Do you ever find yourself nodding off or staring into space during class or a meeting?

Or staring blankly out the window while traveling?

Maybe you doodle in the margins of your notebook to pass the time, occupy your mind, and keep you awake.

Or perhaps you keep a journal or notebook of your doodles to look back on for inspiration.

Whatever your reason for wanting doodles to draw when bored, our list surely has something for you. 

Why Doodle When You’re Bored? 

Whether you’re in class, in a meeting, or traveling, doodling is a simple and convenient way to beat boredom. It passes the time, occupies your mind, and allows you to concentrate on meaningful and creative things. 

But the benefits of doodling don’t stop there. When done in moderate amounts of time, doodling is also good for:

• Better recall
• Improved focus 
• Stress relief
• Promoting creativity
• Giving your brain a break

27 Easy Doodles to Draw When Bored 

You don’t have to have top-notch artistic capabilities to reap the benefits of doodling, either.

It doesn’t matter so much how your doodles turn out as it does that you do it. Besides, the more often you do it, the better you’ll get.

Check out and enjoy these things to doodle when bored. 

1. Showers bring flowers

This creative take on flowers in the rain is cute and easy to draw. The irony of the upside-down umbrella catching the rain is especially fun to look at. 

2. Bright ideas 

Double your doodling fun with drawings inside of drawings. Use them to pass the time or stay awake during your next class or work meeting or to simply entertain yourself. 

3. Stick figures

Are you artistically challenged? Keep it super simple with some spruced-up stick figures. These easy doodles to draw take the basic stick figure to new heights for added pizzazz.

4. Play with words

Words aren’t only meant to be spoken or written– they can be used as doodle art as well. Spruce up your notes by using different lettering and adding banners, swirls, and other designs.

5. Mandala

Sure, mandalas are pretty and look cool. But did you know that doodling a mandala can also provide meditative aspects and reduce your heart rate, improve concentration skills, and alleviate stress? 

6. Cows

Cows have been necessary to humans since the end of the Stone Age– you know, around the same time your marketing meeting started. Doodle this common farm animal to get you through it.  

7. Faces

Face doodles can be as simple as a circle with some dots and a curved line inside. Or you can master more intricate versions with details like lips, eyebrows, ears, and hair. 

8. Cactuses

The possibilities are endless with these thick, prickly plants. Doodle a whole desert of these ornamental succulent perennials without having to worry about sticking your fingers with their barbed bristles.

9. Tulips

Next time you want fun doodles to draw when you’re bored, try designing a garden of tulips on your page. Color them in to make it even prettier. 

10. Roses

Roses don’t just look beautiful and smell amazing. They’re also known to be one of the most ancient flowers in the world. Color it red to symbolize romance, yellow for friendship, pink for admiration or gratitude, or white for innocence. 

11. Watering can

Once you’ve doodled a garden full of tulips, roses, and cactuses, you’ll need a way to water them. Try your hand at this simple, rustic watering that can accompany your pretty flowers. 

12. Eyes

Happy eyes, angry eyes, angled eyes, rectangular eyes, winky eyes, smoky eyes – so many possibilities with eyes. Mix and match and play around with all the various types– faces not required!

13. 3D Hole

A little more complicated than some others on our list, this 3D hole optical illusion plays with height, width, and depth to create a really cool design. Follow the link for detailed instructions– it’s totally worth it.  

14. Tangled cat

How cute is this kitty all tangled in what appears to be a mini blind? Use lined paper or draw your own lines to create this fun feline-themed doodle.

15. Snail

There’s nothing like a doodle of one of the slowest moving creatures in the world to symbolize the perceived stopping of time during a torturously long meeting, lecture, or conference call.  

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16. Robot

Doodle this cute cartoon robot using basic shapes. Simple squares, rectangles, and circles come together to create a cool, realistic machine. It looks more complicated than it is, and the site provides a tutorial to make it easier. 

17. Get musical

You might not be able to play the guitar in the middle of a long conference call, but you can create some silent music with these guitar doodles. Rock on!

18. Swirly waves

A few curly lines swirled into a pattern can make a really neat image. Play around with the colors or color it in. This one has no endpoint, really, so you can go on for hours!

19. Social media icons

You probably spend a good amount of your time on various social media networks anyway. Why not doodle the logos of some of your favorite outlets? They’re easy and don’t require much thought.

20. Travel items 

You may not have the time or money to take an actual trip, but you can still take your mind on vacation with doodles of travel-related items like airplanes, luggage, and a passport. 

21. Honey, I’m bored!

If you’re looking for small doodles to draw, try creating a whole hive of honey bees. They never sleep, so if all else fails, maybe they can take notes for you?

22. Stairway to love

This abstract image of a stairway leading into the heart of heaven is cute, easy, and really cool to doodle. It’s simple enough to draw repeatedly, too. You can also create a mirror image with the staircase going in the opposite direction.

23. Skywriting paper plane 

Typically, paper is used to make the airplane. Mix it up by drawing the plane. Get even more creative by making different words and images with the plane’s smoke. 

24. Out of this world

Your mind is already elsewhere, right? You may as well take it further out of this world with alien heads. Doodle them in different sizes to create a whole alien family.

25. Cupcakes

Save yourself some calories by opting to doodle this delicious treat rather than eat it. Cupcakes are easy to draw, and the possibilities are endless– play around with icing and toppings to create your own version of this popular dessert. 

26. Spiders

Not only are doodles of spiders easy to draw, but you won’t have to trap this kind under a mug to keep it from crawling all over you. Create a whole web of them!

27. Doodle dangles

Doodles that dangle are easy, cute, and super versatile. Hang them from the top of the page in a vine-like fashion, or create a border along the edges. Either way, these designs keep your mind occupied. 

Whether you prefer animals, people, objects, flowers, or anything else your mind can imagine, doodling can help you beat boredom and get you through mundane times. 

Next time you’re looking for things to doodle in class or a meeting to pass the time, occupy your mind, or get your creative juices flowing, use our suggestions or put your own spin on them to get you started. 

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You’re in bed, trying to settle in and fall asleep, but your mind won’t cooperate.

Wakeful minutes turn to hours. 

And you’re no closer to slipping into oblivion.

So, what are some fun things to do when you can’t sleep?

Or are you allowed to have fun when you should be unconscious?

And what if the fun keeps you up even longer?

Thing is, a little bit of fun could be just what you need.

Are You Bored and Can’t Sleep?

It’s frustrating. You want to know what to do when you’re bored at night in bed. And if you live in an apartment or share a house with others, you don’t want to wake anyone who is sleeping.

More than that, though, you want this to be something worthwhile—something that makes this time of sleeplessness count for something. 

In the list below, you’ll mostly find activities you can do quietly.

Depending on your situation, you can do some quietly or with the volume turned up. All are worth doing.

And we’ve done our best to minimize those that make it even harder to get any sleep.

What To Do When You Can’t Sleep and Are Bored: 29 Ideas to Keep at Your Bedside

We’ve found 29 productive and enjoyable things to do when you can’t sleep—though you may only need one (or two, at the most). We don’t know your life.

Fill in the blanks with your imagination.

1. Take a bath or shower.

A hot shower or bath with lavender and bath salts can work wonders. Just be careful not to fall asleep in the tub if you’re more of a bath person. You can even play some relaxing music and make yourself a mug of tea to enjoy while you soak.

2. Read a book.

Pick up a book that’s almost guaranteed to get you nodding. Or go with something you actually enjoy. Either way, stick with the print version, if possible, to avoid the stimulating effects of a screen.

If the latter is your only option, be sure to turn on the nighttime filter.

3. Flip through a magazine.

Digital mags work, but it’s sometimes fun to flip through an actual printed magazine. Plus, you won’t have to worry about the added screentime keeping you awake even longer. Keep a short stack of some favorites close to your bed, along with a notepad and a pen.

4. Do a mindfulness breathing meditation.

You can sit up or lie down for this. Take a few minutes to take in some deep, cleansing breaths, and visualize letting go with each exhale of whatever is keeping you awake.

If it helps, use a specific breathing style or pace—one that helps you feel more relaxed.

5. Try some nighttime yoga.

If you don’t know some basic bedtime yoga moves, use an app or find a brief tutorial on YouTube. Go through the movements carefully, paying attention to how your body feels with each breath and each new posture. Finish with some mindful breathing.

6. Write it out in a journal.

Something is bugging you. And one of the best ways to deal with it—or at least begin—is to grab your journal and write out exactly what you’re thinking and feeling. This may lead to other activities. If you’re thinking of a story, for example, brainstorm a shortlist of ideas.

7. Do some laundry.

Grab a basket of fresh laundry and do some folding to make this time productive as well as calming. Play some soothing music in the background, if it helps. Take a moment to enjoy the scent of freshly laundered clothes, towels, and bedding.

8. Try using a white noise machine. 

If you don’t have one, try turning on an old radio to an AM station that plays nothing but static. Or use an app on your phone that plays white noise or calming music while it charges (far away from your bed).

9. Make a gratitude list.

If you’re feeling stressed out or depressed about something, it can help to write down or at least think about five things you’re grateful for. This works best when you take time to think about those things and to really feel the gratitude. It’s a lot harder to be anxious when you’re feeling grateful.

10. Declutter something.

Pick a spot—a closet, a drawer, or a visible surface that attracts clutter—and tidy it up. Toss, store, or donate whatever doesn’t belong there.

And take a moment to enjoy the reclaimed or freshly organized space before you walk away from it.

11. Change the temperature.

Sometimes it’s as simple as cooling the air in the room so you can get cozy with your blankets without overheating. Per the National Sleep Foundation, set your thermostat to 60 to 67 degrees Fahrenheit for the most sleep-friendly ambient temperature.

12. Listen to soothing music.

If you already have a playlist that brings on the sleepies, go with that. Otherwise, you can check out other people’s shared collections of sleepytime tunes.

If possible, set a timer so the music switches off after an hour or two, so you won’t have it running all night,

13. OR… bump up the tempo and dance it out.

Crank up the volume and the beat — out loud or with headphones — and work on some dance moves. You could even play a dance video and learn something new–as long as you won’t be waking up someone else in the building (or next door)

14. Make a to-do list for tomorrow (with a top 3).

For the sleepless nerds among us, why not jot down some ideas for the next day. Just writing down what you want to accomplish can take a load off your mind and make it easier to fall asleep. You’ve got tomorrow already partly handled. Go, you!

15. Get out of bed and do some exercise.

It’s actually far less likely to keep you awake than reaching for your phone or tablet to watch something or do some late-night shopping. Do some calisthenics or a short weight-training or bodyweight workout–just enough to get your blood pumping.

Wind down with some gentle stretches.

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16. Sip on some warm milk.

Make it just the way you like it, with or without honey, cinnamon, and whipped cream. Add a biscuit or two if you don’t mind brushing your teeth again. Use a mug that adds to the cozy aesthetic, and allow yourself to mindfully enjoy the warmth and flavor in every sip. 

17. Use essential oils.

If you have a diffuser with an auto-shutoff, set it up with some sleepytime essential oils like lavender and chamomile.

You can also spritz your bedding with some lavender mist. Or use an essential oil roller to dab a bit of sleep-inducing herbals on your wrists and neck.

18. Write a letter. 

Think of someone you haven’t written to for a while and write them a letter to catch them up on your life. Or write one to someone who’s on your mind—even if you know you’ll probably never send it without a thorough editing and rewrite.

19. Create an artful oasis.

Get out your brush pens and open an adult coloring book to enjoy some mindful coloring time. Or break out the Buddha Board and paint an image or letters that will fade as it dries, encouraging mindfulness as you develop your art skills.

20. Design a new look.

Take a few minutes to brainstorm the elements of a personal style you’ve wanted to try. Ditch the nonsense filters (“I don’t know, can I pull off leather?”) and just let the words out.  Maybe you’ll even dream of the look you want.

21. Tackle a small cleaning project.

Clean your bathroom. Or purge your refrigerator of leftovers that are no longer safe to eat (or remotely appetizing). Wipe down your countertops or sweep your kitchen floor. Do something that will make your living space more pleasant to wake up to.

22. Write an insomnia poem.

Get those thought scraps onto a page and rearrange them into a bleary-eyed, brain-dump poem. Because why not?. Just remember not to leave it lying around the next morning. This is for your eyes only, unless you decide otherwise.

23. Practice with a language app.

While you generally want to avoid screens if the goal is to get some sleep eventually, if you’re in no hurry to nod off, you can take this opportunity to practice with a language app like Duolingo, Babbel, or Memrise. 

24. Have a light snack.

Go with something that won’t keep you awake even longer. In other words, avoid anything with caffeine or added sugar. Try some cheese and crackers, a handful of mixed nuts, or some Greek yogurt. Or munch on some fresh veggies, with or without hummus.

25. Wrap up your day with a happy ending.

Because why not? Seriously, though, the hormones released with the big O can help you finally settle in and get some sleep.

Use whatever helps you get in the mood if you’re not already there. Think of it as self-care. Because that’s exactly what it is.

26. If you’re not alone in your awakeness, make this a team effort.

If you can both agree on what to do together, do that. Play a couple’s game and turn your mutual sleeplessness into a mini-date. Or talk about what’s keeping you both awake. Whatever activity you choose, end it on a high note. Go, team!

27. Get some fresh air. 

Get dressed and walk out the door—or, if it’s an option, up to a rooftop—to get some fresh night air and walk around a bit. Bring something to entertain yourself if you’re so inclined, especially if the space you’ll be visiting has a lounge area with comfortable chairs. 

28. Shop for a better mattress, pillows, or bedding.

Or make a list of desirable qualities in a bed, in a new set of pillows, or in bedding. Picture the bed you want and imagine yourself lying in it. Design a bed with a look and feel you love—something that makes bedtime (sans phone) something to look forward to.

29. Have a steaming mug of nighttime tea.

Try something with calming herbs like chamomile, lavender, lemon balm, passionflower, and valerian root. Add honey, if you like. Some teas also go well with milk, which can also help you feel sleepy.

Conclusion

Now that you’ve looked through all 29 ideas for what to do when you can’t sleep, which of them stood out for you?

Not all of these will work for you as well as some. And, by all means, add your own personal flair to whatever you choose. The more comfortable you are with, the more effective it will be for you.

What will you try first if you have trouble sleeping tonight?

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