Throughout your day, there is bound to be some downtime when you are not sure what to do. Perhaps you have an hour or two to kill before an important appointment? Or maybe you are looking for a new episode of your favorite TV show, but there is still a bit of time before it premieres.
If so, you can make the most out of that downtime while on your computer. Sure, some people might be reluctant to continue using their computers after finishing work, but certain activities can make the time fly by, and this is what you are looking for, right?
Let’s take a look at some of the most popular ways to pass the time on your computer so you can kill that hour or two before the next thing you need to do.
1. Play Video Games
As far as entertainment options on a computer go, video games are usually the first thing that comes to mind. If you are an avid gamer, you should already have a decent collection of video games on your computer.
In case you have not bothered playing video games before, the process of finding, downloading, and installing a game might take all the free time you have, so the idea does not sound too tempting.
In such cases, you might be better off playing browser games. There is no need to bother downloading a large video game when you are looking to play something casually.
Of course, you can also consider the fact that you might have more instances of free time, and preparing in advance by installing some great video games on your computer is an option as well.
2. Check Twitch TV and YouTube
Streaming platforms offer hours of entertainment with a click of a button. Twitch TV is the go-to platform for video game fans because most channels there are about streamers playing video games and interacting with the viewers. And even if you are not into video games, you can check other categories and find a channel to your liking.
As far as YouTube goes, it is the biggest video platform on the Internet. You can find a plethora of different content creators, ranging from entertainment to pure education. It is up to you what videos you want to watch on YouTube. If there is a category or an idea you are interested in, there is bound to be a YouTube video covering the subject.
3. Watch Sports, Movies, or TV Shows
Gaining access to live sports events, the latest movies, TV shows, and documentaries is relatively simple, thanks to all the available streaming platforms.
Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, and HBO are some of the most notable streaming platforms, but there are plenty of other services popping up thanks to how popular on-demand media has become.
With sports, you might not be lucky to find an interesting game during the free time you have. Movies and TV shows, on the other hand, are a bit different. You can log in to your streaming service account and find a piece of media to watch with just a few clicks. And there is no need to wait for the content to download on your computer.
4. Socialize With Others
Hop on your social media and get in touch with people you have not talked to in a while. If you are lucky, they will respond, and you can kill some time by socializing.
If the response takes too long or the other person does not respond at all, you might have to look at a different approach.
Social media platforms have plenty of different groups that share interests, and joining such a group to participate in various discussions also works as socializing.
Those who want to avoid social media can join Discord servers that function similarly to online forums. You can retain your anonymity by choosing a nickname and a random profile picture rather than your real credentials.
Joining a conversation can be difficult at first, but you should still be able to do it.
5. Optimize Your Computer’s Performance
Working on improving your computer’s performance might not seem like the most interesting way to pass the time, but you can still consider it as an option. The consideration is worthwhile, particularly if you have been unhappy with how your computer has been running recently.
Following instructions to optimize a computer’s performance is not that difficult. You start with the basics, such as getting rid of unnecessary system clutter on the drive as well as the computer’s desktop and scanning the system for potential malware while also quitting redundant background processes.
When it comes to more complicated stuff, such as cleaning the dust inside the computer or reinstalling the operating system, you can seek professional help or follow guidelines on the Internet.