It's 6:30 P.M. on a Friday/Saturday. You're in San Francisco. All of your friends are doing something else. There's no Sharks game on. The Symphony and the Opera are sold out. The library is closed. You've read the newspapers front to back. You have to start heading home by 10:30 P.M. What do you do? [more inside]
posted by clorox on Oct 16, 2009 - 21 answers

There's a monthly raffle at work for 5 parking spaces out back. There are about 30 people in my office. There's no limit to the amount of tickets you can buy. You can only win once. Otherwise, parking costs about $4 a day, or about $80 a month. Raffle proceeds go to charity. What's the optimal amount to spend on this? [more inside]
posted by boghead on Jul 24, 2009 - 19 answers

My best friend has a broken leg from a car accident and is very depressed. Need activity suggestions and advice on how I can encourage her to comply with her doctor's orders to keep any weight off the leg and keep her immobilizer on. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on May 21, 2009 - 16 answers

I hate working out. It's incredibly boring. I've tried music, and it does help to a degree, but it's not enough. I don't have anyone to work out with. Last time, I put my towel over my head and drowned out outside sensory input as much as possible and was able to perform better. But that makes the boredom much worse. [more inside]
posted by cmgonzalez on Apr 15, 2009 - 55 answers

What can I teach my toddler about while we stay on the sofa? Supposed to rest legs. We've been watching Leonard Bernstein on YouTube, learning about orchestras -- looking for more stuff like that. [more inside]
posted by kmennie on Apr 9, 2009 - 18 answers

I have the opportunity to exercise in the morning, at lunch and in the evening. Does it matter if I do certain exercises in order? [more inside]
posted by abdulf on Mar 29, 2009 - 8 answers

What is considered a reasonable amount of time to be able to concentrate on one task? [more inside]
posted by cranberrymonger on Feb 28, 2009 - 8 answers

Help me find something to DO before I drive myself crazy. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Feb 26, 2009 - 22 answers

I need to keep myself busy at work, and actually look like I'm doing work—even if I'm not really working. [more inside]
posted by Jason and Laszlo on Feb 9, 2009 - 39 answers

Why does my business colleague have such a strange physical effect on me? And how can I change this? [more inside]
posted by terranova on Jan 27, 2009 - 18 answers

Have you ever fallen out of love with your partner, worked at it, and fallen back IN love with he or she? If so, how did you do it? What would you recommend? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jan 4, 2009 - 18 answers

I'm off work the next four days over the New Year's holiday & weekend. I am usually a very social person, but I live alone and I don't have much of anything planned this weekend. And I'm worried about spending the whole weekend alone, because I think I will get really lonely and unhappy. How can I enjoy myself? [more inside]
posted by inatizzy on Dec 31, 2008 - 20 answers

My hands get bored easily. If there's food nearby they make me eat it. What can I do to occupy my hands so they stay out of the doritos? [more inside]
posted by valadil on Nov 13, 2008 - 32 answers

Help me to not suck at teaching! (focus on analytic reading) [more inside]
posted by puckish on Nov 12, 2008 - 14 answers

I have a month in which to do a project. What kind of project, you ask? Good question. Perhaps something fun, perhaps something educational, perhaps something mind-expanding. The options, they are endless. [more inside]
posted by Rinku on Oct 13, 2008 - 10 answers

How do I deal with boredom in situations where I have to sit or stand for long periods of time with little stimulation. [more inside]
posted by sixcolors on Sep 23, 2008 - 27 answers

Depression has knocked my passion (for everything) out. Gwargh. What do I do while I get therapy sorted? [more inside]
posted by divabat on Jul 21, 2008 - 13 answers

What are some good things to do with one or two pre-teen boys? Besides play video games? [more inside]
posted by kerfuffled on May 27, 2008 - 22 answers

Why am I so lazy? [more inside]
posted by giggleknickers on May 19, 2008 - 40 answers

Avoiding beach boredom! [more inside]
posted by frosty_hut on Apr 23, 2008 - 26 answers

Please suggest fun thing for me to do while housebound and healing from fractures. [more inside]
posted by betterton on Mar 19, 2008 - 25 answers

I am bored. I don't know what to do with myself. Any suggestions? [more inside]
posted by Sassyfras on Feb 22, 2008 - 38 answers

Well, I did it. Due to most unfortunate circumstances, I flew on an airplane for the first time in 8 years. As awful as the reasons were, the entire world has been opened up to me and I am now extremely excited by my renewed ability to travel the skies, and seek advice. Much length follows. [more inside]
posted by Cat Pie Hurts on Jan 16, 2008 - 27 answers

I see you there. You're smart. You've got great ideas. You want to help me make the world a better place. So, help me brainstorm this contraption. [more inside]
posted by TomMelee on Jan 2, 2008 - 35 answers

What can I do to cure my boredom while exercising? [more inside]
posted by JPigford on Nov 10, 2007 - 36 answers

How do I bring up the lack of actual work at my job? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Aug 18, 2007 - 12 answers

Why is it so hard for me to do the things I need to do to make my life better? How can I motivate myself to get my shit together? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jun 28, 2007 - 29 answers

I've attended work meetings where a committee is formed to solve a problem. The problem is usually open-ended rather than specific. For example, increase employee satisfaction. I'm finding that everyone talks and very little gets decided / accomplished, and so another meeting is scheduled. A huge amount of time is spent going to these meetings. Is there another way to accomplish things? Is there some new paradigm out there for small group information gathering and decision-making that at least appears to give a nod to group input?
posted by TorontoSandy on Jun 11, 2007 - 21 answers

I've read all my RSS feeds twice. Help me find distractions to get me through a boring work week? [more inside]
posted by heavenstobetsy on May 1, 2007 - 16 answers

Help me break my meetings by making them more interactive. [more inside]
posted by TheDonF on Apr 5, 2007 - 6 answers

Help me fall in love with San Francisco all over again! [more inside]
posted by rndm on Mar 16, 2007 - 15 answers

One for cat owners - What toys have you found your cats most respond to and enjoy? [more inside]
posted by chris88 on Mar 14, 2007 - 62 answers

When I run, my mind gets left out... [more inside]
posted by god particle on Mar 3, 2007 - 17 answers

GameFilter: I need a part-time game to play at work. [more inside]
posted by backseatpilot on Nov 7, 2006 - 24 answers

I teach several required college courses. My enthusiasm is dwindling, and it is starting to show. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Sep 27, 2006 - 27 answers

Yesterday I spent two hours in line at the Social Security Office to get a new card for my son. Considering how long the wait was I can't believe the rules they had for waiting in line. Please help me understand the rational for not allowing people to use their mobile phones. [more inside]
posted by DragonBoy on Aug 1, 2006 - 39 answers

Do you have any fun, cool, hip magazine suggestions for someone who desperately misses Budget Living and needs more stuff to read around her messy apartment? [more inside]
posted by echo0720 on Jun 27, 2006 - 18 answers

Do I need to buy a textbook for A+ certification? [more inside]
posted by Drunken_munky on Jun 3, 2006 - 12 answers

How do I reconcile myself to years more in a position that I loathe? [more inside]
posted by b33j on Apr 25, 2006 - 17 answers

I get depressed when I don't have any work to do, but get totally stressed with the workload I usually have. What gives? [more inside]
posted by sdis on Apr 4, 2006 - 17 answers

I'm halfway through my first year of college and things are not going well. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jan 26, 2006 - 53 answers

How to deal with gnawing wanderlust? [more inside]
posted by Saydur on Dec 1, 2005 - 22 answers

What should I be when I grow up? [more inside]
posted by squidlarkin on Oct 2, 2005 - 9 answers

I'm going to be stuck in the Miami International Airport for several hours, and I don't want to die of boredom. [more inside]
posted by emelenjr on Jul 17, 2005 - 14 answers

You're married or single, have no kids, hold a regular job and are out of school. So what do you do in the evenings after work? [more inside]
posted by robocop is bleeding on Jul 12, 2005 - 60 answers

I bought a "dead" laptop at a yardsale for $3 (I bargained them down from $5). Well, long story short, I've got it working after resetting the BIOS and plugging in an external monitor and keyboard. [more inside]
posted by phrontist on Jun 22, 2005 - 7 answers

What are the best mock stock exchange websites out there? What ones are to be avoided? [more inside]
posted by tozturk on Jun 9, 2005 - 5 answers

How do you stay awake, alert and keep from getting bored or broody when your work is extremely repetitive? I have an iPod, but no internet/computer access at work.
posted by Jeanne on May 20, 2005 - 11 answers

How to deal with sitting in a small cubicle during assigned (non-flexible) hours, with extremely boring work to do (or no work to do), with no web access? [more inside]
posted by lustra on Feb 17, 2005 - 32 answers

My pregnant sister is currently experiencing placenta previa, which means she will require total bedrest for the next six weeks until the baby (her first) is delivered caesarean. Additionally her husband is undergoing both chemo and radiation for throat cancer until November. This means they will both be incapacitated for awhile....(MI) [more inside]
posted by dhoyt on Sep 4, 2004 - 19 answers