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 Killers You Won’t Get Caught Doing in Class (1–10)
read the textbook carefully
Closely reading your textbook is something that looks like studying but can actually serve as a way to kill time.
Even just leafing through and carefully taking in the diagrams, margins, and side columns on each page can lead to unexpected discoveries and be surprisingly fun.
Focusing on parts that don’t seem related to the test is especially refreshing.
If you slow down your reading and take your time to check the content, people around you will see you as a serious student.
There’s little risk of being scolded by the teacher—if anything, they may think you’re motivated.
It’s a perfect way to quietly get through a boring class, and it might even boost your evaluation.
Write your favorite lyrics
Writing out lyrics from your favorite artist’s songs is a perfect way to take your mind off things.
Just jotting down a phrase that’s been looping in your head or a line from a song you’re into lately in the corner of your notebook can be soothing.
By putting the words on paper, you may rediscover the meaning of the lyrics or notice how they connect with your own feelings.
It’s also fun to carefully write out kanji or try cursive for English lyrics.
Since you’re simply moving your pen, it also looks from the outside like you’re diligently taking notes—another perk of this little pastime.
Maze creation
As a quiet way to pass the time, making mazes in a notebook is surprisingly fun.
Using the ruled lines helps keep the frame neat, and the fact that you can start with just a pen is appealing.
Decide on a start and a goal, then add complex branches and plenty of dead ends to create your very own original maze.
It’s approachable even for people who aren’t good at drawing, since you can be creative with just shapes, and once you get into making it, time flies by.
Since you’re just moving your hand quietly, it’s surprisingly hard to get caught even if you do it during class, and it can even look like you’re taking notes—that’s the trick.
It’s also fun to have your friends try solving the maze once it’s finished.
sleep
When you’ve stayed up late the night before, listening to the teacher while a sea of text stretches out in front of you is practically an invitation to doze off.
Since nothing really sinks in when you’re sleepy, it might sometimes be better to take a nap and clear your head.
The most comfortable position is to use your elbow as a pillow, but that one is guaranteed to get you caught.
To balance your drowsiness with not getting noticed, why not try sleeping in proper posture—napping while sitting up? There’s a risk of falling off your chair, so if you tend to toss and turn in your sleep, be extra careful when you try this.
Listen to music
Listening to music during class is a thrilling way to kill time.
It’s basically a no-go, but if you really need a change of pace, you can hide an earbud in your sleeve or hair and wear it in one ear, keeping your phone or music player tucked in your pocket.
That said, if the cord shows or your sound leaks, you’re instantly busted, so keeping the volume to a minimum is the golden rule.
If you use wireless earbuds, watch out for touch operation sounds and blinking lights.
Even if you look like you’re quietly sitting still, teachers or classmates may notice something off and catch on quickly.
The risk if you’re found out is high, so if you’re really going to do it, be prepared—this is a pastime for advanced users only.
muscle training
Let’s make effective use of class time—time that would otherwise be spent just sitting there—for your muscles.
These are strength exercises you can do while seated, so you might find them useful outside of class as well.
The tools you use matter too: by incorporating items like pens and desks into your workout, you can train more discreetly.
It’s important to really engage your muscles, which means you may tire quickly, but be careful—if you hit your quota and suddenly relax, you might drop something and make noise.
Managing your workout volume is a key point.
Find the teacher’s quirks
It’s oddly satisfying when you find them! Here are some ideas for spotting your teachers’ quirks.
Teachers are role models who teach us all kinds of things—from daily conduct to academics—but have you ever noticed their little habits? For example, a teacher who always starts speaking with an “uh” or “um,” or one with a peculiar way of handing out worksheets.
If you watch your teacher closely during class, you might start to notice each person’s unique quirks.
Give it a try and see what you find!