OK this may be a bit strange but it is actually quite compelling.
Flying low, around 4000FT with a Cessna 172 or such like, I often follow highways.
Specially over Canada. Highways connect communities and often when I fly over a small
Community, I Pause the flight, switch to Little Navmap running in the background and see
what the name is. I then go online and have a look.
Often there are community websites or company sites with images of people and activities.
Yup, a bit strange, but after a while of doing that ārealityā gets a whole new meaning.
Suddenly you are now flying over a place where you now know real people live, you have seen them, activities take place etc. small communities, some not even incorporated.
Then I go back to the Simulator, un-pause and continue.
I been doing this a while and it has become strangely compelling.
Worth a try.
I know, weird, but thats me.
What do I do when Iām flying?
I stroke chocolate and eat the cat.
I may have got the two mixed up. 
You can do the same with real aviation charts
There is a freesite for Canadian Sectionals
Sometimes Iāll go further and hop in the drone and explore the area too.
I follow rivers. Sometimes if Iām in a slow plane i follow ships.
Laundry, dishes, maybe have a snack and a bottle of Red Oakā¦
Watch flight simulator videos, Iām not addicted or anything by the way.
I have always researched airfields and places (just my academic nature and love of history, maps, old pics etc) and now I record that in YT videos. I think without that I might get a bit bored. Oh, I also fly with some regular local and overseas friends. Cheers.
I host a weekly stream that does exactly this! We talk about the history of the area, geography, and a whole lot of other stuff. Just went through North Bay, Sudbury, and Sault Ste Marie last night.
If Iām flying long haul Iāll get to cruise and go do other things until TOD. Short haul, I usually prepare all my information in regards to my approach and landing.
I do the same as the OP, but find Little Navmap maps to be a bit lacking sometimes. Iām using āOpenStreetMapā or āOpenTopoMapā if I need to pay closer attention to the terrain. What map do you use>
If flying a helicopter, absolutely nothing other than fly the helicopter!
I generally use sectional charts or IFR enroute charts in the US.
Yesterday, I was messing around with some aircraft I hadnāt flown in a long time in VRā¦ and had the US Open running in VR on FSDesktop in the cruise
I tend to have a long distance ātourā always in progress which i fly a leg of now and then, instead of whatever usual flying i do. This tour invariably involves unfamiliar places and i look up the areas where i land, the theory being if i was doing this for real, Iād spend some time there (Iāve done this for real on adhoc week long motorcycle trips across Europe).
Iāve done USA coast to coast and am currently working my way up the Norwegian fjords, mostly in GA or bush planes.
I also like to open Google maps when I land at an airfield and explore the adjacent town in the walk mode, see where people eat and hang out. It really makes you feel like travelling.
I use Google Earth quite a bit to research areas for flight. During the flight I try not to interrupt it with any maps or even the game settings. I want to completely forget Iām in a simulator. IMHO, this is the most amazing thing about MSFS.
I fly over famous locations that I know from my favorite movies, I want to soak up that atmosphere. I also look for places that I plan to see in real life.
Listening to Creepy Pastas.
If I listen to 5000 more I might find out how cryptids look like, what comes after death and if salt or garlic is better against supernatural things. Maybeā¦ or maybe not.
Sometimes I start a movie with the VLC player like it was some kind of audio book. Event Horizon or X-Files episodes are best suited for this task.
Thatās an excellent idea!
Sometimes I fly somewhere I used to live, or know, just to see how itās changed over the years. Sometimes it reminds me of old loves that have died or have moved on - and it can become very emotional, to the point I have to pause or quit the sim.
