Ideas to help fight boredom

Improving the mind

Educational pursuits that enrich and improve the mind:

• Study a foreign language
• Reading
• Writing/blogging
• Music/musical instruments
• Take a quiz

Sports

Physical activity is a great way to reduce stress and improve both your physical and mental health:

• Jogging/walking
• Horseback riding
• Yoga/Tai Chi
• Team sports: volleyball, bowls, hockey, soccer, netball
• Other sports (team or individual): golf, swimming, tennis, athletics, cycling

Social activities

You might benefit most from a hobby that involves friends and/or meeting new people:

• Card games
• Movie club
• Amateur dramatics
• Dancing: ballroom, salsa, hip-hop
• Social groups
• Re-connect with friends and family
• Join a community group

Creative hobbies

A creative outlet is a great way to find out what hidden talents you have.

• Photography
• Scrapbooking
• Drawing/painting/printing
• Pottery
• Needle arts
• Jewellery making
• Floral arrangements

Collecting

Collecting can be a lifelong passion, and it doesn t have to be expensive.

• Comics
• Coins
• Genealogy
• Antiques
• D cor
• Postcards

Outdoors

Getting outside provides fresh air, physical activity, and an escape from everyday life.

• Hiking or bushwalking
• Kayaking or canoeing
• Sailing
• Letterboxing/geocaching/orienteering
• Bird-watching
• Hunting/fishing

Domestic hobbies

• Cooking/baking
• Knitting
• Quilting
• Crochet
• Candle making

Websites that fight boredom:

Web based games, news sites and more:

• Online games: http://www.agame.com/
• Distractify: http://distractify.com/
• Bored Panda: http://www.boredpanda.com/
• Clickhole: http://www.clickhole.com
• Buzzfeed: http://www.buzzfeed.com/?country=au
• Boredom Busters games: http://boredombustergames.weebly.com/home-sheep-home.html

Volunteering

Volunteering is a great way to do something constructive with your spare time, as well as meet a range of new people. Some volunteering organisations to get you started:

• https://www.vinnies.org.au/page/Get_Involved/Become_a_volunteer/
• https://www.thesmithfamily.com.au/get-involved/volunteer-with-us
• http://www.rda.org.au/volunteering.aspx
• http://www.salvationarmy.org.au/get-involved/Volunteer/
• http://www.redcross.org.au/volunteering.aspx

Some community groups to get you started:

• http://www.ourcommunity.com.au/directories/welcome
• http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/community/participation/community-groups
• http://www.meetup.com/cities/au/sydney/
• https://www.qld.gov.au/community/your-home-community/groups/

Online quizzes

• Trivia Plaza: http://www.triviaplaza.com/
• Zimbio: http://www.zimbio.com/trivia
• National Geographic Quiz: http://www.smh.com.au/national/can-you-pass-the-national-geographic-kids-quiz-20150725-gikiu0.html
• Your Brain Matters: http://www.yourbrainmatters.org.au/quiz
• Quiz Rocket: http://www.quizrocket.com/

Online colouring for any age

• Coloring: http://www.coloring.com/
• Coloring pages 4 U: http://www.coloringpages4u.com/

Jigsaw puzzles, crosswords, other puzzles online

• The Jigsaw Puzzles: http://thejigsawpuzzles.com/
• Puzzles: http://puzzles.about.com/od/familyfun/qt/KidsAustralia.htm