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I have a confession to make, as much as I love Summer, and I do occasionally enjoy getting some fresh air, I'm not an outdoorsy person. Like, at all. More often than not, I won't spend any more than 15 minutes outside at a time, and an hour is often my maximum. Sure, there are a lot of things that I enjoy about the outdoors, but many of my hobbies are indoor hobbies. I also have to say that it's nice not being attacked by bugs when I'm indoors, versus having them buzzing around my head as I'm sitting on my back porch. There are also some days where it's just too hot to do anything outside. Ohio's summers can be just as intense as it's winters sometimes. So it's necessary to have some activities to have some summer fun indoors, whether you're just not an outdoorsy person, or for the days when the heat is a bit too much.
Try a Summer-themed home workout
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As an introvert, I personally prefer to workout from home, over going to the gym, due to the simple fact that no one can bother me while I'm getting my sweat on. And although I must say that it's a treat to workout outside when the weather permits, more often than not, I workout indoors to beat the heat and get away from the bugs. I also must say, when I'm trying out a new workout video, it's a lot easier to see the video inside than it is to see it outside when the sunlight is dimming my screen. I'm not about to say that there aren't a lot of advantages to working out indoors. Especially when you can still bring some Summer vibes to your workout by choosing a Summer-themed workout video, where the trainer is working out on the beach or outdoors in a summery scene. Sure, it's not the same thing as actually working out on the beach, but it still brings those summery vibes.
There are a lot of amazing Summer-themed workouts available on YouTube for free, so you don't have to spend a dime to get moving with some Summer vibes from home. You don't even need a lot of equipment for many of them, aside from maybe a yoga mat (or a towel if you don't have one); there are also plenty of standing workouts if you don't want to get down on the floor.
Have a home spa day
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In my mind, having a home spa day is basically the epitome of self-care, as not only are you taking a moment to relax, but you're also actively taking a moment to care for yourself. That being said, while there's no right or wrong season to have a home spa day, I absolutely love spending some time inside on a hot day doing some refreshing beauty treatments fit for the summertime. Lately, I've been fancying the idea of a citrus bath; although, I'd have a hard time not eating the fruit, not gonna lie. Perhaps I could use a summer-scented bath fizzer instead. Or I could simply choose to apply a beauty mask and put a couple of cucumber slices over my eyes and take a moment to relax before taking the time to paint my nails a bright summery color. Or perhaps I could take the time to create a bright and fun makeup look for the summer. Or maybe all of the above!
It's entirely up to you how you choose to go about your own home spa day, and whether you opt to keep it simple or go all out. Perhaps you could browse Pinterest and find some recipes to make some homemade beauty treatments with fresh ingredients, or you could purchase a beauty treatment that you've been curious about for a while. Whatever you choose to do, make it your own little moment to yourself. Even if you can't take a full day to yourself, and all you have is an hour (or even just a few minutes), a little self-pampering can go a long way.
Set up an indoor campsite
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Given the fact that I am not an outdoorsy person, you may be able to guess that going on camping trips is not my thing. I don't think you could pay me enough to sleep in a tent in the middle of the woods with little to no access to running water or electricity; hard pass. I would be open to setting up a tent in my backyard and spending a night under the stars to get a little taste of the camping experience. But in honestly, I'd be way more open to laying out some pillows and sleeping bags on the living room floor, and camping out indoors, away from the elements. I know that completely defeats the purpose of camping, but if you're not an outdoorsy person, it's the next best thing. Plus, you won't have to worry so much about what might lurking outside your tent.
I personally feel that it could be a lot of fun to camp out indoors, whether as a solo activity, or even for a date night, girls night, or family activity. For an added fun touch, you could always build a sheet fort to chill in for the night, dim the lights, and surround your campsite with fairy lights and battery-operated lanterns. Perhaps you could bring a few books to your indoor camping site, or you could grab a few snacks and watch some movies while you relax on your living room floor. It's entirely up to you what you choose to do on your indoor camping trip, so have some fun with it, even if it may seem a little bit silly.
Netflix and (actually) chill with some summer movies
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In my mind, staying in and having a Netflix day is the perfect activity for just about any day where I don't feel like doing much else. Personally, I find that it's even more enjoyable when I put my phone away, and try to focus on what I'm watching; seriously, you should try watching a show without trying to multitask from time to time. That being said, although it's not a bad idea to get off the couch during the summertime, some days, it's perfectly acceptable to stay indoors and beat the heat while enjoying some of your favorite Summer flicks. It could actually be quite the treat on rainy days, or days where it's way too hot to be outdoors, and you just want to chill in front of the AC. So grab some light summery snacks, some cold drinks, and allow yourself to have a movie day without any shame.
Call a friend or loved one
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Let me be 100% honest, a lot of the time, I prefer texting over talking on the phone. I am sure that I'm not alone in that. I'm also sure I'm not the only one who gets a little bit annoyed when I drop everything that I'm doing to rush to answer the phone, and it's something that could have easily been said in a short text message. But that being said, I definitely can not say that I don't enjoy talking on the phone and having a real conversation with a close friend or a loved one. As a matter of fact, when it's someone you trust and enjoy talking to, it's actually better than texting, especially given the fact that you don't have to wait for a response. Nor do you have to think as much of the best way to word everything. I personally find myself sometimes struggling to find the right words to say in a text message to get my point across or prevent something from being taken in the wrong way. But in a phone call, you can often communicate what you're trying to say by the tone in your voice.
Anyways, perhaps while you're staying in to beat the heat, or you simply need a little bit of human interaction, you could call a friend and have a real conversation. Or maybe, if you're both comfortable with it, you could video chat with them, so you can see each other while you're talking. Perhaps you could also get creative and find some games to play while on the phone or on webcam and find a way to hang out virtually. But that's entirely up to you, as a simple phone call can be just as delightful. I do, however, recommend sitting down and focusing on the person that you're calling, without trying to multitask too much while you're on the phone. Think of it as spending quality time together, while you can't physically be together for whatever reason.
Make positive use of your tech
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I personally feel that the impact that technology has on your life often comes down to how you choose to use it. I'm not going to deny that there are a lot of negatives about modern technology, especially with how toxic social media can be. But I honestly can't say that I feel that technology or social media is inherently evil. As a matter of fact, I actually believe that technology can be a useful tool for self-care when used in a positive way. Technology is great for keeping boredom at bay, and for staying entertained when staying indoors. I know for a fact that I can stay occupied all day and forget the stresses of life while playing The Sims, or while watching YouTube videos. I also have to say that, when you look in the right places, social media can be a great source of motivation and inspiration.
Perhaps, you could even be the one to provide someone else with that motivation and inspiration by starting a blog if you wish. However, no pressure to do so, as I understand that blogging is not for everyone, and that's okay! Perhaps you could simply post some positive and inspirational things to your timeline, and simply use social media in a way that enriches your life. Maybe you could try my 30-day social media challenge over the summer, but it's entirely up to you!
Put your phone down, and relax with some simple activities
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As much as I love modern technology, and I love spending my browsing the web and playing The Sims, it's never a bad idea to give yourself a little break from screens. From time to time, I find that it's quite relaxing to close my laptop, silence my phone, put my iPad away, turn off the TV, and do something that doesn't involve a screen. Believe it or not, there are many ways that you can entertain yourself without having to look at a screen; I say this as a reminder to myself when the Wi-Fi goes out. As a matter of fact, I often find that screenless activities actually keep my mind more occupied than scrolling social media or even playing video games.
Personally, I love simple activities that keep my mind, and often my hands, occupied, but don't require too much thought, such as coloring. I also have to say, I love paint-by-numbers activities such as latch-hooking. It's also rather delightful to just sit and doodle, or to journal whatever thoughts are in my head at the moment. On stormy summer days, I absolutely love to escape into a good book as I listen to the rain. Whatever you're into, there's absolutely no harm in turning your notifications off and taking a break from your phone to focus on something simple. Perhaps, if the weather is pleasant, you could even take it outside and get a little bit of fresh air, but that's entirely up to you.
Take up a new hobby or skill
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Is there a new skill that you want to learn, or a hobby that you're interested in taking up? Do you need something new to do while you're staying inside because you'd prefer not to be mosquito food? Perhaps while you're staying inside avoiding the heat and the bugs and you have a little extra free time, you could take on something that you have been interested in trying. Or, if you're nervous about investing your money into it before you know if you'll stick with it or not, you could take the time to seriously look into it. Take the time to look up some videos about it on YouTube, and read some blog posts on it. If you feel that it's something that you'd really enjoy, perhaps you could look around your house to see what materials you may already have. Or maybe purchase some low-cost supplies at Walmart or Target to help you get started. Honestly, the only way you'll know whether it's something you'd love enough to stick with or not is to give it a try. But you never know, you might find that it's something that will truly bring you joy, and something that you'll be great at!
Revisit an old hobby
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Over time, for one reason or another, it's easy to find yourself pushing some of your hobbies aside. Life gets busy, we end up pursuing other interests, we temporarily lose our passion for them. Whatever the case may be, many (if not all) of us have hobbies or interests that have fallen to the wayside, even though we never stopped enjoying them. So, if you find yourself missing an old hobby over the summer, why not take it back up? It would certainly be a better use of your time than mindlessly scrolling Twitter or Instagram, or sulking in boredom. Seriously, if you have any interest in getting back into an old hobby, go for it. You don't have to take it super seriously and burn yourself out, just have some fun with it. Don't be afraid to revisit an old passion. Especially as taking some time away from a hobby could actually be just what you needed to re-spark your enthusiasm for it!
Revive your New Year's resolutions, or set Mid-Year resolutions
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Let's be honest, by the time Summer rolls around in the northern hemisphere, many of us have either long-since forgotten the goals and resolutions we've set at the beginning of the year. Or, at the very least, we've gotten a bit lax on a lot of them. Don't feel guilty, it happens to the best of us, myself included. But remember, it's never too late to revisit your goals and bring them back to life. Perhaps, now would be a great time to do a little check-in with your goals, and see which ones you'd like to continue working on or revisit, and which ones you'd like to drop or revise. You don't have to wait until January to set some new resolutions for yourself, or to revisit your New Year's resolutions. You also don't have to wait for Sunday or Monday, or even for tomorrow, just saying.
Seriously, Summer comes about half-way through the year for those of us in the northern half of the world. So why not make it your prerogative to make the last half of the year amazing? Seriously, you do not have to wait until January to work towards your goals! Perhaps now is also the time to start working towards next year's resolutions so they'll come more naturally to you when January 1st arrives.
Seriously, you don't have to be an outdoorsy person to make the most of Summer. There are plenty of ways that you can make the most of your free time during the summer while staying indoors and beating the heat. (And while social distancing! Can we please not forget that we're still supposed to be social distancing?) Open up the curtains to make the most of the natural daylight, and enjoy some of your favorite indoor activities. Perhaps use some of your free time over the summertime to work towards your goals or do things that enrich your life. Whether you're an indoor person or an outdoor person, there are always ways that you can make the most of your Summer, even if you have to spend it at home. Besides, even if you're an outdoor person, it's not a bad idea to have some indoor activities for days when the weather isn't permitting for a fun day outside.
Do you consider yourself to be more of an indoor person or an outdoor person, or are you somewhere in between? Also, was are some of your favorite activities to do inside during the summer? I'd love to hear about them!
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