Get Caught? Or Not!? Simple Ways to Kill Time During Class
Have you ever felt like time was crawling during class? You might be tempted to reach for your phone, but getting caught would be a big problem.
The truth is, there are clever ways to pass the time that won’t disrupt the lesson and are hard for the teacher to notice.
In this article, we’ll introduce ideas you can do quietly at your desk and tricks that make use of your notebook—safe options even during class.
They’re a great way to refresh your mind too, so it’s a win-win.
Give them a try!
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Boredom Busters You Won’t Get Caught Doing in Class (11–20)
Puzzles such as number puzzles (Sudoku) and crosswords
If you’re looking for ideas to leisurely pass the time, Sudoku and crosswords are great options.
You fill the preset grid with numbers or words, and once you meet the conditions and every square is filled, you’re done.
Since creating the grids for Sudoku or crosswords during class can be noticeable, it’s smart to draw the lines in advance.
As you search for the right numbers or words, you’ll lose track of time and have fun.
Just be careful not to get so absorbed that you miss what the teacher is saying!
Pass around a letter among friends
If you’re thinking, “It’s during class, so I can’t talk out loud, but I still want to chat with my friends!”, I recommend passing notes with your classmates.
Whispering can get you caught, but quietly passing a piece of paper is something you can do more safely.
Write down questions about parts of the lesson you don’t understand, or have a chat like you would on LINE in the note.
You could also try ideas that help kill time, like playing shiritori.
Give it a try only when the teacher is facing the blackboard or whiteboard so you don’t get caught.
Spinning a top with a thumbtack
Thumbtacks are used for things like putting up drawings or first calligraphy of the year.
Some of you might have stepped on a fallen thumbtack and gone “Ouch!” These days, some places avoid using thumbtacks altogether for safety reasons, but if your classroom still has them, try spinning one like a top during class! The biggest problem is probably the slight noise it makes.
If you can get past that, it makes for a nice little time-killer.
It might work in classes with loud teachers or ones that play music!
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When you’re looking at the text and photos in a textbook, it can trigger other associations, right? When that artistic inspiration starts overflowing, it would be a shame not to give it form—and doodling is a classic way to pass the time.
It’s easy to picture doodling as adding something to existing photos or text, but drawing whatever comes to mind in the margins can be fun too.
It’s a kind of drawing you can enjoy with free creativity, but if you scribble too much, you might find it unreadable when it’s time to review, so that’s something to watch out for.
Eat or drink something
Sneaking food or drinks during class is game over if you’re caught, but the fact that you can pull it off if you try makes it thrilling.
The basics are to choose things that are inconspicuous in your mouth, like mints, gum, or candy.
For drinks, hiding a plastic bottle under the desk and sipping without making noise can raise your success rate, but you need to watch your timing and the eyes around you.
The trick is to act when the teacher is facing the board or when the class is a bit noisy.
Eating or drinking during class doesn’t leave a good impression on others, so even if you don’t get caught, it’s a high-risk way to kill time.
studying for other classes
A good way to kill time when you’re reviewing problems you didn’t understand or when you’ve forgotten your homework is to study for another class.
In school life, everyone has subjects they’re good at and not so good at.
When you’re in a class you’re good at, you might find yourself with extra time.
That’s when you can make use of it by studying another subject.
Instead of tackling difficult problems, it’s best to stick to simple tasks like copying notes or memorizing vocabulary.
Keep your ears open so you can still answer if the teacher suddenly calls on you, and give it a try.
Handwork you can do during class (1–10)
Color the notebook with a pencil until it becomes like a mirror.
Let me introduce an idea you can secretly enjoy during class: “coloring with a pencil until it turns into a mirror.” It’s a simple, low-key task where you keep shading the edge of your notebook with a pencil.
But as you carefully layer the graphite over and over, it starts to reflect light smoothly, transforming into a mirror-like finish.
It won’t become a perfect mirror, but the sense of accomplishment the moment it begins to shine is pretty great.
Since you can focus without anyone noticing, it’s perfect for a quick mental reset or change of pace.
And after you’re done, it’s fun to silently lose yourself a little longer, tilting the page to test the reflections—a quiet, wordless way to pass the time.
