I am often stuck comfort eating or boredom eating and I know I am not alone in this. Having lost over 10 stone many people ask me how I managed to avoid comfort or boredom eating so I do hope this helps someone.
It is easy though isn’t it to get caught up in emotions and eat to make us feel better, or we’re sitting watching TV and need something to do with our hands.
I have compiled a list of lots of alternatives to help myself and others when you want to avoid boredom eating but you just need that bit of inspiration! Some of these have helped me and others I have heard mentioned by others so I am sure there will be something for everyone!
Feel free to add any ideas of your own in the comments and bookmark or Pin this page for any time you need it.
Things you can do to keep busy
Read a book
Paint you nails
Listen to some music
Phone a friend
Relax in the bath
Write a letter to a friend or family member
Sew, knit or crochet something
Write a to-do list of all the things you keep putting off
Tidy up and sort out your jewellery
Sort out some things you don’t use for charity
How about these ideas?
Do a puzzle from a newspaper, puzzle book or print one online
Play a game on your phone, tablet or computer
Go for a walk
Look through recipe books for some new ideas
Make a hot drink
Draw or doodle
Light a scented candle to enjoy
Watch a film
Look at life hacks online – random I know but it gets addictive
Write a letter to thank someone as a random act of kindness
More ideas to help stop boredom eating
Do some online shopping
Sort through your wardrobe and get rid of or put away things that don’t fit
Clean something that is so rewarding when done eg the oven
Write a letter or card to a sick child (or their sibling) through www.postpals.co.uk
Watch something that you don’t usually watch on TV
Watch videos on YouTube of animals or children doing funny things
Write a short story, there are great short story ideas online.
Find something you have but don’t use for example empty coffee jars and look online what you could make with it
Learn a few words in another language using Google translate (day to day or adult!)
Sort through apps on your phone or tablet and delete ones you no longer use
How about trying one of these ideas?
Do some exercise
Write a poem
Do something for someone else that they won’t expect
Write a letter to your 13-year-old self
Meditate
Dance to your favourite music
Look for old school friends, colleagues or old flames online – you don’t have to send them a message just have a nosey
Do some cooking for the week ahead
Have a nap
Write a bucket list
More ideas if you are still struggling!
Phone an elderly family member who may feel lonely and really appreciate your call
Get some playing cards out and learn a trick
Start writing a diary or journal
Listen to the radio, a station with talking rather than music
Edit some photos using an online photo editor
Research your family tree
Look into a new hobby and find how you could take it up
Go online and look at maps of places you used to live or visit and see how much they have changed
Write a letter to your future self
Still stuck for ideas?
Look for your dream job online
Enter some competitions online or in magazines etc
Read a magazine
Look for local attractions/museums etc you haven’t been to before and plan a visit
Go geocaching
Start Christmas shopping, you don’t have to buy anything you could just add ideas to an online basket
Watch videos of your favourite comedian
Write a letter to your children/grandchildren for when they are older
Do a DIY job you have been putting off
Rearrange a room or area of a room
There must be something you can do?
Visit someone you haven’t seen for a while
Go to a charity shop – you may find a bargain and its something different to do that also helps charity
Do some gardening or even just plant a few herbs
Learn a new craft
Read blogs online that cover something which interests you
Chat to friends or make new friends on social media
Sort through your digital photos and order them or delete unwanted ones etc
Read about someone famous who interests you and find more about them
Have some fun with your partner (wink wink)
Play a card game like solitaire
So many ideas are better than comfort eating!
Find a way to customise or alter an outfit you own but no longer wear
Stack coins, buttons or similar in a pyramid and see how many you can stack before they fall
Research the herbs and spices you have and what else you could use them in
Search online for coupons for your next lot of shopping
Go and sit somewhere like a café and watch people walking past
Sing along to your favourite songs
Volunteer your time or services to help someone
Learn origami
Write a letter to complain about something
Read some celebrity gossip online
Keep looking there has to be something to help
Find a podcast to listen to
Learn to juggle
Go and feed the ducks – its not just for kids!
Plan a holiday either real or dream!
Look at the stars and work out which planets etc you can see
Put a new playlist together
Get some PVA glue (easy if you have crafty kids) and paint it on your hands then peel it off when dry!
Look at dream houses around the world
Take some photos
Go for a drive somewhere different
My last few suggestions
Watch the rain run down the windows – I find this so relaxing
Work out your finances and see if you can save money
Write a love letter or plan a romantic meal
Do a meal plan for the coming week
Write some memories down of your children as babies for them for when they are older
Sort out your make up and grooming gadgets and get rid of anything that’s old or never used
Chat to your children about what they want to be when they grow up and have a giggle (or a friend’s children etc)
Clean the bathroom – you certainly won’t want to eat whilst doing that!
Find some petitions to sign online – you never know what fun or important things you will come across
Walk a dog or play with a pet – yours or a friends
Count this list to see if it really is 101 things!
Just go ahead and eat whatever it is you want but in moderation!
Greats tips and ideas here! I’m going to try some of these ideas.
These are great ideas, I’ve just bookmarked it for when I’m about to boredom eat! I love the looking up life hacks idea, it definitely is addictive!
Some really great tips and ideas here, definitely going to try these
some really great ideas and tips. a FAB blog post
I always have a drink of water when I’m feeling hungry and contemplating eating rubbish. It fills me up and makes me feel like my stomach is a bit fuller, although the feeling doesn’t last very long!
I find keeping busy at my Allotment and in my Garden really does help me steer clear of junk food