How to Entertain Yourself Without Objects

Co-authored by William Schroeder, MA, LPC, NCC

Last Updated: January 22, 2023 References

There’s nothing worse than realizing you have a lot of time to kill and nothing to use to distract yourself. Luckily for you, there are many ways to entertain yourself without objects. You just have to be creative and willing to try a few new tricks.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Entertaining Yourself With a Friend

1
Play “Would You Rather.” Give your friend two options and ask them which option they’d prefer. For example: Would you rather give up food or give up sleep? For maximum fun, make the choices outlandish or silly.
2
Play a game of “Telephone.” Everyone sits in a line or circle and the person on the end whispers a sentence to the person sitting next to them. That person then passes on the message until it travels all the way down the line. The last person says what they heard aloud and the person who started the message reveals what was actually said.^{[1]
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- For this game to work, you’ll need no less than five people.
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3
Sing a song. Start singing a popular song and have your friends join in. If you know several songs by the same artist, perform a medley of their music. Have people try to sing the harmonies and trade the melodies off between singers.
- If you’re feeling really inspired, choreograph a dance to match. Practice the dance and see if there’s somewhere you can perform it, like a talent show or in front of your classmates.
- You can also improvise a song. To do this, just start singing any made up melody that comes to your head. Have your friends improvise harmonies to go along with your melody. The trick to improvisational music is not to judge yourself.^{[2]
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4
Have a staring contest. Sit across from your friend. Pick a comfortable position that you can remain in for a while. Stare into each other’s eyes without blinking or looking away. Whoever blinks, looks away or laughs first loses.
- You are allowed to make funny faces at your partner in order to try to break them. Be careful that you don’t accidentally make yourself laugh instead.
5
Style your friend’s hair. If your friend has long hair, play with it. Braid it or put it up in a ponytail. Experiment with different styles or looks. Having your hair played with is extremely relaxing for most people and is a great way to bond and pass the time.^{[3]
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6
Play a hand clapping game. There are many games that only require four hands and some concentration. Ninja Slaps is a great example of this. To play Ninja Slaps, position your hands on top of your friend’s hands, palms facing down. While making eye contact, wait for your friend to try to hit your hands, and when that happens, try to pull them away before contact is made. If your friend hits your hands, switch positions. If not, your friend will try again.
- Be careful not to hit the hands too hard as this can cause soreness and redness.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Entertaining Yourself in Public

1
Make a mental to-do list. To-do lists are great because they help keep you organized and allow you to prioritize.^{[4]
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Research source} In your mind, make a list of everything you need to do that day and figure out in what order you want to complete the tasks.
- When creating a to-do list, prioritize quality over quantity. Don’t just add something to your list because it’s easy to cross off.^{[5]
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2
See how long you can hold your breath. Being able to hold your breath for long periods of time is beneficial for certain sports, like swimming or surfing.^{[6]
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Research source} It’s also a great way to keep yourself occupied when you have nothing else to do. Try looking at the clock and timing yourself to see how long you can currently hold your breath. Keep practicing and see if you are able to increase that amount over time.
- Be mindful that holding your breath for too long can lead to health risks, including fatal blackouts.^{[7]
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3
Use your imagination. Whatever your fantasy is, live it out in your brain for a few minutes. Imagination is important because it helps you reignite your passions and stimulates your creativity.^{[8]
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Research source} Let your mind drift off wherever it wants to go. Chances are, you’ll go somewhere fun and the time will pass quickly.
- If you’re fantasizing while in class, make an effort to at least look like you’re paying attention.
4
Reflect on a good memory. Think about a fun trip you took recently or a cool party you went to. Remember all the things that made the experience positive and try to recreate them in your brain. Play a mental slideshow of all the memories you have from those experiences. The walk down memory lane will keep your mind occupied and will help you remember a happier time.
5
Take a nap. Time flies when sleeping. Napping for just 20 minutes can help refresh the mind, improve overall alertness, boost mood and increase productivity.^{[9]
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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Entertaining Yourself While Moving Around

1
Exercise. Lots of exercises can be done without equipment, using only your body weight. If you’re bored, exercising can be a great way to not only exhaust your body, but also to stimulate your brain.^{[10]
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Research source} Try doing one of the following exercises that require no objects:
- Pushups
- Sit ups
- Jumping Jacks
- Lunges
- Squats
- Going for a walk, hike, or bike ride^{[11]
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  Expert Source
  
  William Schroeder, MA, LPC, NCC
  Licensed Professional Counselor
  Expert Interview. 27 September 2021.}
2
Stretch your body. Stretching is not only good for your flexibility, it also helps your memory and mood.^{[12]
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Research source} For stretches that will keep you loose and entertained, try touching your toes or extending your arms overhead for a full body stretch.^{[13]
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- For maximum stretch benefits, try stretching at least once a day.^{[14]
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3
Give yourself a hand massage. Between your phone keyboard and your computer keyboard, your hands get quite the workout. To relax them, rub your fingers across the heel of your hand in a circular motion. Also try rubbing the muscle between your forefinger and your thumb.

Expert Q&A

Question

How can I entertain myself on my own?

William Schroeder, MA, LPC, NCC
Licensed Professional Counselor
William Schroeder is a Licensed Professional Counselor and the Co-Owner of Just Mind, a counseling center in Austin, Texas that aims to remove the stigma from therapy. With more than 14 years of experience, he specializes in cognitive counseling with adults on issues such as loss, life transition, happiness, relationships, and career exploration. He has also received advanced training and works with clients with ADHD and Aspergers (ASD). William and Just Mind have been featured in publications such as The New York Times, Business Insider, and Readers Digest. William holds a BBA in Marketing from Loyola University, New Orleans, and an MA in Counseling Psychology from St. Mary’s University.

William Schroeder, MA, LPC, NCC

Licensed Professional Counselor

Expert Answer

My advice is to put away your phone and get curious with the world around you. This could mean taking a walk and intentionally looking for things you might otherwise easily miss.
Question

How can I entertain myself when stuck at home?

William Schroeder, MA, LPC, NCC
Licensed Professional Counselor
William Schroeder is a Licensed Professional Counselor and the Co-Owner of Just Mind, a counseling center in Austin, Texas that aims to remove the stigma from therapy. With more than 14 years of experience, he specializes in cognitive counseling with adults on issues such as loss, life transition, happiness, relationships, and career exploration. He has also received advanced training and works with clients with ADHD and Aspergers (ASD). William and Just Mind have been featured in publications such as The New York Times, Business Insider, and Readers Digest. William holds a BBA in Marketing from Loyola University, New Orleans, and an MA in Counseling Psychology from St. Mary’s University.

William Schroeder, MA, LPC, NCC

Licensed Professional Counselor

Expert Answer

During the pandemic, many of us have had a lot of time to reflect on how we use our time. You should ask yourself what you want to change so that you can motivate yourself towards those interests.
Question

How can I entertain myself without a phone?

William Schroeder, MA, LPC, NCC
Licensed Professional Counselor
William Schroeder is a Licensed Professional Counselor and the Co-Owner of Just Mind, a counseling center in Austin, Texas that aims to remove the stigma from therapy. With more than 14 years of experience, he specializes in cognitive counseling with adults on issues such as loss, life transition, happiness, relationships, and career exploration. He has also received advanced training and works with clients with ADHD and Aspergers (ASD). William and Just Mind have been featured in publications such as The New York Times, Business Insider, and Readers Digest. William holds a BBA in Marketing from Loyola University, New Orleans, and an MA in Counseling Psychology from St. Mary’s University.

William Schroeder, MA, LPC, NCC

Licensed Professional Counselor

Expert Answer

You could lose yourself reading a book or simply connect with your friends and family. That should do it!

Warnings

Avoid entertaining yourself in class whenever possible. Too much time spent not listening to your teacher will have a marked effect on your grades and academic successes.

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