How to Pass Time

Co-authored by Lucy Yeh

Last Updated: January 6, 2023 References

Whether you're sitting somewhere you don't wish to be (e.g. class, dental office, court, etc.), or you just can't wait for something, use this guide to pass the time until class ends, your appointment arrives, or you become busy doing something else. Get started with Step 1 below to find loads of ideas on how to pass time in no time!

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Doing Stuff

1
Dance around! Have a dance party just for yourself. If you're in a place where you can't dance, choreograph a dance inside your head to your favorite song.
2
Take a nap. It may sound pretty boring, but your dreams can be interesting and sleeping makes time pass very quickly. You'll also feel more refreshed and ready to go!^{[1]
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3
Reorganize your movie shelf. Reorganize your movies by genre, title, or even spine color. If you don't have your movies nearby, just rank your favorite movies in your head. Or read books.
4
Write a song. Write a song about your favorite activity. If you can't come up with a melody, set it to the tune of your favorite song!
5
Make up your own language. Make up and start speaking your own language. Try to convince other people that it's a real language. You might need to write down some of the basic rules of your language in order to remember them. Try to pretend you don't know the language they are speaking.
6
Clean organize or DIY your room. It may sound boring, but once you're on a roll, it can really pass the time.^{[2]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Using Your Imagination

1
Imagine conversations. Plug your ears, and make up random things that people are saying around you. You can be silly and random or try to make up a TV-like drama about what's going on in their lives. Use their body language cues and expressions to inspire your story.
2
Imagine that you're a spy. Think of the room you are in right now and then pretend that you're a spy that's just been spotted. Hurry! Think of a dozen ways to escape the room and avoid the baddies following you!
3
Put yourself in someone else's head. Think about what other people in the room are thinking. You can make it random or try to be realistic. If you want, you can even make it a story, like you're a psychic mutant and you have to find an evil spy.
4
Assign superpowers. Decide what superpowers everyone in the room would have. Try to be creative but keep the powers useful. Then, decide what their superhero names would be.
5
Imagine your passed loved ones. Have an imaginary conversation with someone you love that has passed on. What would they say about where you are in life now? What would they say about what the afterlife is like?
6
Imagine a whole new world. Imagine the world as it is now but with some vastly different change. For example, what would your life be like if you lived in a world where vampires ruled the different countries? What about if whales could talk?

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Having Fun

1
Play a game. You can play a game with yourself or with other people. There are lots of games that you can play online for free, or you can use pen and paper to play games too.
- You can play tic-tac-toe.
- If you want to kill time and you have a computer, try playing the famous Battle Toads game.^{[3]
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2
Start a new TV show. Watch a TV show you've never seen before and never really thought about watching. You can watch lots of TV shows for free using services like Hulu.
3
Play a prank. Play a prank on someone. It's better to do this to someone you know, since you never know when strangers might be violent. You can:^{[4]
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- Change the language setting on your friend's cell phone.
- Spread a layer of cream cheese or melted white chocolate at the top of your roommate's deodorant.
4
Draw a comic. Draw a comic about your life. You don't need to have skills; one of the more successful comic strips uses only stick figures!^{[5]
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5
Read a book.^{[6]
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Research source} Reading is fun! It's educational and passes time quickly! Start a book that you think you won't like, you could find yourself wanting more! Books can take you on a whole new world. You could also read books that you think are interesting, not a book you don't want to read.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Being Productive

1
Use the internet! You can browse wikiHow to find the craziest articles you can or even find a subject you're an expert in and add to the article! There are other great boredom killer sites too, like Wikipedia, Boing Boing, and Reddit.
- YouTube videos are another great way to pass the time.^{[7]
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  Expert Source
  
  Lucy Yeh
  Career & Life Coach
  Expert Interview. 21 November 2019.}
2
Exercise. Stretch, do some squats, go for a quick jog, do some jumping jacks....it doesn't have to be intense but just a bit of exercise can make you feel way better and pass the time.^{[8]
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3
Make a friend. Try to make friends with the person closest to you, even if they seem like the kind of person you'd never normally be friends with. You never know, you two might get along better than you'd think!^{[9]
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- You could also send a letter to a friend you haven't chatted with in a while.^{[10]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Lucy Yeh
  Career & Life Coach
  Expert Interview. 21 November 2019.}
4
Dream the dream. Make your top ten list for what you want to do with your life. Try to be creative. Have a few crazy dreams and a few realistic options that would also make you happy.
- While you're at it, try planning your dream vacation or updating your bucket list.^{[11]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Lucy Yeh
  Career & Life Coach
  Expert Interview. 21 November 2019.}

Warnings

If you are passing time in court, make sure you are still paying attention to what is going on around you.

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