Travelling is awesome, but let’s face it, sometimes the downtime can cause boredom. Whether you’ve got hours left on your flight or you’re waiting for your next connection, it’s easy to feel a little anxious about having nothing to do. Luckily, there are plenty of things you could do to help pass the time, so let’s check them out.
Play some games
One of the easiest and fun ways to pass the time while travelling is to play some games. There’s nothing quite like a bit of friendly competition to make the time go faster. Whether you’re playing a game like Hearthstone on your phone or you’ve got a good old fashioned board game with you, there’s loads of ways to entertain yourself. If you have a travelling companion, why not challenge them to a few games?
If you’re traveling alone, you could play checkers online and take on AI? It’s really easy to lose track of time when you’re in the middle of a good game!
Catch up on your reading
If you’re someone who loves to read, then travelling is the perfect time to get your nose into a good book. You could opt for a gripping novel, or you might even pick up a self-help book and learn how to improve yourselves. One of the most wonderful parts of today’s world is that even if you’ve forgotten to bring a book with you, you can download an eBook to your phone or tablet and get lost in a new story.
If reading is difficult (say if you’re standing on a busy train,) then audiobooks are a really great option. If you are sitting down, you can listen while you rest your eyes for a little bit. It’s a great way to pass the time, especially if you want to rest a little before your next stop.
Listen to a podcast or playlist
Podcasts are a traveller’s best friend. You can learn something new, laugh, or get gripped by an interesting conversation. The best part? Your hands are still entirely free! Whether you’re into crime, comedy or personal development, there’s bound to be a podcast (or two, or three) that will pique your interest. If you find a podcast you love, the time will fly before you know it!
If you’re not a podcast person, you could listen to a playlist. Whether you turn to an old favourite or you could explore new artists. If you use Spotify, they suggest tailored playlists based on the music you listen to – why not give it a go? You might find some new music to fall in love with! Again, you can sit back and close your eyes. Who knows, you might get a nice nap in there too.
Watch movies or TV shows
If you’ve got a lengthy journey ahead of you, movies and TV shows are a great way to pass the time. Lots of airlines offer in-flight entertainment, or you could pre-download some movies or shows onto a tablet or laptop and bring it with you. The best part about all of it is that you don’t have to feel guilty about clicking that “next episode” button. It’s quite literally the perfect excuse to catch up on all of the stuff you haven’t got around to watching yet!
If you love movies, why not use your travelling time to watch films that were made in the country you’re travelling to? It gives you the chance to possibly learn a few local phrases and more about the culture before you get there.
Chat with other passengers!
One of the best parts of travelling is the opportunity to meet new and interesting people. So, if you’re bored, why not try to start up a conversation with other passengers around you? Whether it’s the guy next to you on the plane or the family waiting at the train station, most people are often more than happy to have a friendly chat. Sometimes the best aspects of any trip come from meeting new and interesting people.
If you’re an introvert and don’t want to strike up a conversation face to face, use social media to connect with people. Post photos and videos of your journey and interact with others that you can see are travelling too! If you’ve ever spent any time on social media, you’ll know how quickly time can pass.
Write in your journal
Travelling is the perfect time to catch your journal up on everything that’s been going on lately. Even if it’s nothing of particular note, it can help you release any tension you didn’t know you had ready for an exciting trip away. If you don’t have a pen and paper, you could always document your thoughts, feelings and experiences on your laptop or tablet. If you want to step things up a notch, consider starting a travel blog to add to while you’re away and your future adventures!
Get ready for your next destination
Downtime when you’re travelling is the perfect time to plan your next destination. Perhaps you’ve got a layover coming up and have no plans during that time, or maybe you’re visiting a new city and have limited time there. Use this time to look up attractions, restaurants or even find hidden beauties to visit. It’ll give you something to look forward to and pass the time quickly (rather than just staring at the clock.)
Try something new
Finally, when you’re travelling, it’s the perfect time to step out of your comfort zone. If there’s something you’ve always wanted to try but haven’t yet, now’s the perfect time to do it! Why not learn a few phrases in the local language? Or maybe you could pick up a new game you’ve never tried before? Or, if you’re on a long haul flight, why not practice your sketching skills or some mind-teasers? There are loads of small yet simple activities that will broaden your horizon and pass the time effectively!
