Boredom. The arch-nemesis of all fun, lively gatherings since…well, forever. You’re sitting there, surrounded by your closest confidants, and that familiar feeling of absolute monotony creeps in. But fear not! Instead of giving into the soul-sucking void of doing absolutely nothing, let’s dive into some slightly ridiculous (yet unexpectedly handy) ways to spice things up.
35 Ideas on What to Do With Friends
1. Count Each Other’s Eyelashes
Why? Because why not? You’re bored, remember? Seriously, this activity is not only a test of patience but also a challenge to your eyesight. Loser buys pizza or, even better, gets the honour of counting nostril hairs next.
2. Pretend the Floor is Lava
Because we’re adults and we have important adult decisions to make. Like pretending the floor can melt us and jumping from couch to couch as if our lives depended on it. Throw in some stuffed animals as stepping stones, and you’re all set. It’s intense. It’s dangerous. It’s living room parkour!
3. Create a Fake Soap Opera
Ever wanted to unleash your inner drama queen or king? Now’s your chance. Create a script on the fly, assign roles, and get acting! Best part? Everyone has to have a ridiculously exaggerated accent. If someone breaks character, they get banished…to the snack table.
4. Host a Fashion Show with the Worst Outfits Ever
Raid your wardrobes and assemble the most ridiculous, mismatched outfits possible. The more absurd, the better. Think socks with sandals, inside-out shirts, and those jeans you should have thrown away a decade ago. Strut your stuff down an imaginary runway and let your friends rate you. Extra points for the most hideous walk and most dramatic turn.
5. Shadow Puppet Theatre
Remember when we used to be entertained by the simple things? Rekindle that childlike wonder by making shadow puppets on the wall. It can be as basic as a dog or a butterfly, or as intricate as a…well, another type of dog. Set up a storyline, choose a narrator, and let the shadows do the talking. If someone’s puppet looks more like a blob than a bird, remember, it’s art – it’s meant to be interpretive.
6. The Whiskered Whispers Game
You’ve heard of the Telephone game, but have you tried it with a fake mustache? As the message gets passed from ear to ear, you also pass on the mustache. The last person, wearing that hilarious piece of fake hair, has to announce the (likely botched) message to the group. Just try not to laugh when Jeff, donning an oversized ‘stache, tries to decipher why “monkeys eat bananas” turned into “monks skate in cabanas.”
7. Conspiracy Theory Time
Everyone gets 5 minutes to concoct the most outrageous, laughable conspiracy theory about a random object in the room. Why is that lamp flickering? Is it sending coded messages to the CIA? Or maybe it’s an alien in disguise? The wilder, the better. Extra points for dramatic reenactments.
8. The (Not So) Great Bake-Off
Take turns creating “gourmet” dishes using only snacks and random ingredients in the kitchen. The twist? No actual cooking allowed. Imagine presenting a “Cheez-it Crusted Banana Delight” or “Twizzler Wrapped Pickles.” It’s about creativity, not edibility, folks.
9. Alien Invasion Drill
What better way to prepare for an unlikely extraterrestrial visit than to conduct your own alien invasion drill? Assign roles – from the brave resistance leader to the one who (hilariously) tries to communicate with the invaders. Practice your most “alien” language and gestures. It’s all fun and games until someone accidentally creates a real universal language.
10. Ode to the Obvious Poetry Slam
Channel your inner poet and write odes, sonnets, or haikus about the most mundane things around. “Oh, noble couch cushion, bearer of bums and lost remotes…” The sillier and more obvious, the better. Snap your fingers in approval, wear berets, and remember: everything sounds profound when said with conviction.
11. Odd Job Challenge
Each person writes down the weirdest, funniest “odd job” they can think of on a piece of paper. Put them all in a hat, draw, and act it out. Ever wondered how a “Professional Snail Racer” or “Underwater Basket Weaver” goes about their day? Now’s your chance to show the world (or at least your friends).
12. Human Bowling Alley
Remember that time you wanted to be a bowling pin? Me neither. But boredom makes us do strange things. Arrange your bravest friends as human pins at the end of a hallway. Roll a soft ball (or a cushion) and try to ‘strike’ them down. Perfect for those friends who’ve always said they’re “unbowlievable” at games.
13. Mime Your Life Story
A challenge for those who talk too much: Mime out the most memorable moments of your life in just two minutes. From birth to that time you mistakenly put salt in your coffee, make it dramatic, make it silent, make it… mime-tastic!
14. Extreme Musical Chairs
You thought musical chairs was child’s play? Think again. Up the ante by placing chairs in different rooms of the house. When the music stops, sprint to find a seat. Loser has to perform a 30-second impromptu dance solo. Trust me, this version ain’t for the faint-hearted (or the slow-footed).
15. DIY (Doubtfully Intelligent Yarnwork)
Give everyone some yarn and challenge them to create the most absurd, useless item they can in 10 minutes. Think shoe hats, pocket-less scarves, and single-finger mittens. Bonus: Hold a catwalk parade of your ‘fashion-forward’ creations afterwards.
16. Guess That Smell!
Grab random items from the kitchen, blindfold your friends, and have them take a whiff. Sounds easy? Wait till you bring out the mix of peanut butter and pickles. Not recommended for the weak-nosed among you.
17. Build a Cardboard Kingdom
Ransack your recycle bin for all the cardboard boxes you can find. Armed with tape and markers, construct your own cardboard fortress. Assign roles – from the royal jester to the mighty cardboard dragon. Dive into medieval politics, cardboard style.
18. Dramatic Reading of the Mundane
Fetch a cereal box, shampoo bottle, or appliance manual. Take turns giving the most dramatic, over-the-top reading of the mundane text. Can you make the side effects of a medicine sound like a Shakespearean tragedy?
19. Time Travel Dinner Party
Pick a decade, any decade, but the catch is it can’t be the current one. Everyone has to prepare a dish, dress up, and talk like they’re from that era for the evening. 70s disco inferno with a side of fondue? Roaring 20s with some jazz and a prohibition mocktail? Dive deep into the annals of history, dig out those ancient family recipes, and embrace the quirks of times gone by. And if someone slips up and mentions something too modern? Make them perform a jig from their chosen decade as penance!
20. Backward Everything Challenge
Turn your world upside down… or just backward. Challenge your friends to do everything backward for a set period. Walk backward, talk backward (or at least try), even try eating or drinking with the hand you usually don’t use. Film short videos and play them in reverse to see if you’ve nailed the art of backward living. Beware: this might mess with your head, but in the most delightful way possible!
21. Backyard Camping Adventure
Transform your backyard into a camping site. Pitch a tent, make a mock campfire with LED lights, and tell ghost stories. Bonus if you can stargaze and identify constellations.
22. Impromptu Talent Show
Each friend must showcase a hidden or ridiculous talent, no matter how silly or insignificant it seems. It could be as simple as tongue-twisters or as elaborate as a magic trick.
23. DIY Miniature Golf Course
Use household items to create a quirky mini-golf course throughout your home or yard. Think books for ramps, cups for holes, and broomsticks for clubs.
24. World Record Challenges
Pick outlandish records from the Guinness World Book and attempt to break them, or invent your own quirky records to set.
25. Reverse Scavenger Hunt
Instead of finding items, each person creates a list of things to hide, and others must hide them in the most unexpected places.
26. Doodle Wars
Have a drawing competition where each person adds to a collective doodle, taking turns. Set a timer for each turn to make it more challenging.
27. Silent Disco
Everyone listens to their own music on headphones and dances. The fun part? Since everyone hears different music, the dance moves will be hilariously out of sync.
28. Balloon Pop Confessions
Write funny or embarrassing confessions on pieces of paper, insert them into balloons, and blow them up. Pop them randomly and read aloud.
29. Mockumentary Filmmaking
Create a documentary about a completely fictional or mundane topic, like the life cycle of a sock or the history of a made-up country.
30. Hobby Swap
Everyone teaches the group something they’re good at, like knitting, juggling, or origami. It’s a great way to learn new skills and appreciate each other’s talents.
31. Themed Story Circle
Start a story and have each person add a sentence, but with a twist – each addition must follow a chosen theme, like sci-fi, medieval, or noir.
32. Home-made Obstacle Course
Create a fun and challenging obstacle course using pillows, chairs, and other household items. Time each other to see who completes it fastest.
33. Virtual Trip
Pick a country and spend the evening immersed in its culture. Cook traditional dishes, listen to music from that region, and watch a famous movie or documentary about the place.
34. Zombie Apocalypse Plan
Discuss and develop a detailed plan for a zombie apocalypse, assigning roles and strategies. Bonus for acting out scenarios.
35. Improvised Cooking Challenge
Similar to the “Chopped” TV show, pick random ingredients and challenge each other to make something edible – and hopefully delicious!
The great thing about boredom is that it forces us to get inventive. Sure, some of these ideas might sound absurd, but isn’t that the point? In a world full of chaos, sometimes you just need to let loose, have a laugh, and remind yourself that life’s too short to be taken too seriously. So, the next time boredom strikes, don’t dread it; embrace the ridiculousness, grab your friends, and dive into some hilariously unforgettable memories. Because nothing bonds people more than shared absurdity.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Most activities are designed to use items commonly found around the house. Some, like the DIY Miniature Golf Course or Backyard Camping Adventure, might need a bit of preparation, but nothing too extensive or costly.
Yes, these activities are versatile and can be enjoyed by people of all ages. However, some may need to be slightly modified depending on the age and physical ability of the participants.
While some activities are more fun with a larger group, many can be adapted for as few as two people. Feel free to modify the rules to fit your group size.
Absolutely! Most of the activities are designed to be indoor-friendly. A few, like the Backyard Camping Adventure, are more suited for outdoor spaces but can be adapted for indoors.
The duration can vary. Some activities, like the Odd Job Challenge or Mime Your Life Story, can be quite quick, while others, like the Time Travel Dinner Party or Backyard Camping, can last for several hours.
Safety is always paramount. While these activities are generally safe, it’s important to ensure a safe environment, especially for more physical activities like the Human Bowling Alley or the DIY Obstacle Course.
You can introduce friendly competition by keeping score, having prizes for winners, or creating a point system for activities like the Extreme Musical Chairs or the Improvised Cooking Challenge.
Participation should always be voluntary. Encourage but don’t force anyone. Those not participating can always help in other ways, like being a judge or a cheerleader.
Yes, some activities like the Conspiracy Theory Time or Dramatic Reading of the Mundane can be easily adapted for virtual play over video calls.
Good communication and understanding each other’s likes and dislikes are key. Make sure to choose activities that everyone is excited about and willing to try.
