!

It doesn’t matter how many of them are bad – just writing them down will inspire some good ones too!

31.Sell old stuff

If you want to stay productive at home, why not get the most out of your home by selling the old stuff you’re no longer using or need?

If you need something new, have a little wiggle room in your budget, or just want a little bit of extra money for something fun, it’s a great way to make some extra cash.

There are plenty of ways to sell your stuff, and people are always looking for bargains. Why not get that extra gas money or even use the money for that much-needed vacation?

Just search “sell old stuff”, and you’ll find many different websites where you can list your items. The tricky part is to decide on what you want to sell and getting them ready to ship!

32.Plan your Facebook/Instagram feed for next month

It’s a fantastic idea to plan your social media feed for next month so you can stay productive and save some time.

It’s easiest to start with creating a list of all the different things you want to post for the month.

Include content, date, link, picture, hashtags, etc.

For Instagram, it’s best to create a grid of pictures every week so that it doesn’t take as much time on the day you want to post it.

For Facebook, make sure you only post once or twice per week and include enough information in the post so people will be more likely to share!

33.Plan your next vacation

Plan your next vacation is a great way to stay productive and plan ahead.

When you’re planning out your next trip, make sure you don’t forget to include your work too.

Planning will help you keep on track with everything that needs to be done and prevent procrastination while you’re on vacation.

34.Write an extensive to-do list

An effective to-do list should be detailed yet succinct. It should include a timeline and relevant information, such as what needs doing or when it is due, along with the name of the person responsible for its completion.

A well-written to-do list will lead you from point A (starting point) to Point B (completion), which can help people stay productive by providing them with a sense of accomplishment that builds on itself as they achieve their goals.

35.Plan a special date night with the family

A romantic date is always a great way to stay productive. By planning it out in advance, you will have something to look forward to and be more motivated to complete your work!

Don’t forget to throw in some fun activities for the kids as well – like ice cream at the beach or even an indoor playground like Bounce Factory where they can let off some steam after all that hard work.

36.Redecorate your room or home office

If you’re feeling uninspired in your home office, it may be time to redecorate! This will help make you feel refreshed and increase productivity.

Try investing in some new curtains, a pretty rug, or even a new lamp. It is no need to spend a lot of money on something brand new to renovate your room.

Things like paint and decorations from thrift stores can work just as well – they might even be more affordable!

37.Look for suitable gifts for the upcoming birthday

The best way to stay productive is by planning a little ahead of time. One great thing you can do for the upcoming birthday plans is a gift and find out what they want.

The other thing is to make sure that you have enough time to send it before their birthday or on their actual birthday.

Checking the mail every day may not be what they like, but if you wait until the last minute, that’s what will end up happening!

If it’s too much work, just think about how good you’ll feel knowing that you planned ahead, did some research, and got your friend a fantastic gift.

38.Call your parents

It can be effortless to procrastinate when we get busy, so it’s a good idea to think about important things.

A great way to stay productive when feeling down or lonely is to reach out to your parents!

There are many things to talk about, like the weather, their vacation plans, and about your sibling.

It really doesn’t matter because they will love hearing from you and appreciate all the effort you’ve put in.

Above all else, don’t forget they are just as special for having raised you. Thus, make sure to show your love to your family by staying in touch!

39.Get a pet or start gardening

A study found that taking care of animals such as pets and even plants in the garden can be good for mental health, which can help you stay productive at work and in life.

Even if you are working and have limited availability, it is possible to care for these things when there is some downtime during weekends or holidays.

The study also found that caring for animals could have an additional stress-relieving effect.

40.Try something new

I believe that trying something new is a great way to be productive.

Whether you try on a new outfit, eat at a new restaurant or even try something new outside of your social comfort zone, it will give you a sense of accomplishment.

It will help make working on your project more rewarding.

41.Watch a motivational Ted talk

I’m sure you’re probably already familiar with the term “Ted talk”. It’s an 18-minute, live-streamed video of a speaker addressing a topic of interest in front of a large audience.

The videos are typically on education, business, science, and design. They’re all free to watch on YouTube.

It’s been proven that watching these Ted talks can positively affect your mood. By increasing your levels of happiness and satisfaction while decreasing your levels of anger and stress.

Watching one motivational Ted talk can make it easier to get anxious people to be more productive.

42.Start a side hustle

I’ve found that a side hustle is one of the most useful ways to be productive. It may sound really daunting, but there are so many different things you can do.

Here are just a few examples:

-Start your own blog and monetize it with ads or affiliate marketing programs like amazon associates.

-Sell items on eBay, Etsy, or at garage sales to make some extra money.

-Become a freelance writer for people who need their personal life stories written as articles.

-Create your own content and sell it as an ebook through kindle publishing. There’s even software that helps you write and publish your ebook in under 30 minutes!

-Start your own YouTube channel and start making content.

43.Call a friend

Sometimes we feel down when arguing with our friends or just feeling lonely, but reaching out to them can be really productive.

It will remind us of everything good about our friendship and take our minds off the negativity.

If you’re feeling really anxious or sad, then this is definitely something you should do!

44.Improve yourself

One way to be productive is by improving yourself. This does not mean that you need to actively try to change a trait or characteristic about yourself.

It can refer to something small like spending more time learning how to cook or reading a book.

You don’t have to be perfect. Just accept your flaws and work on being the best version of yourself that you can be! You can also learn how to be more attractive.

45.Teach your kids

Teaching your kids is an excellent way to be productive. It is hard and sometimes takes a lot of time, but it will make you feel better in the end.

You can teach them how to read, or math, or something else that they should know.

If you don’t have any kids, it can still be productive to help teach other people’s kids. Volunteering at a school is another way of teaching, and it’s gratifying.

46.Make a handmade craft

Soap making not only productive things to do at home, but can also make money. Yes, you can sell your handmade soap to a platform like Etsy. Learn how to start your Etsy shop here. 

First of all, you’re getting creative, and creativity is an excellent way to be productive. You might also need something to do with your hands if you’re bored and need something to keep them busy.

Soap making will also provide you with an outlet for your frustration or anger if you’re feeling stressed out about work or other things going on with your life.

47.Do laundry

Washing clothes and linens is a household chore that is not always pleasing but useful.

Cleaning clothes and linens with water and a little soap not only keeps them clean but also removes the oils and dirt from your hands.

This can help you to keep your home greener because you’ll use fewer cleaning products in an attempt to remove all those icky handprints from the walls and furniture.

Suppose you have eaten anything greasy or made any sauces, for example. In that case, it’s nice to wash your hands before touching any surfaces in your home, including yourself!

49.Folding clothes

Folding clothes is another productive thing to do at home. It doesn’t take much time, and it can really freshen up your wardrobe.

The idea here is to fold the item of clothing immediately after you’ve taken it off from wearing it.

This will keep the shape of the clothes and prevent wrinkles which will make them look better the next time you wear them.

50.Change bedsheet

Changing your bedsheets is another productive thing to do at home. Since new bedsheets are always on our minds, this tends to be one that can often get left out.

Changing your sheets will not only help you relax in a nice, neat, clean bed. It will also help you feel more refreshed in the morning when you wake up!

51.Barbeque

This is an excellent idea to do with family members or friends. You can set up and clean up the grill while someone is cooking the food. You can talk with them and also get great tips for grilling!

If you’re by yourself, then consider taking a book out to read while the food cooks.

No matter what, when barbequing outside, make sure you know how to turn off a gas grill when it’s not in use!

52.Clean Fridge

This is a big task; however, it can be very rewarding after finishing it!

You’ll want to clean out everything inside the fridge beforehand so nothing will fall over or spill during the cleaning process.

Then you’ll want to clean all the shelves and walls using warm water and soap.

53.Clean and Organize cupboards

Cleaning out your cupboards is another productive thing to do at home that makes a big difference in the long run.

You will feel better about how your food looks on the shelves and also know where things are instead of wasting time searching for something that should be right there waiting for you!

54.Organize closets

This productive things to do at home is also quite time-consuming but can create great results quickly!

You’ll want to go through all of your clothes, shoes, and other accessories one by one and place them back into their correct spots after cleaning them.

55.Start a journal

Keeping a journal will help you make more memories in the present moment and also help you feel more “in touch” with yourself!

Start by writing down what happened today, including small or big things that impacted your day, as well as thoughts of how you felt during different activities throughout the day.

You can write about the most important things you do or simply capture the things you do instead.

56.Begin a Productive habits log

After completing this, you’ll likely have an area of focus. A productive habits log is a great way to get started with productivity!

This can be quickly done online (instead of writing out ideas on paper) by using productivity websites like Producteev or Todoist.

You’ll feel more “in charge” when dealing with productivity when you have a productive habits log. Also, it is easier to remember important information from day-to-day about how productive you were.

57.Write or Update blog

Blogging is a good way to share your thought out there. You can write about anything you want, and the feedback from your readers can always give you new ideas for topics.

A blog can also be a great way to make money from home if done consistently.

58.Start YouTube channel

What you post on your channel can range from vlogs (videos that detail what you do every day) to how-to videos, or even just funny clips that you’ve found on the internet!

The idea is to give people something to enjoy. So, it should be entertaining somehow, whether it’s some short, entertaining clips or long-form content that people can really get into.

If this is something you’re interested in, you can learn how to make money with YouTube here.

59. Create a plan for a groceries shopping list

This is one of the most important tasks you can carry out, and it should be done every week.

When listing your grocery, the first thing to do is look at the refrigerator, freezer, and pantry shelves to see what items need replenishing.

Then, take a quick inventory of fresh fruit and vegetables. You might want to buy in preparation for upcoming meals or snacks (remember: these should not go on the grocery list).

After that, browse through recipes online, which will give your ideas for dinner ingredients and inspiration about things like dessert or side dishes.

Next up: categorize items into sections such as dairy products, canned goods, produce etc., so that when you head out the door, you’ll have an idea of what you need to get.

60.Budgeting and financial planning

For those looking to make money at home, budgeting is an important part of staying on top of your finances. There are no surprises later on when paying monthly bills.

If you have expenses to pay, it can be challenging to make money if you don’t know the amount coming in and going out of your bank account.

Thankfully, while making a budget might sound complicated, it’s actually not as complex as it sounds. Primarily when online personal finance software exists, which makes the entire process easy!

I recommend YNAB (You Need A Budget). This fantastic new tool helped me get on top of my finances by tracking my income and expenses in such detail that I never over-spend again!

61.Sewing

It’s not just productive because you’re making something, but it can be relaxing too.

Sewing can be learned, and there are tons of tutorials and videos available online for those who want to learn sewing or creating embroidery.

One thing I learned is that needlework and embroidery can also serve as a type of journaling, where you can document what you’ve been up to overtime.

This way, you’ll have an addition to your physical scrapbooks or photo albums that will tell your life story in pictures that won’t fade with time!

Conclusion on Productive Things to do at Home

Sometimes it can be tough to stay productive at home when trying to take care of the kids. We must find time for ourselves, but sometimes just getting them off our hands is the best thing we can do for ourselves and our sanity!

I’ve provided several helpful tips on productive things to do at home. If you interested on the successful people morning routine, check out here!

Whether you need to do some cooking for the week or work out your skills to make more money from home, there are plenty of ways that being productive at home can help you achieve something.

What are some other things that have helped you feel accomplished and happy?

Let me know in the comments below!

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