Whether you are bored or have a few hours to kill, a computer can come in quite handy. There are ways to spend time on the device and feel like the activities are rewarding or relaxing. The problem is picking one of the available options when there are quite a few to consider. Let’s see a few fun ways to pass the time on computer.
Below, you will find 10 ways to have fun on a computer. Figure out which suits you and give them a try.
Make Money
Making money might not seem like everyone’s idea of having fun on a computer, but it can be to some. Thankfully, we live in a digital age right now, and there are plenty of different methods to make money on the internet.
You may find yourself making only a few dollars an hour and call it a day. On the other hand, if you like the results, you can consider scaling the idea and maybe even go full-time.
Beginners usually start with simple gigs, such as data entry, translations, online surveys, and short product descriptions or other writing. It helps if you gain a bit of experience working as someone’s virtual assistant, but you can look to start a bigger venture from scratch yourself.
For example, dropshipping, affiliate marketing, email marketing, PPC, blogging, streaming, and other more complex methods can net you enough money that you may even consider leaving your regular job and working online full-time.
Read Articles
Sometimes, sitting back and reading a book is the best pastime you can come up with, particularly if you had a rough day and want to relax. The problem with books, though, is that they can be a bit difficult to digest if you feel mentally exhausted.
Moreover, you may be running out of books you want to read or just cannot find interesting ones despite looking through various recommendations online or asking people in real life to help you.
However, if you still like to read, you can find a plethora of different articles on the internet. Digesting an article is easier than it is digesting a book chapter.
Now, as for what you want to read, it depends on your preference. Since the World Wide Web is so vast, you can expect to find plenty of articles written on various topics.
Moreover, you also have the option to go for professional and respected publications, such as The Atlantic, Washington Post, or TheVerge, or avoid the more serious stuff and focus on independent bloggers who focus on fun and entertainment.
Ultimately, there are plenty of different genres, publishers, bloggers, and so on to choose from, so you should not run out of articles to read if you find the pastime enjoyable.
Start Blogging
In case you are looking for a means to express your thoughts, blogging could be one of the options to consider. Ideally, you want to get a dedicated domain and host, though creating a blog on a free platform is also possible. However, if you do that, monetizing the website will be harder, and you will depend on the platform itself a lot.
Blogging works great for those that have a lot of interesting ideas to share with others. Moreover, you can treat blogging as a way to improve your writing and other skills, such as graphic design, if you want to create engaging infographics and other visual content.
While many bloggers express interest in monetizing their site early on, you can ignore that if you are looking for a way to have some fun and maybe find like-minded people who can relate to your content.
The goal is to find a method that works as a way to pass the time, and if blogging provides that, you should focus on the fun side of it rather than treat the pastime as a means to make money.
Watch Movies and TV Shows
Visiting a cinema or even creating your own home movie theatre provides a great viewing experience, but you can make do without either of the two so long as you have a computer. In fact, you should be fine even if you have a laptop with a relatively small screen.
At the end of the day, it is what you watch rather than how you watch it. Getting cozy in front of a computer’s screen and not feeling bothered by other watchers you encounter in a cinema, for instance, can be better than you expect.
Now, as for what you should be watching. It can be movies, TV shows, documentaries, or even video compilations. So long as you are having fun and find the content engaging, you should not be too bothered with your choice.
You have a plethora of options to consider from streaming platforms. These days, many people like to consume media by subscribing to Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and other streaming services.
Some people dubbed the streaming network trend as “streaming wars” since many of these services are trying their best to create original content and attract more customers. You might find all the different networks a bit overwhelming, but once you get the hang of how they work and what type of content they offer, you should be mostly good.
Check Twitch TV
Twitch TV is another example of how things are changing in the entertainment industry. More and more people are discovering the fun of watching streamers who interact with their chat while playing video games, playing musical instruments, drawing, cooking, and doing other fun activities.
Early on, Twitch TV was the go-to platform for gamers, but the site has changed a lot since then. Even though the majority of channels is still related to video games in one way or another, variety content is certainly gaining more momentum, meaning that the platform is friendly not just to the video game enthusiasts but people who are interested in other types of channels.
You might find yourself spending more time on Twitch TV than expected. A lot of entertaining personalities make for a great viewing experience. Moreover, it is not just the biggest streamers that can provide the best entertainment. If you decide to watch Twitch TV, make sure you check streamers who do not have that many viewers, as you might uncover some hidden gems.
Also, keep an eye on special events. Sometimes, it is a bunch of streamers collaborating together, and sometimes it is Twitch TV itself organizing something grand.
It is also worth mentioning that you might find Twitch TV chats more entertaining than the streams themselves.
Listen to Music
Sitting back and enjoying some music could also be a fun pastime on a computer. Moreover, you can combine it with another activity, such as playing video games or reading.
There are quite a few people who listen to music while working or studying because it helps them focus or get through the day faster. At least, that is what they feel like.
Owning a computer is not enough if you want to listen to music, particularly if you are concerned about the overall quality. Laptop owners have the luxury of built-in speakers, but even those can cause the music to sound scuffed, which means that users need to try out different methods to fix that—from cleaning the dust to tinkering with the computer settings.
If you have a desktop computer, though, you will have to get a pair of headphones or speakers. The former might be a better option, particularly if you do not want to disturb other people and keep the music to yourself.
Since streaming platforms are so popular for media needs, you should look for one that can provide you with music. Spotify is usually the go-to option, though it is recommended to subscribe for a premium plan so you can avoid listening to annoying advertisements.
Those who do not like Spotify can still find plenty of radio stations to listen to or download individual tracks on their computer (having files on the drive means not needing the internet). YouTube should work as well given how many music videos there are, not to mention that you can find channels dedicated to music and those similar to a radio that play specific songs without ads or breaks.
Socialize With Others
During the pandemic, there might be very few opportunities to socialize with other people. Be it your friends, family, or coworkers, you should keep in touch with them to avoid potential isolation and other problems.
Thankfully, it is not that difficult to keep in touch with others when you have a computer and an internet connection. Thanks to available chatting platforms like Discord and Zoom, starting a conversation with someone is not that difficult.
Keep in mind, though, that you will need a webcam on your end to show your face and make the chat feel more in person if you want that.
Establishing new relationships is also not that hard if you are looking for that. Sure, online relationships are not the same as those in real life, but they can still work. There are many people who would love to have a close friend even if they cannot meet them in real life.
Again, it might feel a bit awkward to simply strike a conversation with a stringer with the intent to build a strong relationship from it. However, if you join a relevant channel with like-minded people who perhaps share an interest in the same hobbies you do, then initiating a conversation and seeing where things go from there should not be that much of a challenge.
Learn New Things
The internet opens doors to new opportunities if you want to learn. You can find courses on Khan Academy, Skillshare, Udemy, and other educational platforms. In fact, even YouTube has a fair share of various tutorials. And the best part is that so much of this stuff is available for free.
Consuming video tutorials is easier than consuming text, so you will have a better time learning new skills. Compared to attending boring lectures in a university and college to watching videos at your own pace and not worrying about failing exams, it becomes clear what makes such an education superior.
From coding and graphic design to crafts and DIY projects, you can find courses that cover virtually every topic imaginable. There is plenty of information for beginner, intermediate, and advanced learners.
Whether you are looking to find out something new or polish your current sets, online education has you covered. Not only can you have fun with it, but you will also feel like you spend time efficiently.
Look at Memes
On the one hand, looking at memes or funny videos might seem like a waste of time, but if you find joy in it because you laugh at other people’s creativity, then it makes sense to do this more often.
Right now, the internet culture has reached a point where you can expect new and great memes and other types of funny content the same day something happens in the world. Whether it is local or global events, you can bet that the next funny thing will be available for everyone to see in a matter of hours, if not minutes after the event happened.
Play Video Games
If there is one thing that every similar article should have, it would have to be video games. One could argue that gaming is the most fun and popular pastime one can have on a computer.
The industry continues to grow, and video game developers are trying their best to accommodate modern gamers. Sure, there are a few failures now and then, but current video games are far superior to the ones we had 10 or even 5 years ago.
Besides, there is a lot of news about upcoming video games that you should get excited about, both in terms of sequels and new titles.
For some people, video games are just a way to pass the time and have some fun, whereas, for others, it is a serious thing, encouraging them to play competitively against other players. Regardless of your preference, you should try some video games if you have not, particularly if your computer has decent hardware and can handle some high-demand games.
Conclusion
We have discussed 10 Fun Ways to Pass the Time on Computer. You can’t go wrong choosing a time pass in the list. I prefer listening to music and blogging. This keeps me engaged throughout the day. Thanks for reading.
Aju Vignesh Sathiaraj Padma is a mechanical and audio engineer. He is a person who loves technology and things. He is also an audiophile and loves to listen to music on quality audio gear. He is an avid writer and loves to blog.
He is the founder and author of www.digitfield.com, and he is an expert in copywriting. You can find him either lurking in various forums or listening to classical music.
