Got Spring Fever? 3 Things to Do When You’re Bored or Restless

March is a struggle bus. It’s for sure the most restless month. Especially in the Midwest.

We’re getting tantalizing hints of spring, but most days are still blustery and chilly. Stores are releasing all of their cute spring lines, but we’d shiver all day in a floral sleeveless top. After a long winter, even nature looks sad and dirty and worn.

I don’t know about you, but I find myself getting lost in dumb Internet scrolling sessions more than ever as I wait anxiously for spring to arrive.

I start researching every single house improvement we might ever make. Or go down winding rabbit trails about momfluencers and TikTok cleaning videos, even though I am not a mom and don’t use TikTok. Or search for the elusive perfect gingham swimsuit even though it will be months before I have an occasion to wear it.

But the digital distractions don’t really solve the restlessness, do they? At least not for me. Everything still feels meh – but now I’m just tired and grumpy and lost an entire evening.

If you’re feeling the same crazy spring itch where everything feels old and stale and you might lose your mind, here are three simple ideas we can try together (you know, instead of getting lost in the Internet vortex).

3 Things to do When You’re Bored or Restless

Clear out the clutter

Spring cleaning? In March? Groundbreaking.

But you guys. It does help shake off the cobwebs – both literally and metaphorically. (And this isn’t just my own life experience talking here; there’s actual research on this in scientific studies and from the Mayo Clinic.

I think this is especially true after winter, when we’ve all been hibernating at home for too darn long and our surfaces are slowly accumulating more and more clutter. (Anyone else still have Christmas cards hanging around? We sure do.)

Just think how much more at ease you’d feel if there wasn’t a bunch of stuff cluttering up your home and brain. And how satisfying it would be to look at a previously unorganized corner and see calm where there once was chaos.

Case in point: I organized my office closet this weekend, a task I’ve been meaning to do for a while. After it was done, I kept admiring it like an infatuated teenager. I brought my book in and read on my office couch so I could keep giving it adoring glances out of the corner of my eye. It looks so good! And I’m not dodging falling detritus whenever I open the door!

If you’re hankering for an easy win in this department, here are some quick clutter-busting tasks (that are also solid things to do when you’re bored). Just pick one:

• Take three things off your kitchen counters.
• Recycle the boxes you’re holding on to “just in case” you return that thing you bought on Amazon.
• Pull the sweater you didn’t wear once this winter out of your closet and put it in a donation bag.
• Trash any expired makeup or skincare products – you know you’ve got ‘em
• Clean out one drawer
• Scrub down one crusty corner
• Pick one of the spring clutter-busting ideas from this post

Learn something new

When everything feels stale and old, maybe it’s time to shake off some mental cobwebs, too?

We’ve probably all got that thing we’d like to learn how to do someday – maybe now’s the time! Let this be your gentle nudge to actually try the thing.

To sweeten the deal, let me introduce you to Craftsy.

This is a recent discovery for me, as I couldn’t resist their March sale. (You guys, it’s irresistibly good.)

If you have a crafting-adjacent hobby you’ve been meaning to get around to, this is a fantastic resource for online classes. Knitting? Watercolor painting? Calligraphy? Making the perfect pizza from scratch? There are guides to help you easily get started with all of these.

You’ll get a super-handy video series to walk you step-by-step through the process and course notes to set you up with the materials you’ll need and remind you of the instructions.

(Plus, since they’re not on Youtube, you’re less likely to get sucked in to old SNL sketches as you try to learn how to cast on or mix colors.)

Want in? You can get premium membership for a year for $1.99 (rather than full price of $89.99). Yes, really. Click here to get the deal!

(I’ve got big plans to reactivate my long-dormant crocheting skills and crochet myself a bag to use this summer. Come join me!)

Heads up, Craftsy is not a sponsor of this blog post. This is, however, an affiliate link. If you make a purchase, I earn a small commission at no additional cost for you. I only share links to products I truly believe in and think you’ll love.

Deal with one task that’s driving you bonkers.

Ugh, I know. This is the worst. Sorry I mentioned it.

But. Taking care of just one of those tasks that’s been lingering is also so effective. Like, annoyingly so.

Not only does it give you something to do when you’re bored, it also takes a weight off your mind and gives you a little shot of productivity happiness.

I’ve been meaning to pull a door off its hinges (weird but true) for months. Months! But I got skittish because I’d never done it before. And when I worked myself up to doing  it, I watched one two-minute Youtube video and spent less than five minutes removing some pins. That’s it. I don’t understand why I put it off for so long.

(Can anyone guarantee me that doing our taxes will be that easy? Then I can quit putting those off, too.)

So again, if you’re putting off making an appointment, or finally returning a call, or submitting that form, go do it. For real. You’ve got this. And you’ll feel better when it’s no longer hanging over your head.

Friends, any other favorite things to do when you’re bored, restless, or feeling that spring itch? Drop ‘em in the comments. (And if all else fails, I suppose We can always escape into books!)

P.S. Don’t forget, if you want in on that Craftsy deal, get a year of premium membership for $1.99 here. Not a typo! Get hobby-ing today! 🙂