What to Do in My Free Time: 10 Productive Activities to Fight Boredom

We spend so much of our lives working towards our goals. While this can give us a sense of accomplishment and meaningfulness, we need to take a break and slow down.

However, figuring out "what to do in my free time" is easier said than done for many.

We shouldn't minimize the value of our free time. People who spend additional time playing and having fun are more likely to solve problems, have higher work ethics, and have more original ideas. Quality free time has also been found to aid with broader psychological and cognitive well-being, physical health, and quality of life outside the workplace contexts mentioned above.

However, prioritizing play can be a challenge, especially when our lives are busy. It might be because our lives demand that we work nonstop, or our identities have become so intertwined with our job that there is no longer any distinction between them.

When you have free time, you should use it to do something you enjoy and that you will be proud of since it's an absolutely precious and rare commodity.

So, if you're asking yourself, "what should I do in my free time," take the opportunity to explore topics and activities you may not otherwise have had the chance to. We’re going to help you do it!

What to Do in My Free Time: 10 Great Ideas

You may not have many free hours in your hectic schedule. However, when you find a few moments to yourself, you might consider some of these things to do with the free time you have:

1. Read a Book

As you probably guessed, if you're looking up what to do with free time, reading would most likely show up first on this list. After all, reading a book is an activity you can do in any amount of time, and its benefits extend far past consuming time. By choosing to read, you're:

• Improving the strength and creating neural synapses
• Decreasing your stress levels 
• Enhancing your memory

So, next time you find yourself looking for things to do in your spare time, instead of settling down to watch TV, grab a book.

Reading relieves stress, stimulates the brain, supplies you with knowledge, enhances your memory, helps increase focus and attention, generates better writing abilities, and gives you a small escape from the day’s worries.

2. Play a Game of Sudoku

Sudoku has a calming effect on the mind. No matter how frantic your schedule is, Sudoku provides a respite from the outside world. It's not uncommon for people to include Sudoku in their daily routine since it boosts energy and enables them to take on responsibilities with newfound zeal.

Sudoku can be an excellent way to keep your brain active. The American Alzheimer's Association has approved Sudoku as a "brain game." Some studies suggest that playing cognitively engaging games and puzzle games like Sudoku might lessen our risk of dementia as we age. While the studies are inconclusive, it's worth considering!

Also, since you can play Sudoku at any time and any place, it's a convenient way to take a break from the monotony of daily life.

3. Move Around and Exercise

Regular physical activity provides a wide range of positive effects. It reduces obesity and diabetes risks and lowers blood pressure and lowersholesterol levels. When you minimize the health factors, you're significantly decreasing the likelihood that you'll develop heart disease or have a stroke, two of the most deadly threats to Americans.

A 5-minute walk down the street is an excellent way to spend your free time. After exercising, you will feel invigorated, healthy, and ready to take on the remainder of the day, rather than lazy and lethargic.

4.Give a Helping Hand and Volunteer

Volunteering is one of the most rewarding ways to use your free time. Even if you're not thinking about your career while researching, your hobbies and interests might have a positive impact on your professional life.

Every level of volunteer is needed, and there's a good chance you have something to offer. Find a cause for which you have a genuine interest and commit to helping out regularly.

Volunteering is a terrific method to meet people and build your professional network by participating in community service initiatives with others. This type of communication is more informal, and you get a greater idea of the other person's personality than in a three-minute conversation at an academic conference or other professional events.

Engaging in community service can also lead to paid or board roles at the organization you're working with after a lengthy period of volunteering. People in the company may try to hire you if they learn about your abilities and work style. In the event that you're contemplating a job move, volunteering in an area of interest might be an excellent place to start.

There are many ways you may contribute to the betterment of your town. Whether you're cleaning up the highway, volunteering in the soup kitchen, or offering mentorship to young professionals, they will appreciate your time and effort. You may also find fulfillment in the process.

5. Take a Dance Lesson

Taking a dance lesson, either alone or with a group of close friends, is something everyone, regardless of ability level, should do at least once in their lives.

People from every era have explored some form of dance. Human culture, rituals, and festivities have all included dance. Nowadays, most people who dance do so for fun, as a way to stay active and in shape.

People of all ages, body types, and sizes can benefit from dancing as a form of exercise. There are also a range of physical and mental advantages often attributed to it, such as:

• Increased cardiovascular and pulmonary health
• Improved physical endurance, power, and agility
• Healthier and more flexible joints, improved coordination, and a lower chance of osteoporosis  Improved mental functioning
• Greater self-confidence and self-esteem
• Improved social skills

Even if you believe you're bad at it, remember that everyone is there to have a good time.

6.Visit Your Region's Historical Landmarks

One of the most beneficial ways to spend your spare time would be to visit some of your city's most popular sites that you have never been to before. As a result, you'll have a deeper understanding of your community and a newfound sense of pride.

After all, to fall in love with the location you call home, you need to spend some time there. Whether you embark on this short journey by yourself or with a group of friends is entirely up to you. However, you're bound to find something new and exciting that has slipped your notice!

7. Get Your Hands on Some Crossword Puzzles

It's well-known that crosswords are good for the brain. However, the benefits of solving crossword puzzles go well beyond improving one's mental acuity. Here are a few of crossword puzzles' most important, yet perhaps unexpected, health advantages, such as:

Delaying Alzheimer's

Crossword puzzles might help those at risk of developing Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia.

One study indicates that people who solve crossword puzzles later in age could prevent the onset of dementia by 2.5 years. Crossword puzzles help keep the brain healthy by improving memory, cognition, and general strength.

According to scientists and academics, crossword problem solvers might reap the most significant cognitive benefits from the puzzles if they continuously challenge themselves. Crossword solvers, on the other hand, have the mental power of someone ten years younger than they are, according to another study. Crossword puzzles can be significantly more challenging if you:

• Regularly increasing the puzzle's size and difficulty.
• Time yourself as you go through the crossword puzzle.
• Use fewer resources to address a problem.
• Attempt crossword puzzles in other languages.

Improving Your Vocabulary and Spelling

Students and adults alike benefit from crossword puzzles, which help improve their vocabulary and spelling. Having a more extensive vocabulary, on the other hand, might help you digest information more quickly and think more abstractly.

Gathering Facts and Trivia

On the other hand, crosswords don't only improve your vocabulary and spelling. You may also enhance your knowledge of trivia by doing crosswords, which has the same cognitive advantages.

8. Go Out and Network

It's not uncommon to find networking opportunities that don't take place during regular business hours. You can frequently find professional networking functions during weekend brunches, cocktail hours, and after-hours events.

Remember, it doesn't matter your work situation; if you're looking up what to do in the free time you have, don't be afraid to take risks and meet new people. While networking events are intrinsically tied to career advancement in some form, you never know who you might meet and what friendships can develop!

9. Turn on the Oven and Cook

Grab an old cookbook or find a new dish from the internet and try something new in the kitchen.

If you're looking up "what should I do with my free time?" you might as well get a tasty treat out of it!

Don't be afraid to get your hands dirty and see whether baking or cooking is something you love. Even if you don't appreciate it, it's worth a go to see whether you like it.

10. Gather the Family for a Game of Scrabble

Study after study shows that Scrabble is great for your brain. Playing a game of Scrabble can teach us new words and strategies. However, if your Scrabble performance is less than stellar, you might consider using an online platform like Arkadium.com to help you practice.

There are several reasons why you should use Scrabble to fill that “what to do in your free time” void:

Expand Your Vocabulary

Scrabble is an excellent game to help you expand your vocabulary. By playing Scrabble, you and your family can learn and have fun simultaneously.

Develop Strategic Thinking

Although Scrabble is primarily a word game, there is also a strategy component. Long words aren't enough; you need to know where to place them to get double and triple word and letter bonuses. Focusing on the possibilities your opponent has is even more critical. Making a brilliant play isn't always worth it because it gives your opponents the chance to gain even more points!

Improve Your Concentration

You should engage in more things that demand your full attention for a lengthy period of time. Even if it's difficult at first, it's well worth the effort since it will help you flourish in other areas of your life that need a lot of focus.

Strengthen Your Mental Acuity

By strengthening your memory, you'll be able to do more complex mental activities with more efficiency. Playing Scrabble can significantly influence your cognitive abilities.

Build Social Connections

It's one of the most effective strategies to keep your mind fresh by engaging in social interactions with other people. It teaches us to evaluate our viewpoints in light of those of others and opens our eyes to new possibilities.

Why Online Games Are Fun Ways to Fill Your Free Time

While we typically think of online games as entertainment or even as a distraction, they actually have countless benefits for everyone of any age.

By choosing engaging and thought-provoking games, like online Solitaire, Mahjong, and Sudoku, you can develop creativity, stimulate your mind, and enhance your strategic thinking.

Additionally, if you're still wondering "what I do in my free time," online games can increase your endurance, resilience, and communication skills, making it a great way to enjoy your day!

Many strategy and problem-solving-based games require knowledge retention from players. Your short and long-term memory and brain processing speed can benefit from regularly playing these kinds of games.

It's also been shown that playing games help people stay concentrated on a task and develop their willpower to see it through.

So, if you want to give your brain a boost during your spare time, visit Arkadium.com and play free games today!