Free Indoor Activities for Adults: Stay Active Without Spending a Dime
Fall is here, which is often a great time to get outdoors. But it’s also unpredictable — a heat wave, a cold blast or inclement weather could still send you indoors. That doesn’t mean you have to resign yourself to doing nothing but watching TV. There are plenty of free indoor activities that can be relaxing, productive or even make you money.
Why Free Indoor Fun Is More Important Than Ever
Free indoor activities aren’t just a reprieve from the weather, they also are a way to save money. Going to the movies, a show or concert are great entertainment options, but the cost of tickets for those events — like seemingly everything else in life — is more expensive than ever, up 6.6% from just two years ago1. It’s not always easy to make indoor activities budget friendly.
We know watching TV and movies or scrolling on our phones are an option for most of us. But there are plenty of free indoor activities that can enrich your life or help you relax.
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10 Free Indoor Activities for Adults
If you’re stumped on how to pass the time in a productive way when weather won’t permit, try these 10 activities.
1. Free Virtual Museum Tours
Walking around a museum for the day typically comes with a fee. But did you know some of the most famous museums in the world offer free virtual tours? You can explore The Smithsonian, The Louvre, The British Museum and many more from your own devices. Just look up the name of any museum you want to see along with “virtual tours” and see if it’s an option. You can take as long as you want at each exhibit without another patron breathing down your neck. It’s a great way to learn something, too.
2. Learn Something New on YouTube
If you have some time to kill, now is the time to finally learn how to sew that button back on your coat. Or how to change the oil in your car. Maybe it’s finally time to learn how to use Excel.
No matter what skill you’ve always wanted to learn but said you never had time for, you can find resources to help you learn it on YouTube. If you’ve always wanted to learn another language, there are plenty of language learning apps to get you started.
3. Declutter and Organize (Then Sell!)
This is another thing you may have been putting off (OK, maybe we’re projecting here). Staying indoors and reining in spending presents a perfect opportunity for clearing out some spare rooms, closets, etc.
You could start with one category, like your out-of-season clothes, your pantry or the garage. Clear out what you don’t need anymore, see what you could sell and start listing. Facebook Marketplace is popular for selling anything and everything. But there are lots of niche platforms that are best for clothing or books. At the end of the day, not only have you improved your household, you’re on your way to making some extra money.
4. Start a Home Workout Routine
Gym and workout studio memberships come with a cost. You can, however, find fitness experts online who offer workouts or tips for free. Yoga is easy to do from home, especially if you already have a mat. If you don’t, you could lay a towel down for cushioning or workout on a rug. Just be careful not to slip.
A lot of aerobic exercises only require your body weight. You can follow along with videos or do some research and customize your own workout — you can even DIY your own weights. Either way, you’re up and moving.
5. Host a DIY Game Night
All you need is a few friends and pen and paper to play charades. Split into two equal groups, write down well-known phrases or words on slips of paper and put them in a bowl. Then have people act out the phrase so members of their team can guess what it is within a certain time frame.
Or, if you already have a deck of cards, you have a lot of options. You could play Euchre, Rummy, Go Fish, Old Maid and much more.
6. Take Online Surveys for Cash
Scrolling on your phone is definitely something you can do for free indoors. However, you could also use it as a way to make money. Taking a few surveys with platforms like InboxDollars can get your brain working as you think about your answers, plus earn you a few bucks. In fact, we have a whole list of survey sites that pay you real money.
7. Explore Free Audiobooks and eBooks
Is it too yucky outside to even venture out for a new book? You could access free digital titles without leaving your home. If you already have a library card (and if you don’t, you should get one) then you can get free audiobooks with the Libby app. Hoopla also provides free audiobooks. In fact, we rounded up a whole list of free things you can get from the library when you need to escape the weather — and maybe your house, too.
8. Cook a New Recipe With What You Have
If you have some time on your hands, why not use it to cook a meal you haven’t tried before? Take a look at what you already have in your fridge or pantry and try to make something new and fun. Do a pantry excavation for ingredients to get inspiration for your next culinary adventure. You never know, you might just find your next favorite easy weeknight dinner.
9. Start Journaling
Journaling can be relaxing, good for your mental health and even improve your physical health by boosting your memory and lowering your blood pressure. You can do this either on paper or digitally, whichever works for you. Start with just going over your day or what’s been on your mind. You can also look up prompts if you’re stuck on what to write about. There are journaling apps, like Penzu, where you can write as much as you want and keep it private. You can also set reminders to journal so you can keep up the habit long the latest weather front has passed.
10. Watch a Documentary or Educational Series
Most of us enjoy a little bit of mindless TV every now and again. But watching it all day long isn’t the best idea. Learn something new by watching an educational documentary or limited series. Most streaming platforms have their own category for this so you can easily search your options. Check out our picks for streaming services for low-cost options.
How to Make the Most of Free Indoor Activities
We often use the phrase “stuck” inside, but it doesn’t have to feel that way. Whether you’re looking for free indoor activities because of the weather or you just need to dial back entertainment spending, you have options. See if anyone else is looking to stay indoors and have them come over for game night or to enjoy the new meal you created. If you finish your audiobook and have more time to kill, write a reflection about it in your journal. It’s all about doing what you’d actually enjoy and having the right attitude.
