Sometimes when we actually find ourselves with free time, it’s hard to think of things to do. This list of 50 things to do in free time instead of watching Netflix will help you think of fun and useful ideas!
Some days, especially when I feel brain-dead after a day of sitting in front of my computer screen blogging, all I want to do in the evening is snuggle up for a movie or TV show with some popcorn and dark chocolate.
There’s nothing wrong with that! Seriously, no shame. Relaxing is SO important and can be super underrated.
But I also know I don’t feel great if that’s all I’m doing in the evenings. Sometimes, though, it can be hard in the moment to think of creative ideas of what to do instead!
I often keep a list of things to do in free time on my phone, and I actually do reference it. That sounds a little dorky, but I’m a big list-maker, and that way when I’m feeling uninspired or unmotivated in a moment, I can look at the list and think, “Oh yeah, I’ve really been wanting to do that thing and I have time for it now!”
That’s why I made this list, for myself and you all, of 50 different things to do in free time instead of watching Netflix!
Just a heads up: This post contains Amazon affiliate links. That means if you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission at no cost to you. As always, all opinions are entirely our own. Thanks for supporting us!
1. Read a book.
I just recently (finally) got a Goodreads account to keep track of what I’ve read and want to read, and it’s really helpful. It suggests books you might like based on your reviews of books you’ve read. If you’re on Goodreads I’d love to connect!
Two of my favorite books I’ve read this year are:
- Mornings in Jenin, a novel that follows a Palestinian family during the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
- The Giver, a classic short novel about a dystopian society
Would love to hear what books were your favorites this year!
2. Find a local park and take a walk.
3. Go roller blading.
4. Listen to a podcast.
One of the downsides to me of working from home is I don’t drive very often anymore. I love listening to podcasts in the car to and from work or anywhere else. Some of my favorites right now are:
- That’s So Maven, a health and wellness podcast
- How I Built This, a podcast interviewing entrepreneurs about the stories behind what they’ve built
- TED Radio Hour, based on TED Talks given by experts on inventions, problem-solving, and new ways of thinking
What podcasts are you loving right now? I’m always looking for new shows to listen to!
5. Watch the sunset.
6. Learn to play an instrument.
There are lots of free apps to help you learn instruments. You can also watch YouTube videos, or even sign up online for classes! I’ve been wanting to learn how to play guitar for years so I really want to make this happen for myself.
7. Discover and listen to new music.
8. Learn a language.
Duolingo makes it easy. Plus, it’s free. You can use it online, or download their app.
9. Journal – consider bullet journaling or making a dream journal.
10. Attend a concert.
11. Start a blog.
We’re planning to share our best tips on how to start your own blog in the future, but for now you can read our Journal posts for ideas. Or, head over to our friends’ site at Chasing Foxes for amazing resources on getting your blog started!
12. Cook a meal or dessert for someone.
I love the idea of ding-dong-ditching with the food you made – leave it on the person’s doorstep, ring the doorbell, and run away so they don’t know where it came from! Just make sure they’re home and find it so it doesn’t go bad sitting outside 🙂
13. Make a scrapbook or photo album.
14. Make a new recipe.
Cooking and baking has been one of my favorite things to do in free time lately. For inspiration, you can check out our post of our top 12 recipes we loved this fall, or check out our Pinterest for hundreds of clean eating recipes.
15. Watch a tutorial about something you want to learn, such as how to take better photos.
16. Play a game.
Playing games is one of my favorite things to do in free time if my family members are also free. Our recent favorite game has been Code Names. Have you played it yet? If not, we highly recommend you get it! It’s a strategy word game with teams where you give clues to try and link words together on the board for your teammates to guess. It’s most fun with 4 people but you can play it with 2-8+.
17. Call a friend or family member.
18. Surprise visit a family member or friend.
Just last night Ryan and I went with a group of people to surprise my grandma with Christmas caroling and cookies. It made my night to see the huge smile on her face and how much it meant to her.
19. Write someone a letter.
20. Sell your clothing.
I’ve written a whole post on how to successfully sell your clothing on eBay. If you don’t wear them or love them, why not make some extra cash from them?
21. Read blogs.
22. Go for a bike ride.
23. Geocache.
If you’re not familiar with geocaching, it’s kind of like treasure hunting for containers other geocachers have placed all over the world! You can learn about it on the Geocaching website.
24. Go stargazing.
25. Do a DIY project.
We have a DIY Projects Pinterest board with hundreds of ideas if you need inspiration!
26. Go to a trivia night.
27. Join a fitness class.
28. Color.
I love this Secret Garden coloring book on Amazon! It has beautiful floral, botanical, and woodsy pictures for you to color, and heavy stock paper so that ink won’t leak through the pages. Coloring is a great way to relieve stress and unwind.
29. Have a bonfire.
30. Attend a sporting event.
31. Play with your pet.
Or, if you don’t have a pet, sign up to be a dogsitter on Rover and make some extra money, or visit a local pet shop or animal shelter that allows you to play with their animals!
32. Plan a date.
33. Take a bath.
Try adding all natural magnesium epsom salts to your bath to help you destress.
34. Plan a party.
35. Go swimming.
If you try a new nearby public lake or river to swim in, I hope you have more success than we did last time. We visited a lake we’d not been to before that was only half an hour away, but when we got there we saw that the water was extremely dirty. Ryan braved it for about 5 minutes, but I definitely did not. Maybe do more research before you go than we did. 🙂
36. Plan a trip.
37. Look through old photos and watch old videos.
Especially with someone else. Ryan and I went through the videos on his phone the other day and laughed the hardest we have in a while. This is one of the best things to do in free time when you feel like being nostalgic and getting some good laughs.
38. Do yoga, pilates, or another form of exercise at home.
39. Go bowling.
40. Read old journals, notes, or cards.
This is something I try to make a habit of every couple of years. Reading my old journals and reflecting on the past helps me see how I’ve grown and remember important things and sweet memories from the past.
41. See a theater production.
42. Find some random acts of kindness to complete.
43. Learn how to make your own kombucha, sauerkraut, nut butter, or nut milk.
If you’re wondering what the heck kombucha is, check out my Beginner’s Guide to Kombucha post.
44. Go thrifting.
45. Find a way to volunteer locally.
Volunteermatch.org is a great place to start when searching for opportunities.
46. Do a puzzle.
47. Paint or draw.
If you love to draw but struggle to be consistent or find inspiration, you might love this book like I do, 642 Things to Draw. Each page has a different drawing prompt idea with space for you to sketch! My sister got this book for me and I love it.
48. Go for a drive somewhere you’ve never been.
One of Ryan and I’s favorite things to do in free time is do mini road trips and get out and explore. If there’s a city within a couple of hours’ drive that you haven’t been to before, see it as an adventure and go check out what it has to offer!
49. Do a personality test and learn about yourself.
I LOVE the Myers-Briggs personality test (I linked to a free, but unofficial version of the test). I took it fairly recently and found out I’m an INFJ. When I read what it said about my personality type, it was so accurate that I almost cried. Ryan didn’t connect with his Myers-Briggs type as much, but really connected with his Enneagram (also a free, unofficial version of the test).
No personality test is perfect, but they’re a lot of fun, and can help us a lot in understanding ourselves and others. Ryan and I have found it really helpful to read about one another’s types to recognize the ways we’re different and why. This has been one of the best things to do in free time that we’ve tried lately.
4 comments
Call and talk to your parents. Or even better – visit them.
Such a good idea! 🙂
Wow!
Brilliantly curated list.
All of these are practical, achievable & quite loveable activities.
Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Thanks so much! 🙂