You might get hooked? Boredom-busting ideas for your hospital stay
When you’re in the hospital, there’s often nothing to do and you get bored—so bored that a single day can feel incredibly long.
You’ve probably felt that way before.
And since a hospital stay can be heavy on the mind to begin with, you want to spend it as enjoyably and positively as possible, even just a little, right?
This article introduces ideas that are perfect for taking your mind off things and passing the time during a hospital stay.
If you have an upcoming hospitalization, make sure you’re fully prepared.
You might even find yourself hooked on some of these ideas after you’re discharged!
And if you’ve been admitted unexpectedly, use this as a reference to help you enjoy your hospital life, even just a bit.
- [For Adults] Make the Most of Your Free Time! Ideas to Kill Time
- [Solo Time] A roundup of ways to kill time without using your smartphone
- [For Adults] Fun Craft Ideas Perfect for Killing Time
- [For Middle School Students] Recommended Ways to Spend Your Free Time
- [Starting Today!] Recommended Ways to Kill Time on Sleepless Nights
- Single-player games: a roundup of time-killing games
- Recommended ways to kill time that you can do alone at home
- [Killing Time] A Roundup of Fun Without Spending Money [Saving Money]
- Recommended toy for killing time. Also good for relieving stress.
- [Elementary School] Quick and Easy! Indoor Recreational Activities Perfect for Lower Grades
- Games you can play in the car! Fun activities to liven up drives and traffic jams
- Indoor games and recreational activities recommended for junior high school students
- [For Junior High School Students] Fun Psychology Tests You Can Do During Break Time
Might you get hooked? Boredom busters for a hospital stay (1–10)
Coloring book
Coloring books, which almost everyone played with at least once as a child, are a pastime that lets you dive back into your early years.
If it’s been a while, simply filling in the colors is fun in itself, but as an adult you can also chase greater realism by considering shading and shine—something you might only have the time for during a hospital stay.
In recent years, there are also adult coloring books that result in even more intricate works, so you can get as meticulous as you like.
It’s a children’s activity with surprising depth—highly recommended.
study
If you’re someone who thinks, “I should have studied more when I was a student,” why not take advantage of the extra time you have while hospitalized to give it a try? Once you enter the workforce, many people find themselves overwhelmed with their jobs, and even for students, it can be hard to get motivated to study beyond daily classes—so this timing is ideal.
Studying for certifications or acquiring new skills during your hospital stay can also lead to career advancement.
That said, remember you’re hospitalized due to health issues, so be careful not to overdo it.
handicrafts
You might find that a handicraft project you’ve been meaning to do—but never quite get around to—can be easier to focus on while you’re in the hospital.
Of course, making something for someone else is great, but having the time lets you also make something for yourself or try a project that would normally be difficult.
These days, there are compact sewing machines, and you can look up instructions online, so it’s easier to get started than you might imagine.
That said, if you’re in a shared room, be mindful of others—such as by considering the noise from a sewing machine—while you work.
Might you get hooked? Boredom busters for your hospital stay (11–20)
Blog / Diary
Writing a blog or journal on your computer is perfect for a hospital stay, when you have the time to slow down.
You can jot down whatever comes to mind precisely because you’re free from the busyness of daily life, or you can organize your thoughts by recording what your life was like before admission.
Putting things into words often brings a sense of clarity.
Unlike a private journal, getting reactions and feedback from readers can also help you feel connected to others, even in the isolated environment of a hospital.
That said, given the prevalence of harassment and slander on social media these days, be sure to choose your sharing settings with your mental well-being in mind.
origami
How about taking this time during your hospital stay to revisit origami—something every Japanese person knows, regardless of age? These days you can look up folding instructions on a smartphone, so you might even create impressive works you couldn’t manage as a child.
It could also be fun to try inventing new folds based on your own ideas while making different pieces.
Even after you finish, they’ll brighten up your surroundings—a uniquely Japanese way to pass the time.
Draw a picture
A painting that even professionals spend time completing is a great idea to try while you’re hospitalized and have plenty of time.
Because you can immerse yourself without anyone watching, you can paint exactly as you like.
If it’s just for a hobby, skill level doesn’t matter, so rather than focusing on techniques or theory, try painting with the goal of lightening your mood—doing so might make your hospital stay more fulfilling.
Of course, taking the time to pursue a highly finished piece is also something you can do precisely because you have the time, so aim for a style of painting that suits you.
Online seminar participation
Joining online seminars is a great way to pass the time during a hospital stay, when you have plenty of time and can calmly sit in front of a screen.
In our busy daily lives, even if we want to gain new knowledge, it’s hard to find the time to really sit down and take a course—so this is the perfect opportunity.
It’s also nice that you can take as many lectures as you like, from acquiring specific skills and knowledge to business management, depending on your interests.
If you usually work, this is a way to pass the time that can help you level up even while you’re in the hospital.