What To Do When You’re Bored
- Push your eyes for interesting light show
See a variety of blobs, stars and flashes. Try to make out things-is your subconscious trying to send you a message? Can you control what you see by pressing different areas with different forces? Would it be possible to somehow see the same effects on TV?
- See how long you can hold your breath
Not that much fun, but it sure passes the time. Play with a friend, or try to beat your own personal best. Some tips: hyperventilate before hand, and stay as still as possible.
- Try to not think about polar bears
This is especially hard, because by trying too much, you remember what you were trying to avoid thinking of. If you try too little, you end up thinking about polar bears anyway.
- Scratch yourself
Go ahead, scratch yourself now. Even if nothing itches, go ahead. Doesn’t that feel pretty good?
- Hurt yourself
What is pain? Why is it unpleasant? There’s nothing physical about it - it’s all in your mind. Plus, after pinching yourself for awhile, boredom will seem nice next to being in pain.
- Try to swallow your tongue
There’s not much to say about this one. It is possible.
- Look at something for awhile, shut eyes, study after image
Another great time waster. It takes about 30 seconds of staring to create an after image, and the image is then viewable for about the same length of time. Fun to combine this one with pushing on your eyes.
- Get yourself as nauseated as possible
Best achieved by looking straight up and spinning around. Try to be so dizzy you can’t even stand up. This is also entertaining due to the “makes boredom seem a lot better” effect.
Things you can do with another person
- Have a water drinking contest
While the competition is fun, you probably won’t feel too good afterward. To give your event an old western theme, slam the cups upside down on the tables after you have emptied them.
- Stare at the back of someone’s head until they turn around
This works on the “I have the feeling I’m being watched” principle. Conduct an experiment does this really work?
- Have a “Who is less competitive” competition
Trying to win at this will make you lose. Trying to lose makes you win which makes you lose. Not trying at all makes you lose which makes you win which makes you lose.
- Pick up a dog so it can see things from your point of view
Think about it: your dog has only seen the house from a viewpoint from 6″ to 2′ high (15 to 60 cm for all you metric fans). It’s never seen the tops of counters, what you keep on your desk, the tops of shelves, etc. Try looking at things from its point of view, too.
- Pull out a hair, stick in someone’s ear
Best done to sleeping people added challenge in having no one else around, because then you can’t blame it on anyone else. Try to beat your record number of times before the person catches on.
