Ah, Christmas… That magical time of year when the world slows down, the streets get quieter (or a bit quieter, anyway), and suddenly you find yourself with a little too much time on your hands. After the initial buzz of unwrapping gifts, stuffing yourself with turkey, and watching plenty of Christmas TV, it’s easy to feel the dreaded pangs of boredom creeping in.
Don’t worry, though – you can banish the festive boredom with some genuinely fun, relaxing, or even slightly competitive ways to pass the time. Whether you’re solo, spending time with family, or desperately trying to avoid the post-lunch cleanup, these ideas should help to keep the Christmas cheer alive; read on to find out more.
Online games
When boredom strikes, there’s nothing quite like diving into the endless world of online games, and there are loads to try out, from classic card games to immersive multiplayer experiences – in other words, there’s something for everyone.
The beauty of online games is how versatile they are. If you want a quiet moment to yourself, games like spider solitaire or mahjong are perfect for unwinding without any pressure. But if you’re feeling competitive, you can challenge friends and family to trivia, word games, or even virtual escape rooms if you want! Then there’s the nostalgic games, and there are loads of retro options that will take you back to simpler times (something we all like to do at Christmas). Or what about strategy and problem-solving? Or puzzles, simulations, or adventure games? And the best part is that most of the time these games are free and can be played on all kinds of devices, making it easy to get involved.
Create a mini cinema
If you’ve got a houseful of people, creating a mini cinema can be a fantastically fun thing to do that’s sure to pass the time. You could grab some cosy blankets, dim the lights, and enjoy a fun and festive Christmas movie marathon with loads of snacks like popcorn and hot chocolate to enjoy as you watch.
It’s best to pick a mix of nostalgic classics like Home Alone or The Grinch, have a few tearjerkers like It’s A Wonderful Life, and some real crowd-pleasers like Elf, and you should have everything covered. Whether or not you include Die Hard is completely up to you!
Host a DIY festive bake-off
Even if you don’t normally have a sweet tooth, you’ll probably indulge more than usual at Christmas, and if you do like sweet things, Christmas is the perfect time of year to enjoy your treats! With that in mind, what about gathering your nearest and dearest and having a bake-off? And of course, it’ll need to have a Christmas theme, so you’ll want to make things like gingerbread houses, mince pies, or festive cookies, for example. Or if you don’t want to bake from scratch because it takes time or because you don’t want to clear up afterwards, what about a cake decorating competition? You can have the cakes baked (or bought) in advance, and then everyone can decorate one however they want.
To add a twist, anyone who’s not taking part can be a judge, and there can be different categories like best presentation, most festive, or most likely to go on Santa’s naughty list, for example! It’s a fun idea, it keeps you occupied, and it’s sure to result in a laugh or two – and ideally some tasty treats as well!
Go for a walk
Sometimes the idea of being at home for days at a time can sound ideal, especially if you’ve been particularly busy in the run-up to Christmas and you’re looking forward to a nice, long break. However, it can be that the reality of the situation is very different, and after a couple of days, cabin fever could definitely be creeping in.
That’s why, if you want to beat Christmas boredom, it’s well worth bundling up in your winter weather gear and heading out for a stroll. It doesn’t matter if it’s snowing, if it’s dark and dismal, or if it’s a crisp, bright day because the fact that you’re outside and breathing in some fresh air means you’ll be able to clear your mind, refresh your spirit, move your body, and generally see some new scenery, which can be enough to make you feel better and re-energised for the rest of the fun to come.
If you want to make the walk more interesting or perhaps you’ve got little ones with you, why not turn it into a scavenger hunt? Who can spot the best Christmas decorations? Who saw the first dog or cat? Who found an icicle? Give points for creativity and make it as Christmas-themed as possible (or, if you’re really done with Christmas and need a break, make it about something else like nature, for example).
Do some crafts
Are you feeling a bit creative? Well you can make the most of the time you’ve got by dusting off your crafting supplies and trying your hand at some DIY Christmas decorations or Christmas cards or, if it’s after the big day, you could make some homemade thank you cards instead. Not only is this going to keep you nice and busy, but it’s also a fun way to add a personal touch to the Christmas break and beyond.
If you’re not a very arty kind of person, that’s not a problem – it’s about having fun and preventing boredom rather than creating works of art. If you’re confident though, start simple and decorate some baubles or make some paper snowflakes, for example. If it all goes wrong, you’ll still have fun and you can always have something to talk about over dinner!
Plan your next adventure
Finally, what about taking some time to daydream about the year that’s about to begin? Grab a notebook (or open an app if you prefer) and start brainstorming ideas for your next trip, hobby, or project. Christmas boredom might actually be quite useful because it could be the nudge you need to plan something exciting for the future.
And while you’re at it, make sure you pencil in a reminder for next December to ensure you’re less stressed, you have more fun, and you have some creative ideas up your sleeve in case you get bored!