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Things to Do by Yourself in Summer

30 Things to Do by Yourself This Summer

Apr 19 2019

The warmer weather and longer days of Summer bring us ample opportunities to get out and about to try loads of exciting activities, but so many of those are best done in pairs and groups. If you're flying solo during the warmer months, you may think it's going to be more difficult to fill your time and get the most out of the season, but you couldn't be more wrong. There are a ton of warm weather activities that you can do on your own, from the fun and frivolous to those that are more educational or practical. Keep reading for 30 things that will ensure your solo time is anything but boring!

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Sheila Gim

Catch Some Rays

What better way to spend a sunny day than lay by the pool, in the park, or even just in your garden, soaking up some sunshine without interruptions? Sunbathing is the perfect thing to do alone, just remember to keep topping up your high SPF sun protection. Since you probably won't have someone nearby to help you with your back, try an aerosol spray product that can be used at any angle.

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Maria del Rio

Revamp Your Outdoor Space

Whether you have a tiny patio, a giant garden, or just a window box in a city flat, investing in a few pots and some easy-care plants will make all the difference to your outside space. You don't need to be green fingered to do this. Buy hardy plants that don't need too much attention. Cacti are designed to thrive in desert conditions, so they'll definitely live through a Summer even if you forget to water them.

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Sheila Gim

Exercise Outdoors

There is nothing quite like an edorphin-boosting workout in the great outdoors. Slip on your trainers, head to your nearest park or outdoor space, and get that blood pumping. We've got a few tips to get you started if you're new to outdoor workouts.

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Ericka McConnell

Visit a Farmer's Market

So much fresh produce and so many beautiful flowers are in season in the warmer months, so make sure you check out any local farmer's markets to get the very best. If you end up buying a little more than you need, remember you can freeze or batch cook for the weeks ahead, and give flowers to friends and family (or dry them).

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Try Geocaching

If you need an excuse to get active, try an activity like geocaching, where you hunt for hidden "treasure" using coordinates. It's like a grown-up treasure hunt, and there are millions of locations around the world, all of which can be found on the free app. You could discover places you never even knew existed. Best of all, it's free: all you need is comfy footwear, your phone, and a pen!

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Ericka McConnell

Read a Book

Think books, and you probably think about curling up in front of a fire in a cosy chair on a cold day. But bookworms don't reserve their reading for Winter alone. It's just as much fun to crack open a brand new novel on holiday, or during a relaxing day in the sun — "beach reads" is practically a genre in itself.

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Write Postcards to Faraway Friends

Sure, you like your absent friend's instagram posts, give them the thumbs up on Facebook, and occasionally jump into the group chat. But how often do you actually correspond properly and show that you care? Sending a postcard is a bit of a nostalgic novelty these days, but it's totally worth doing. Next time you're in a tourist area, grab a few and spend an afternoon writing to friends who you don't see very often. If you're lucky, maybe you'll get a few back!

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Emily Faulstitch

Volunteer at an Animal Shelter

Put your free time to good use and help out at your local shelter. A quick online search should bring up plenty of options in your area, and many of them need your time and support. It won't all be fun: not all volunteer jobs allow you access to the animals, and even if they do, for every cute kitten or puppy you get to play with there will be cleaning to do and mess to deal with. But if you care about animals, it'll be worth it. Spring and Summer are prime kitten season, so cat's homes and catteries will be particularly busy, and need all the help they can get.

Image Source: Flickr user Eli Christman

Learn to Plait Hair

Most of us know how to do a basic 3-strand plaits, but what about french plaits, dutch braids, waterfall braids, and fishtail plaits? If you've got long hair and can master these tricky styles on yourself, your Summer hair game will be on point. It won't be long until your friends are lining up for their own chic style.

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Benjamin Stone

Go Swimming

Why wait until your holiday to swim? Whether you head to the local pool, take a trip to the beach, or opt for wild swimming in a lake or river, it's time to don that swimsuit and hit the water.

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Organise Your Wardrobe

There has never been a better time to get organised. Anything you decide to get rid of can go straight in a jumble sale.

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Learn to Make a New Dish From Scratch

With all of Spring and Summer's fresh produce, it's the perfect time to get cooking, so challenge yourself to tackle the one dish you've always dreamed of making. It could be a classic roast chicken, a pie or cake, or pasta made from scratch. It might take a few tries to get it right, but once you've mastered it, you have the perfect excuse to host a dinner party and get all your loved ones together.

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Diggy Lloyd

Pamper Yourself

If you can afford to treat yourself, a spa day is a brilliant way to enjoy a little me-time, but you don't need stacks of cash to have a pamper day at home. All you really need are a few essentials: a hair mask or deep conditioner, a face mask, a body scrub and body lotion, your usual skincare products, plus nail polish and a manicure set. Treat yourself from top to toe, taking your time to let everything work its magic.

If you're feeling crafty, you can make your own beauty products using ingredients from your kitchen.

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Diggy Lloyd

Take Photographs

The long Summer days are perfect for outdoor photography, so grab your camera and get snapping. If you've got skills, you may be able to turn a profit from your work by selling them to a stock image provider like Alamy or Adobe Stock.

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Emily Faulstitch

Start a Blog

Where better to share all those photos you've taken, recipes you've learned, and beauty hacks you've mastered? Starting a blog is easier than you think. It's free to set up a blog on Wordpress, and you'll need minimal tech knowledge to do so.

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Paul Kabata
Product Credit: Tibi Top, Rodebjer Jeans, Bag Gray Matters Shoes

Visit a Museum or Gallery

Museums and galleries are big, spacious, quiet, and climate-controlled. If you're looking for a way to kill time solo on a muggy day, there truly is nothing better. Most cities around the world have numerous public exhibitions taking place at any one time, and in many cases they're free to view.

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Diggy Lloyd

Go On a Bike Ride

Explore parts of your neighbourhood that you've never been to before, and get some exercise along the way, by jumping on a bike. If you've not cycled outside of the gym since you were a kid, now is the time! If you don't own a bike, most major cities have them for hire.

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Sheila Gim

Take Part in a Wine Tasting

A wine tasting event offers so many great benefits: you'll learn a new skill, you'll meet new people, and you'll have a perfectly valid excuse to drink lots of love wine! Lots of vineyards, wine bars, and hotels host events so there's bound to be one happening near you soon.

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Diggy Lloyd

Get Arty

YouTube is full of great videos that'll teach you the basics of painting landscapes, so take advantage of good weather and indulge your artist streak. A collapsible easel can be picked up for less than £20. Paints and brushes vary depending on the type and quality, but remember that once you have your kit you'll be set for quite some time.

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Paul Kabata

Explore a New City

There's something totally liberating about travelling alone, and a big, bustling city is perfect when you're flying solo. Book cheap flights or train tickets to somewhere you've never been before, and enjoy following nobody's schedule but your own. If you're a sociable person, book a room in a hostel where there's likely to be plenty going on, and find a walking tour to get to know the city from a local.

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Sheila Gim

Pick Fruit

Many fruits come into season in the Summer months, and some farms will allow you to visit and pick your own. Not only is a lovely way to spend a warm day, you'll also have tons of fruit that can be turned into pies, preserves, smoothies and much more. The Pick Your Own website can help you find a farm near you.

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Diggy Lloyd

Go Fishing

Fishing is the perfect Summer activity: you get to be outside by the water, it's fairly low-impact (though your arms will get a workout if you get a bite!) and you don't need anyone else with you to enjoy it. Take a book or download a few podcasts to keep you occupied when the fish are refusing to play.

Image Source: Pexels / Brett Sayles

Tackle a Jigsaw Puzzle

They may be a bit old-fashioned, but there's nothing quite like a classic puzzle to while away the hours. And hey, if they're good enough for Hugh Jackman, they're good enough for us! Bonus: they are always best done alone, because other people cannot be trusted to put the pieces in the right place.

Image Source: Pexels / Pixabay

Make Plans For the Future

So many of us make plans and tackle life challenges in January as our new year's resolution, but if they've gone unfinished and forgotten, or if your circumstances have changed, use the warmer months to start over. Jot down the things you want to achieve, make a bucket list, and start ticking things off now. Why wait until next January when it cold and miserable?

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Diggy Lloyd

Go Shopping

There's nothing quite like shopping alone. You can spend as long as you like in each shop, nobody's going to judge you on what you buy (or don't buy) and you can stop or take a break whenever you like. This time of year is great for bargain-hunters, as lots of shops have sales towards June and July.

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Kat Borchart
Product Credit: Gap top, Tibi bottom, Banana Republic shoes, Michael Kors bracelet

Binge Watch a New Show

Not every Summer activity has to take place outdoors! Nothing is quite as relaxing on a dull or rainy day as chilling out and watching a sexy drama, a cool new release, or a truly scary horror movie.

Image Source: Pexels / Jeshoots.com

Learn to Sew

Making your own clothes allows you to wear one-of-a-kind pieces that fit you perfectly and get people talking. Plus, learn the basics of sewing and you'll never waste money on alterations again! One of the easiest items to make when you're new to sewing is a simple gathered skirt — the ideal addition to your Summer wardrobe. A sewing machine can run to hundreds of bucks for a top-of-the-line model, but if you're just starting out, you can get one for about £50 that'll do all you need it to do.

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Blake Smith

Take Selfies

When you're on your own, there's nobody there to judge you about that camera roll containing 75 versions of the exact same picture.

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Rima Brindamour
Product Credit: Max Mara Sweater and Skirt

Eat Ice Cream

There is nothing quite like treating yourself just because you can. So get off the sofa, head to your favourite ice cream parlour, and get two scoops of your top flavour (with sprinkles, naturally).

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Sheila Gim

Go For a Long Walk

Don't underestimate the power of a good walk on your own. It clears your mind, it's great exercise, and it gives you a chance to explore your surroundings and enjoy the weather. If you're walking solo, stick to marked paths and known routes, and carry your phone and plenty of water.

Image Source: Pexels / Tobi

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