5 Interesting Things to Start in Your Spare Time

If you’re like the vast majority of U.S. residents, when you get home from work, you likely plop on the couch in front of the television and stay there for a couple of hours. You’ll have a few responsibilities to keep you busy throughout the week, but many days probably look the same.

Not only is this inactivity unhealthy, but it’s also boring. If you’re tired of clicking through channels and wasting time that could be used productively, take up some new hobbies. Here are some things you can start doing when you have spare time.

1. Learn to Repair Things Around the House

Being a homeowner comes with a lot of fun things like mowing the lawn and making unexpected repairs. Unless you’re handy, you’ll have to hire someone to handle all the maintenance for you. It gets expensive, and you always have to invite strangers at your house, which can be uncomfortable.  

Identify items around the house  that need to be repaired and tackle them yourself. Thanks to YouTube, books you can check out from the library, and blogs, you can learn how to fix almost anything.

For example, clothing repair and construction is a very useful talent. There’s nothing worse than getting a hole in your favorite shirt or ripping your favorite pair of jeans and not knowing how to replace it. If you can repair it or make something brand new, you’ll not only save a lot of money, but also feel the satisfaction of a job well done.

The vacuum is another product that often falls into disrepair. It gets clogged with hair, pine needles, and dust bunnies, which causes it to lose suction. If your vacuum isn’t working the way it used to, a quality repair job should do the trick. You can learn a lot about how to unclog and repair a vacuum when it’s out of sorts.

As time goes on, you’ll become an expert in any of these fields, and you’ll be ready to learn something new. Next, you could learn how to fix the small motors on your sewing machine and vacuum. You’ll become a frequent visitor to the sew and vac shop for all your sewing or vacuum needs.

Who knows? Maybe you’ll get so good at fixing things that all your friends and family come to you for advice. You’ll never be bored again!  

2. Advance Your Career

Complacency is easily the largest enemy of progress. When you get comfortable in your career, that’s when things start to change around you while you stay the same. Sometimes, you’ll be allowed to keep your job while things keep progressing forward, but other times, the company will move on without you, leaving you out on your ear. Whether you’re ready to move to the next step or you’re concerned about what your future holds, use your spare time to focus on advancing your career.

Progress usually begins with education. You might be surprised what you don’t know about your industry. Look into relevant certification courses that you could take. Certificates in certain courses make you very attractive to both your current job executives and future candidates.

Explore your options according to your field of expertise. For example, if you’re in the medical field consider furthering your STEM education. These fields often cross over, so the more you learn in any of those fields, the better off you’ll be.

3. Kick Off Learning to Surf

Surfing is a unique skill that very people have. It’s only common is you live on the coast and have great waves to surf on each weekend. So, if you take up surfing, you’ll be learning a unique talent that will set you apart and keep you entertained for years to come.  

If you’re ready to get started, head somewhere where surfing is a big deal. You’ll get a better quality education by traveling somewhere where the waves are great and there’s plenty of space for surfers to get in on the action, like Hawaii.

You can learn to surf Hawaii on Waikiki beach, which is located on the island of Oahu. There are  always instructors ready and willing to give customers high quality lessons in a short amount of time. Go home and surf at your nearest beach to practice what you’ve learned and keep your new skill fresh.

4. Change Your Career

When you’re bored at your job, it can make you lose motivation to do things when you get home. That could be one of the reasons you’re spending so much time in front of the television after work.

Maybe what you need is a change in your career. Oftentimes, a career change isn’t as simple as quitting one job and getting another, especially if you’ve been in the same career for a decade or more. To get where you want to be, you’ll probably have to go through some formal education.

Start by choosing something that makes you excited to go to work every day; maybe now is the time to fulfill a childhood dream. If possible, you should also choose a career that’s in high demand so it’s easier to enter the workforce.

The medical field is usually a good place to look. It’s relatively easy to get into an Associate Degree in Nursing program. You can become a registered nurse with more opportunities to expand your education and career in the future.

Do some exploring and soul searching to make sure you choose a career you enjoy. Consider consulting with a counselor or taking career aptitude tests to help you choose your next job. It’s not easy to make a career change, so try to get it right now!

5. Invent Something New

Do you remember the popular singing bass fish on a plaque that sang Bob Marley when you pushed the button? The Big Mouth Billy Bass was a huge gag gift a few years ago that made the inventor millions.

There was also the invention of The Snuggie, the half-blanket, half-sweater designed for the workplace. It’s ideal for those situations where you want a blanket, but you need the use of your arms. At the beginning of its popularity, it wasn’t uncommon to see people wearing the invention at the office. It also made millions and is still a popular gift at every holiday.

These inventions were created by regular individuals, not teams of geniuses. If you’ve got plenty of time on your hands, maybe you could use your brain cells to invent something. If you’re lucky, it could be the next Snuggie worth millions!

Once you’ve come up with your great idea, you’ll need to make a prototype. Look for investment casting in Lebanon, PA, for example, to get a mold of your invention. This is what you’ll take to investors to earn backing for mass production.

A great invention can become a side business or, if it’s really successful, it could replace your current job. Many entrepreneurs have gained full self-sufficiency with their invention, and they love every minute of it!

When you’re bored, don’t turn on the TV. See what you can do in your spare time to make life more meaningful. You’ll learn some new tricks and improve some old ones, making you a more well-rounded individual with plenty to do.