27 Ridiculously Useful Things to Learn When Bored (That Actually Improve Your Life)

Things to learn when bored

You're bored. Scrolling TikTok for the third hour. Watching Netflix shows you're not even enjoying. Refreshing Instagram even though nothing new has happened in the last 2 minutes.

Sound familiar?

Here's the thing: boredom isn't the problem. It's actually your brain telling you it's hungry for something new.

The real problem is wasting that boredom on passive consumption instead of using it to learn something that actually makes your life better.

This isn't a list of "things you could technically do." These are skills and knowledge areas that will genuinely improve your life—make you more capable, more interesting, more valuable, or just make daily life easier.

Let's turn your boredom into your unfair advantage.

Why Learning When Bored Is Actually Perfect

Learning when bored benefits

Most people think they need to "be in the mood" to learn. Wrong.

Boredom is the ideal learning state because:

You have mental space. Your brain isn't occupied with work stress or social obligations. It's ready for new input.

You have actual time. If you're bored, you literally have free time. That's rare. Use it.

Low pressure. You're not learning for a test or deadline. You can explore topics purely out of curiosity, which is when learning sticks best.

Immediate satisfaction. Learning something new gives you a dopamine hit that's way more satisfying than scrolling.

Research shows people learn better when intrinsically motivated (curious) rather than extrinsically motivated (forced). Boredom + curiosity is the perfect combination.

27 Things Worth Learning When You're Bored

Not ranked—just categorized by what they give you.

Skills that save you moneySkills That Save You Money

1. Basic Home Repairs

Fixing a leaky faucet. Patching drywall holes. Unclogging drains. Replacing light fixtures.

These cost $100-300 if you call someone. They cost $20 in materials if you DIY.

Where to learn: YouTube channels like Dad, How Do I? or specific repair videos. NerdSip can generate custom courses on specific repairs you need.

Time to functional: 30-60 minutes per skill

2. Cooking Actual Meals (Not Just Following Recipes)

Understanding cooking techniques, not just memorizing recipes. Why you sear meat. How sauces thicken. What spices do what.

The average American spends $3,000/year on takeout and restaurants. Cut that in half by cooking and you save $1,500 annually.

Where to learn: Basics with Babish on YouTube, Salt Fat Acid Heat book, or cooking courses on NerdSip

Time to functional: 2-3 weeks of practice

3. How to Cut Your Own Hair

Even basic trims can save you $30-60 every 6-8 weeks. That's $240-480/year.

Plus, you can get a haircut whenever you want instead of booking appointments.

Where to learn: YouTube tutorials for your specific hair type and style

Time to functional: 3-4 practice sessions (expect mistakes at first)

4. Sewing and Basic Clothing Repairs

Hemming pants. Fixing buttons. Repairing seams. Taking in clothes.

Alterations cost $15-40 per item. Learn once, save forever.

Where to learn: YouTube sewing channels, community classes, or NerdSip sewing fundamentals

Time to functional: 5-6 hours of practice

Skills That Make You More Capable

5. Speed Reading

Double or triple your reading speed while maintaining comprehension.

This doesn't just apply to books—emails, reports, articles, everything becomes faster.

Where to learn: Apps like Spreeder, courses on speed reading techniques, NerdSip reading efficiency courses

Time to functional: 2-3 weeks of daily 15-minute practice

6. Touch Typing

If you still hunt-and-peck, learning to type properly will save you hours every week for the rest of your life.

Average typing speed: 40 WPM. With practice, you can hit 60-80 WPM easily.

Where to learn: TypingClub, Keybr, Monkeytype

Time to functional: 3-4 weeks of 15-minute daily sessions

7. Basic First Aid and CPR

Hopefully you never need it. But if you do, you could literally save a life.

Where to learn: Red Cross online courses (get certified), YouTube for basics, NerdSip for emergency response fundamentals

Time to functional: 4-8 hours for certification

8. Excel and Spreadsheet Skills

Formulas. Pivot tables. VLOOKUP. Conditional formatting.

These skills are valuable in almost every job and for personal finance tracking.

Where to learn: Excel Easy, YouTube tutorials, NerdSip Excel courses

Time to functional: 2-3 weeks for basics, ongoing for advanced

9. How to Change a Tire and Basic Car Maintenance

Flat tire? Don't wait 2 hours for AAA. Change it in 15 minutes yourself.

Oil changes, air filters, checking fluids—basic maintenance saves hundreds.

Where to learn: YouTube car channels, your car's manual, NerdSip automotive basics

Time to functional: 1 hour of watching, 1 practice session

Skills That Make You More Interesting

10. Learn to Play an Instrument (Basics)

You don't need to become a virtuoso. Learning enough guitar to play around a campfire or enough piano to play simple songs is incredibly rewarding.

Where to learn: Yousician app, YouTube tutorials, Simply Piano/Guitar

Time to functional: 3-6 months for basic songs

11. A New Language

Even basic conversational ability in another language opens doors and makes travel way more enjoyable.

Where to learn: Duolingo (best for consistency), Babbel (more conversation-focused), NerdSip (for specific language situations like business Spanish)

Time to functional: 3-6 months for basic conversation

12. Card Magic and Tricks

Being able to do a few solid card tricks makes you memorable at parties and gatherings.

Where to learn: YouTube magic channels, library books on card magic

Time to functional: 1-2 weeks to learn 3-4 tricks

13. Basic Bartending and Cocktail Making

Knowing how to make 10-15 classic cocktails makes you a better host and saves money when entertaining.

Where to learn: YouTube bartending channels, cocktail recipe apps, NerdSip mixology fundamentals

Time to functional: 1-2 weeks of practice

14. Photography Basics

Understanding composition, lighting, and how to use your phone camera properly.

Your photos will instantly look better, which matters for everything from social media to preserving memories.

Where to learn: YouTube photography channels, Reddit r/photoclass, NerdSip photography courses

Time to functional: 2-3 weeks

Skills That Make You More Valuable (Career)

15. Public Speaking and Presentations

This skill pays dividends in every career. Promotions often go to people who can communicate well, not just people who are technically skilled.

Where to learn: Toastmasters (practice with real people), YouTube presentation skills, NerdSip communication courses

Time to functional: 1-2 months of practice

16. Writing Clearly and Persuasively

Emails. Proposals. Reports. Arguments. Writing well makes everything you do more effective.

Where to learn: "On Writing Well" book, YouTube writing channels, NerdSip business writing

Time to functional: Ongoing, but noticeable improvement in 3-4 weeks

17. Basic Coding (Python or JavaScript)

You don't need to become a software engineer. Basic coding lets you automate repetitive tasks, understand how tech works, and opens career opportunities.

Where to learn: Codecademy, FreeCodeCamp, Mimo app, NerdSip coding fundamentals

Time to functional: 2-3 months for useful scripts

18. Data Analysis and Visualization

Understanding how to analyze data, create charts, and draw insights is valuable in almost every field.

Where to learn: Google Data Analytics course, YouTube tutorials, NerdSip data literacy

Time to functional: 4-6 weeks

19. SEO and Digital Marketing Basics

Understanding how Google works, how to optimize content, and basic marketing principles is incredibly valuable whether you're employed or building something on your own.

Where to learn: Moz SEO guide, HubSpot Academy, NerdSip digital marketing

Time to functional: 3-4 weeks for fundamentals

Skills That Improve Your Mind

20. Meditation and Mindfulness

Managing stress, improving focus, and developing emotional regulation.

Where to learn: Headspace app, Calm app, YouTube guided meditations, NerdSip mindfulness practices

Time to functional: 2-3 weeks of daily 10-minute practice

21. Speed Math and Mental Calculation

Doing basic calculations in your head makes you faster at everything from splitting bills to estimating project timelines.

Where to learn: Mental math apps, YouTube tutorials, NerdSip quick math techniques

Time to functional: 3-4 weeks of practice

22. Memory Techniques

Memory palaces, mnemonic devices, spaced repetition—these techniques help you remember names, facts, and information better.

Where to learn: "Moonwalking with Einstein" book, YouTube memory champions, NerdSip memory improvement

Time to functional: 2-3 weeks

23. Critical Thinking and Logical Fallacies

Spotting bad arguments, understanding logic, and making better decisions.

Where to learn: "Thinking Fast and Slow" book, YouTube philosophy channels, NerdSip critical thinking

Time to functional: Ongoing skill, basics in 2-3 weeks

Skills That Improve Your Life Quality

24. Nutrition Basics and Meal Prep

Understanding macros, what your body needs, and how to prep healthy meals in advance.

Better nutrition = more energy, better mood, better health.

Where to learn: YouTube nutrition channels, NerdSip nutrition fundamentals, books like "How Not to Die"

Time to functional: 2-3 weeks

25. Personal Finance and Investing

Budgeting. Compound interest. Index funds. Retirement accounts.

This knowledge literally makes you richer over time.

Where to learn: r/personalfinance wiki, YouTube channels like Graham Stephan, NerdSip personal finance

Time to functional: 2-4 weeks for fundamentals

26. Time Management and Productivity Systems

Pomodoro technique. Time blocking. GTD. Eisenhower matrix.

Getting more done in less time with less stress.

Where to learn: Productivity YouTube channels, books like "Getting Things Done," NerdSip productivity systems

Time to functional: 1-2 weeks to implement a system

27. How Everyday Things Actually Work

How your phone knows you're walking vs driving. Why airplane windows have tiny holes. How anesthesia works (we still don't fully know). How engines work. How the internet actually functions.

Understanding the world around you makes you more curious and informed.

Where to learn: YouTube channels like Vsauce and Veritasium, NerdSip "how things work" courses, books like "The Way Things Work"

Time to functional: Ongoing curiosity, immediately useful

How to Actually Learn When Bored (The System)

Knowing what to learn is useless without a system to actually do it.

The Boredom Learning Method

Step 1: Pick ONE thing from the list above

Don't try to learn five things. Pick one that genuinely interests you or would meaningfully improve your life.

Step 2: Find the easiest starting point

Don't overthink it. Open YouTube. Download an app. Start a free trial. Just begin.

For most skills, I recommend NerdSip—it uses AI to generate custom microlearning courses on literally any topic. Type in what you want to learn, get structured 5-10 minute lessons, and actually make progress instead of watching random tutorials.

Step 3: Do 15 minutes immediately

Not tomorrow. Right now. Fifteen minutes gets you past the hardest part: starting.

Step 4: Set a streak goal

Commit to 7 days in a row. Just 10-15 minutes daily.

Apps like NerdSip have built-in streak tracking that makes this automatic.

Step 5: Apply what you learn

Learning without application is pointless. If you're learning cooking, cook something. If learning Excel, use it for a real task.

Application is what turns knowledge into actual skills.

What Kills Learning (Avoid These Mistakes)

Mistake 1: Trying to learn too many things at once

You'll make zero progress on all of them. One skill at a time.

Mistake 2: Not having a clear starting point

"I'll learn coding" is vague. "I'll complete the Python basics course on NerdSip" is specific.

Mistake 3: Only consuming, never practicing

Watching 50 cooking videos doesn't make you a cook. Cooking 10 meals does.

Mistake 4: Giving up after the first obstacle

Learning curves exist. The first few sessions are awkward. Push through.

Mistake 5: Waiting until you have "enough time"

You have time right now. That's why you're bored. Use it.

The 30-Day Boredom Challenge

Pick one skill from the list. Commit to 15 minutes daily for 30 days.

Week 1: Awkward beginner phase. You'll feel incompetent. That's normal.

Week 2: Things start clicking. You notice improvement.

Week 3: Confidence builds. You can actually do things now.

Week 4: The skill becomes part of your identity. You're "someone who knows how to [skill]."

After 30 days: You'll have a functional new skill that improves your life. And the habit of learning when bored instead of scrolling.

The Best Tools for Learning When Bored

For any skill, any topic: NerdSip—AI generates custom courses on anything you want to learn, structured into 5-10 minute lessons with gamification to keep you consistent

For languages: Duolingo (best for building daily habits)

For coding: Mimo app, FreeCodeCamp

For creative skills: Skillshare, YouTube

For professional skills: LinkedIn Learning, Coursera

For quick knowledge: TED-Ed, YouTube educational channels

The key is picking ONE platform and sticking with it long enough to see results.

The Bottom Line

Boredom is a gift. It's your brain asking for growth.

You can ignore it and scroll for three hours, getting nothing but eye strain and vague guilt.

Or you can invest 15 minutes into learning something that makes your life genuinely better.

The 27 skills in this list will:

Pick one. Start today. Use your phone and an app like NerdSip to learn in bite-sized chunks.

In 30 days, you'll have a new skill that makes your life better.

In 6 months, you could have learned 3-4 life-changing skills.

All from time you would have wasted being bored.

The next time boredom hits, ask yourself: "What do I want to be able to do that I currently can't?"

Then spend 15 minutes learning it.

Your future self will thank you.

Related Articles