I hate being bored. I almost feel guilty because I know how much I could be doing with my time and how much information is at my fingertips with the internet. There is no excuse to be bored and yet, sometimes it happens. I decided to sit down and make a “bored list” of things I could do when I didn’t feel like getting down and dirty with my to-do list. Some of these are specific to my own tastes and interests so feel free to add your own or subtract something you don’t care about.

1. Free write about anything that is on my mind.
2. Watch a TED talk.
3. Watch a lecture from Academic Earth.
4. Watch an Ignite presentation.
5. Read saved articles in Instapaper.
6. Read whatever book I have going.
7. Read a free classic book from Project Gutenberg.
8. Write a letter by hand to someone.
9. Email a high school or college friend I’ve lost touch with.
10. Brainstorm writing topics for this blog (or my others)
11. Pick a random Wikipedia article to read.
12. Comment on other personal development blogs.
13. Brainstorm new hockey drills.
14. Look up academic papers to read.
15. Find a new band.
16. Research something I’m interested in (pedagogy, psychology, hockey philosophy and systems, philosophy, religion, fitness, grad schools).
17. Go through “brainstorm” list of things I need to think about to move forward.
18. Pick something quick and easy from to-do list.

Obviously, the number one thing I should be doing at a time like this is that task I am avoiding. If I don’t have the energy to do that though, it’s nice to be able to do something on this list and feel like I’m not utterly wasting my time.