When the sun sets and as the world around slows down, boredom takes on a new meaning. So what do you do after you have scrolled through every possible app, checked your notifications three times, stalked your ex and his new girlfriend on Instagram, felt bored and anxious? There could be many times when the best you can do for your sanity is to just lay in bed, but there also could be many times when that is just not an option. So again, what do you do? You have to put down your phone and take a meaningful minute to feel bright, creative, and ready for bed (maybe!).
So if you are tired of doom-scrolling while your eyelids appear to be getting heavier, here is a big list of 30 boredom busters to do at bedtime with no phone, no screen and no guilt!
1. Keep a diary or journal
Jot down whatever comes to mind. Things that give you the feeling of gratefulness, something that made you extremely happy or sad today, your goals for next week or just meal prepping. Writing your thoughts down on a piece of paper is weirdly therapeutic, try it for yourself?
2. Clean up your room, but make it satisfying.
It does not need to be a full cleaning session, just 10–15 minutes of rearranging or decluttering. Trust me, you would be surprised how calming it feels.
3. Read a book that you have been putting off reading.
Giving your brain something new to chew on every now and then is super important. Be it thriller, drama, romance, or self help books like “The Mountain is You”.
4. Take a long warm shower
Do not consider it as a part of your hygiene routine, this is self-care. Use an amazing smelling body-wash, maybe light up a candle, could be scented, and most importantly, play some soothing music.
5. Try journaling prompts
- If normal journaling feels blank, answer deeper questions:
- What’s something I want to improve about myself?
- What made me smile recently?
- What’s a habit I want to start tomorrow?
6. Make a midnight snack like a chef
- Not just Maggi. Make it fancy:
- cheesy garlic toast
- yogurt parfait
- mug cake
- hot chocolate with cinnamon
Cooking is calming, and eating is always fun.
7. Do a quick stretching or yoga session
Night stretching releases stress and helps you sleep better.
8. Redecorate a small corner
Move a plant, add a new poster, shift your furniture, change your bedsheet. Small changes = big mood lift.
9. Listen to music and relax
No multitasking. Just lie down and listen. Let your brain breathe.
10. Start a gratitude list
Something about expressing gratitude is, it instantly improves mood. Start with writing about 10 things in your day to day life that you are grateful for, could be your four legged friend, your parents, partner or favourite teacher.
11. Draw, sketch, doodle—whatever
You don’t have to be an artist. Just doodle messy shapes, random patterns, or your favorite cartoon character.
12. Write a letter
To someone you miss. To your future self. To your past self. You don’t need to send it. Just write it.
13. Play with your pet
They’re probably wondering why you love your phone more than them.
14. Meditate for 10 minutes
Even if you’ve never tried before, just sit still and breathe deeply. You will feel the difference.
15. Read an old diary or messages
Sometimes past memories feel like a time machine.
16. Do a mini spa routine
Face mask, moisturizer, nail care, hair mask—pampering yourself is always a mood booster.
17. Practice handwriting or calligraphy
Write your name in different fonts. It’s surprisingly fun.
18. Start a vision board
Use magazines, old newspapers, or draw pictures representing your goals—career, fitness, relationships, lifestyle.
19. Write a poem or short story
It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be yours.
20. Rearrange your wardrobe
Fold clothes, pair socks, throw out old t-shirts with holes you’re emotionally attached to.
21. Light a candle or incense and breathe
Instant mood upgrade.
22. Learn something without the internet
- Try a new recipe
- Solve a crossword puzzle
- Practice a language from an old book
You’ll feel productive and calm at the same time.
23. Do brain games or puzzles
Sudoku, chess, jigsaw puzzles—your brain loves a challenge.
24. Sit on your balcony or terrace and look at the sky
You’ll realize how peaceful the night actually is.
25. Sort your thoughts before sleeping
Try a brain-dump: write everything in your mind—tasks, worries, ideas—so you don’t carry them into sleep.
26. Organize old photos or letters
You’ll smile more than you expect.
27. Make your bed cozy
Fluff pillows, add a soft blanket, make a small comfy nest for yourself to relax in.
28. Water your plants or talk to them
Studies say it actually helps them grow. Some people swear by it.
29. Try a new creative hobby
Knitting, origami, scrapbooking, embroidery, painting—anything hands-on feels grounding.
30. Do nothing and just breathe
Dopamine addiction has ruined our ability to sit in silence, so sometimes all you need to do is do nothing and just breathe.
Why are screen-free nights important?
Phones bombard your brain with notifications, reels, sounds, scrolling, comparison, etc. A quiet night allows your brain to reset. All of these fun things to a bored brain at night are really “activities” that improve or refresh – reduce or manage anxiety, support better sleep, and facilitate reconnection to self.
Bonus Idea: Sleep.
Sometimes being bored at night is your body’s way of begging for rest. Get really comfortable, turn down the lights, and let yourself drift.
Final Thoughts
It’s perfectly fine to experience banal moments every once in a while. It is in those moments that creativity and self-awareness can occur. The next time you have monkey brain and your fingertips reach for your phone simply out of habit, do something off this list instead. From journaling to cooking to stretching to stargazing at night— so many options. It can be peaceful, beautiful, surprisingly deep, and fun!
It changes life a lot just to spend a night by yourself.
