Consumption in social situations is hard to avoid. You’re out with friends; everyone orders a drink; and you don’t want to be the odd gal out, so you order one too. You rarely see old acquaintances except to grab dinner or drinks. An afternoon at a friend’s house turns into a shopping expedition together. And rarely does anyone ever say that they can’t afford to do something.
When you’re alone and bored, the urge to buy something is even more pervasive. Maybe if I buy a book, you think, I won’t feel so listless. It’s a common pitfall of spending time alone–one that can be easily avoided if you’re prepared with something to do that doesn’t involve spending. Here’s a list of my favorite no-spending sprees.
- Visit the library. Don’t check your e-mail while you’re there.
- Drink 2 glasses of water. An astonishing number of people are dehydrated…and they don’t even know it. Regular consumption of improves your digestion and your memory, clears your skin, restores your cartilage and joint health, and enables you to better deal with stress. So drink up.
- Perform a 50-Thing Throwaway. Celebrate a slightly less-cluttered space.
- Create a new outfit using a piece of clothing you haven’t worn in two months. Wear it outside your house at least twice. Compliment yourself on your aesthetic bravery.
- Touch your toes for thirty seconds…or try.
- Take public transit to a stop you’ve never visited before. Get lost. Find something beautiful or useful.
- Subscribe to three new RSS feeds. Ones I’m loving these days: Copyblogger; ; and Smashing Magazine.
- Make a Hipster PDA.
- Give up Sudoku already. Learn a new paradigm with kakuro.
- Nap.
- Go to the park. Bring a book from your summer reading list, a blanket, and a snack. Wear sunblock. While you’re there, make friends with a dog.
What do you guys love doing when you’re bored but not in the mood to spend?
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