What to Do When Bored in Class: Fun and Productive Ideas

Bored out of your mind in class? Welcome to the club! Don’t worry; this club consists of every single student in the world. So, you’re going to find plenty of like-minded peers to complain about how boring your class is. Boredom isn’t something you can avoid per se. Sure, you can come up with strategies to prevent this as much as possible. Still, throughout your entire academic life, there will definitely be moments when you can’t help but let your mind wander to things unrelated to your class lecture.

And that’s completely okay!

It’s a common belief that students are at fault for losing concentration. However, that’s now always the case. Research highlights some common reasons for student boredom, and if you look at them closely, you’ll realize that you’re not the root of the problem. These reasons include –

• The educator’s teaching methods do not align with your preferred learning method.
• You cannot follow along with the class teaching because of poor fundamental knowledge.
• You do not feel personally motivated to keep up with the teaching
• You feel a disconnect between what’s being taught and your interests

You’re not completely to blame for these issues. If the professors aren’t adapting their teaching methods to ensure that all the students in class can follow along easily, then you’re left having to fend for yourself. But that’s an issue for another time.

Right now, you have to figure out what to do when bored in class. If you can’t prevent boredom, then the only thing you can do is try to deal with it as best as you can. That’s precisely what this blog is going to cover. As you continue reading, you’ll learn more about the reasons for boredom and constructive things to do when bored at school.

Understanding Classroom Boredom

“I get bored easily, but so what?”

This attitude is the only reason people don’t consider boredom a serious matter. If a student says that they’re bored, then in more cases than not, their parents and educators will blame them for not putting in more effort. Students themselves don’t understand the serious psychological challenges that they can face if their boredom goes unchecked.

There’s an entire list of mental health issues that are exacerbated due to boredom in individuals with pre-existing conditions like ADHD, bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorders. These include, but are not limited to –

• Restlessness
• Substance abuse
• Impulsive buying
• Detachment issues

The effects of boredom on your academic performance certainly won’t make dealing with these psychological issues easier. Feeling bored once in a while during class is normal. However, if this feeling persists to the point where your academic performance starts deteriorating, you know it’s high time you should take things seriously.

In his research, Schwartze highlights that bored students usually experience the following –

• Reduced efforts to keep up with their class materials
• Active avoidance of schoolwork (including assignments, projects, etc.)
• Inability to exercise self-regulation

Brown has also highlighted how the negative correlation between boredom and interest has led students to discontinue mathematics after secondary school.

Why is the root cause of this boredom?

Well, out of all possible reasons, the most interesting one is perhaps the disconnect between preferred learning methods and applied teaching methods. No student is alike. That means you cannot assume that every student prefers to learn in the same manner. If you assess the different types of learners in a classroom, you’ll come across a variety, including the following –

Now, if an educator is more focused on lecture-based teaching, then auditory learners will benefit from their classes the most. However, the rest won’t find the class as engaging.

Similarly, the technology-based teaching method focuses more on showing video lectures online and providing soft copies of reading materials. Kinesthetic learners might find such classes too boring to follow. So, teachers need to adopt mixed teaching methods to cater to all students’ needs.

If teachers take this initiative, will you finally be able to avoid getting bored in class?

Not essentially. There are bound to be moments when you’ll feel like you can’t get your head in the game. So, if you can’t think of what to do when bored at school, here are constrictive ideas that you can explore to pass the time.

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Engaging Activities to Spice Up Dull Class Days

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Fun Activities to Do When Bored

The secret to having fun in class when you’re bored is to do things that won’t get you caught. If your professor catches you not paying attention in class and floating around in dreamland, then you might just land yourself in detention in the worst-case scenario. So, what options do you have? Plenty, in all honesty. If you can’t figure out what options you have on your own, then you can borrow some ideas from the suggestions below.

1. Creative Activities

No one said that you have to bore yourself to an early grave when you can hone your creative skills when you’ve got the chance. The most go-to option is drawing or doodling. If you follow any artists on social media, then you can try to recreate some of their works. No one expects you to be the second coming of Picasso. However, you can always have fun, even if you can only draw stick figures.

Doodling seems more doable if drawing seems too challenging right off the bat. You can check out various doodle exercise ideas on Pinterest if you need to get those creative juices flowing.

If you’re not the artsy type, you can also try your hand at writing. Here are some options for everyone –

• Come up with a plot with your friends and write character bios and backstories.
• Challenge yourself to write a poem where all sentences begin with a particular alphabet.
• Translate the lyrics of your favorite song into another language or write new lyrics from scratch.

You won’t ever have to worry about what to do when bored in class without getting in trouble when there are so many things you can try out without getting bored in class!

1. Productive Activities

Just because you can’t concentrate in class doesn’t mean you have to waste those precious minutes doing nothing. If drawing or doodling makes you worry that you’re not being productive enough, here are some ways that you can make the most of your time –

1. Organize Your Notes

The class notes that you take so diligently won’t really come in handy if you don’t keep them organized. The worst part is having to search for a missing page when you need to revise those notes the most. So, here are some note-taking methods that might interest you –

Boxing Method

This works best for visually-inclined learners.

• Divide your page into two columns.
• For every code idea, pick a topic header.
• Expand the points under each topic header.
• Draw a box around the points and the header.

Here’s how this will look –

Outline Method

This encourages a logical flow of content and provides a hierarchical overview of the important points.

• Write the main topics on the left side of the page.
• For every subtopic, write with an indent to the right.
• Expand important points, questions, or facts under every subtopic.

Here’s a sample of this outline method –

Charting Method

It’s best if you save this charting method for lectures that are quite information-heavy.

• Figure out what topics your professor will cover on a subject
• Create a table with multiple columns for each keyword
• Jot down notes for each keyword under the relevant box

Check out this example –

Cornell professor Walter Pauk’s brainchild, the Cornell method of note-taking, is perfect for you if the thought of messy notes keeps you up at night.

• Divide your page into two columns.
• Separate one-third or one-quarter of a section of a section from the bottom (this will be your summary section).

Here’s an example to help you visualize this method –

If you can’t figure out what to do when you are bored in class with a computer, why not try to organize your notes using any of the methods mentioned above? You’re going to do yourself a favor and make productive use of the time that you would have wasted otherwise.

1. Begin with Mind Mapping 

Another excellent way to make use of your boredom is to come up with ways to visualize the complex concepts being taught so that you can comprehend them better. How do you go about this? Mind-mapping, of course! Here’s a sneak peek at what the beginnings of mind maps look like –

Now, mind maps aren’t so simple. Notice the subtopic circles? They can further branch into multiple circles depending on how many ideas you have to cover under each of them. You can look up more mind-mapping ideas on Pinterest to figure out which visual style would do wonders for your comprehension.

III. Engaging with Class Material

If you’re going to be a passive listener to your professor in class, then don’t be surprised if you find your mind wandering to new Halloween costume ideas in April!

What should I do if I don’t find the class interesting?

Well, you could give it an honest try. Try to be an active participant in the class, and you might surprise yourself at how quickly the minutes go by. What can you do to be more active in class? Here are some options –

1. Take Detailed Notes

It’s understandable if you don’t immediately comprehend what your professor’s talking about. Maybe they’re speeding through the topics without a break. You can’t keep asking them to repeat themselves every few minutes. However, what you can do is take notes. Keep up with whatever the professor is saying, even if you don’t understand them immediately. The earlier section of this blog already covered the popular note-taking methods, so you might as well practice them given the opportunity. As pointless as it may seem initially, you’ll thank yourself when you have those detailed notes later on after you’ve taken your time to go over the topic at your own pace.

1. Ask Questions

Don’t understand something in class? Ask questions. For the awkward people, this will feel like torture instead of advice, but trust us when we say that no one’s going to remember or make fun of the fact that you asked five questions in class. Perhaps the lecture seems boring because you can’t follow along with the rest of the class. In that case, the best solution is to get your doubts clarified ASAP.

IV. Discreet Games and Challenges

You’ve tried taking notes, you’ve tried asking questions, and nothing seems to work out. You’re at your wit’s end, and you can’t figure out what to do with the boredom that threatens to overwhelm your mind.

Have you wondered if maybe it’s a signal for you to take a break?

There’s no point in forcing yourself to focus when it’s the last thing your brain wants to do. So, try out a few silent games so you won’t distract others from focusing on the lecture. Need some ideas? Check out the following options –

• Try out word association games where you select a random object from your classroom and note down the first word that comes to your mind.
• Challenge a fellow bored classmate (or you can take up the challenge yourself) to draw a maze that will take at least 5-10 minutes to complete.
• Come up with interesting word puzzles or puns to impress your friends once the class ends.

P.S. Make sure you explore these options silently. Getting caught will really put a damper on the fun time.

V. Engaging with Technology

If you’ve got access to a computer during class, then the scope of what you can do when bored just increases exponentially. The easy solution is to play in-built games like Solitaire, Mahjong, or Minesweeper. It’s always fun to get back to the classics. However, if you want to be a responsible student and make good use of your time, then you can –

• Look up educational websites for additional guidance
• Research open-access journals
• Download an educational app (maybe you can learn a new language on Duolingo)

No matter what you choose to do on your computer, it’s imperative that you don’t accidentally turn up your device’s volume to the max. Mute your computer by pressing the F1 key (double-check whether you have the same shortcut on your device) to be on the safe side.

VI. Mindfulness and Relaxation Techniques

We’ve already established early on that increased boredom can lead to stress. So, instead of letting the stress accumulate, use the time when you’re bored to practice some mindfulness and relaxation techniques like the following –

1. The Observer Meditation Technique

This technique is best for moments when you feel your internal thoughts tangle into a mess. Sometimes, it’s best to detach from that mess, and you can do that by following these steps –

• Make sure you’re seated comfortably
• Let go of all thoughts that plague your mind
• Focus on the classroom where you’re sitting
• Change perspective and imagine how you look from an outsider’s POV
• Shift your focus inwards and focus on sensations that you experience
• Acknowledge each sensation before you move on to the next

1. The 3-Step Mindfulness Exercise

This one doesn’t have as many steps as the observer technique. So, if you’re short on time, this 3-step exercise will be perfect for you! Here’s what you should be doing –

• Sit comfortably, take note of the feelings and emotions that come up, and let them pass.
• Take six deep breaths or go on for a minute and focus on how your chest rises and falls.
• Expand your awareness of your surroundings and acknowledge the various sensations that you feel.

1. The 3-Minute Breathing Space Technique

Many use this quick technique before getting into more complex mindfulness exercises. However, when you’re in class, you can use it independently to reduce stress. Here’s how you go about it –

• Dedicate the first minute to figuring out how you’re feeling and focusing on your thoughts and sensations.
• Spend another minute completely focused on your breathing.
• Dedicate the final minute of this 3-minute exercise to expanding your awareness outward and feeling how your breathing affects your body.

1. Five Senses Exercise

As the name suggests, this exercise is meant to stimulate your five senses and give you a breather from overthinking. The 5-step process is quite simple –

• Make a note of five things in your classroom that you see (a chip at the corner of your desk, a fly zooming around somewhere, etc.)
• Make a note of four things that you can feel around you (the texture of your clothes against your skin, the blast of cool air from the air conditioner on your skin, etc.)
• Make a note of three things that you can hear around you (your friends gossiping behind you, the professor’s lecture, etc.)
• Make a note of two things that you can smell distinctly in the classroom (the smell of the air freshener, the smell of perfume, etc.)
• Make a note of one thing that you can taste (take a sip of some water or pop a mouth freshener without catching your professor’s attention)

By the time you reach the fifth step, you will have reached a state of mindfulness already. If you get distracted, start over!

In Conclusion,

While there’s nothing wrong with getting bored in class, you can easily come up with more productive things to do than stare at your desk. Take part in an educational course that interests you, meditate, or even come up with new ways to take class notes. If you’re not feeling too productive, there are plenty of games that you can play on your own or with other peers without being a nuisance in the classroom. Pick whichever suits your mood, and shove the guilty consciousness at the back of your mind. 

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• Conduct in-depth research on a topic
• Discover the research gaps in a study
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So, when you know you’ve got the best service provider by your side, you can certainly afford to get bored in class once in a while.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What should I do when I feel bored in class?

Feeling bored in class gives you the perfect opportunity to let your creative skills thrive. Here are some options you can explore –

• Doodle to your heart’s content.
• Come up with new song lyrics to your favorite song.
• Think of the plot of your hypothetical bestselling novel.
• Draw a caricature of your professors (don’t get caught!).
• Try to complete pending homework for other classes.

2. Are there any fun things to do when bored at school?

Well, it depends on what you consider fun. There are plenty of things to do when you’re bored at school. You can challenge your class neighbor to a wizarding duel filled with magic stats and power-scaling. Maybe you’d consider writing a new story about your favorite characters more fun. Keep a list of ideas you can try out whenever you’re bored, and you can keep yourself entertained for long.

3. How can I use my computer when bored in class?

When you feel you can’t keep track of your professor’s boring lecture any longer, here are some better ways to use your computer –

• Turn on the recording app and record the lecture to listen to later.
• Complete free courses on activities that capture your interest.
• Pick up an audiobook to complete during the class duration.

4. What activities can I do without getting in trouble?

Your professor isn’t going to catch you doodling or playing quizzes with your classmates as long as you’re quiet about it. However, scratch off watching movies or playing games off that list because there’s a higher risk you’ll get caught because you get too into them. Pick activities where you still have a sense of what’s happening in the classroom so you’re not caught unawares.

5. Can I talk to friends during class if I’m bored?

Try to avoid talking to your friends out loud. You’re going to get yourself and your friend in trouble unnecessarily. Instead, if you really want to gossip, whip out that cell phone and be discreet about it. You can even go old school and write out conversations on pieces of paper. However, that’s not recommended because you’re wasting paper.

6. What are some tips for staying engaged in class?

If you want to stay engaged in class, you should follow these steps –

• Prepare for the class beforehand: It’s easier to focus when you know what the professor is talking about.
• Keep distractions at bay: Switch off your cell phone if you don’t want to be bombarded by messages from your bored classmates.
• Ask questions immediately: Don’t wait for the following week the get your queries resolved.

7. How can boredom affect my learning?

When you’re bored, you naturally lose the motivation to learn. In most cases, this happens because there’s a disconnect between your interests and the material that’s being taught. If you let this boredom get the best of you, then you’ll struggle to complete your assignments, and your grades will suffer.

8. What if I’m bored even when the topic is interesting?

Just because a topic is interesting doesn’t mean you’ll be able to give your 100% concentration to it in class. There are times when you’ll feel like daydreaming. In such cases, you can record the lecture to listen to later when you feel like covering the topic again.

9. Is it okay to daydream in class?

The official answer is “No.” However, this is a natural phenomenon that you can’t always prevent, especially if you have back-to-back classes. You’re not a machine. So, of course, your brain is going to want to take a break once in a while.

10. What are some discreet ways to manage boredom?

Some discreet things to do when bored in class are –

• Meditation: To observers, it’ll look like you’re concentrating hard on something.
• Writing in your journal: It’s easy to pass this action off as taking class notes during a lecture.
• Read another book: It’ll look like you’re engrossed in your textbook.