Boredom often strikes unannounced during times when we’re least prepared to deal with it. Perhaps you’re waiting for a medical check-up and can’t move from your place in a cue. Maybe you’re on a bus in the middle of a giant traffic jam.
However, you don’t have to worry about slowly losing your sanity through inaction. After all, you hold the solution in your hands. Sometimes, the best way to beat the boredom is by using your smartphone.
As smartphones are essentially pocket-sized computers, your options here are nearly limitless. If you’d like to do something with your hands, you can play some games or create a new masterpiece using drawing apps. For passive entertainment, you can go for streaming services like Netflix or immerse yourself in a thrilling story. And if you want some social interaction, Reddit is waiting for you.
Explore the tips below and never be bothered by boredom again!
Download and Play Some Games
Despite its compact size, your smartphone is a powerful gaming machine. You can play thousands of different titles on your phone, including the addicting games of your childhood.
Depending on your operating system, you can download these games from the App Store or Google Play Store. Fortunately, most of the popular titles are available on both Android and IOS-driven devices.
If simple games like Candy Crush are not your cup of tea, don’t worry. There are plenty of mobile video games with convincing 3D graphics, rich storylines, and complex mechanics more typical for the PC or console titles.
If you’re an avid gambler who loves to test your skills in casinos, you’d be happy to learn that you can experience the same thrill through your smartphone. Many virtual casinos have dedicated Android and iOS apps that let you play poker online or any other gambling game as long as you have a stable connection to the Internet.
Use Your Phone To Draw/Paint
If you’re a creative person, you can use your phone to draw and paint. While it would be best if you had an actual drawing tablet or canvas, your smartphone will be perfect if you’re stuck on a bus.
You can use some drawing apps provided by Google Play Store or App Store to create your drawings. They provide a vast array of tools that will help you create your next masterpiece – ranging from different types of brushes and textures to the possibility of creating layers.
If you’re serious about using your phone to draw, it might be good to buy a dedicated stylus to have greater control over your virtual brushes.
Watch Some Movies/TV Shows
There is no better way to kill time than watch movies and TV series on your smartphone. Still, depending on the model of your phone, you might not be able to store some of the latest blockbuster movies in high quality due to insufficient storage capacity. In this scenario, you might want to look into investing in a microSD card.
Alternatively, you can just download a movie streaming app and start watching your favorite film or TV series. Services like Netflix or Hulu might initially be expensive, but you’ll soon realize how much you save through them. After all, you’re required to pay a monthly subscription – it’s your choice if you decide to watch only a single movie during the entire month or binge everything 24/7.
Read Fanfiction/Ebooks
If you’re a fan of fictional stories, you can use your phone to read some fanfiction or ebooks. You can find a lot of fannish stories on popular sites like Fanfiction.net or AO3. Alternatively, you can download dedicated reading apps like Amazon Kindle on your phone.
Most of these apps will let you buy ebooks or subscribe to monthly or yearly memberships to make reading even more convenient. You don’t have to worry about storage space, as most e-books weigh less than a megabyte – your phone can easily store thousands of them simultaneously.
However, make sure to do periodic breaks from reading to stretch your eyes. As good as smartphone screens are these days, they still tax your eyes and might harm your vision in the long run.
Use Your Phone To Socialize Anonymously
When faced with boredom, using your smartphone to socialize is as good an idea as any. You can download apps like Reddit to discuss various matters with other people anonymously or simply share some news important to you.
Reddit is free to use, yet it offers a lot of interesting communities to suit any taste. You can visit a subreddit focused on providing legal advice or just use all of your time to scroll through pictures of funny cats. The choice is entirely up to you.
Alternatively, you can find Internet forums that bring together people with similar interests or motivations. For example, if you love science-fiction and would like to discuss it with others, there’s no better place for you than forums like Spacebattles or Sufficientvelocity.
Conclusion
As you can see, boredom doesn’t have to be a big deal. Your phone might not be able to work as a cure-all for all of your boredom problems, but it should be more than sufficient in a pinch. It’s up to you whether you decide to use your phone to play online games, learn the art of drawing, consume media like books and movies, or simply engage with those sharing your interests.
Just remember that your phone is a temporary solution and shouldn’t be your default method of dealing with boredom. Socializing with others online is fine, but it shouldn’t replace the actual meetings with your friends and loved ones.