What to do during summmer instead of being on your phone

1. Host a yard sale.

Declutter your house and make a little extra money at the same time with a yard sale. You don’t even have to splurge on advertisements: Some simple homemade signs and a few strategic social media posts should be all you’ll need to attract a crowd. 

2. Visit the farmers market. 

While it’s wonderful to support local farmers and artisans, you don’t necessarily have to spend a ton of money at your nearest farmers market. Outdoor marketplaces are perfect for people watching, and they often feature free live music and entertainment. 

3. Do a decluttering challenge.

Apartment Therapy’s Decluttering Cure delivers daily motivation and expert organization tips straight to your inbox. This curated content will help you conquer clutter room by room for a clutter-free home come fall.

4. Participate in a local run.

If your town will have a 5K fun run this spring or summer, why not train for it and participate? Even the most hesitant runners can succeed using approaches like the Couch to 5K program, which slowly builds from no running to running a 5K in just six to 12 weeks.

5. Plant a garden.

If you’re lucky enough to have a backyard that gets some decent sun, planting a garden is one of the best, low-cost things to do in the summer. It’ll keep you busy all season long, and (bonus!) you’ll enjoy fresh, delicious produce too! No backyard? No problem! Use containers to create a balcony garden. Tons of herbs and veggies — like tomatoes, peppers, carrots, and basil — do really well in containers.  

6. Make your own popsicles.

When those long, hot summer days start getting you down, break out some fun ingredients and make your own popsicles. You may have to buy a popsicle mold, but there isn’t much else you’ll need. Things like fruit juice, fresh fruit, and yogurt are just some of the ways to make your own yummy popsicles. 

7. Go for a hike.

Walking is free, and walking in nature is freeing. In Japan, they have something called a Shinrin-yoku, which is a “forest bathing trip,” or a quick walk in the woods. Take as many of these as you can. Head to national and state parks or even just the local trail — be sure to take any trash you create with you when you leave.

8. Host a movie night.

Take a vote on which movie, make sure everyone dresses in pajamas, have all the drinks and snacks prepared, and enjoy your night together.

9. Photography challenges.

Love to take shots for decorating your walls or your Instagram feed? Taking pictures is a great thing to do in summer. Instead of just randomly snapping photos, give yourself a challenge for a day. You can make up your own or search online for popular ideas.

10. Read in a hammock.

If you’ve got your own hammock, put it up in your backyard or at a local park, grab a great summer novel, and enjoy a few hours swinging and reading.

11. Go to the park with friends.

You don’t have to spend tons of dough buying food or special “picnic” things — just grab some snacks from the pantry and an old blanket and go sit and enjoy nature at a favorite park with friends. 

12. Visit free museums.

A museum is a perfect place to spend a sweltering summer day, and visiting a free museum is one of the best things to do in the summer. Odds are there’s a free museum in your area, so take the opportunity to check it out. 

13. Upcycle old finds into something fresh. 

Do you have furniture, art, frames, or other pieces of decor lying around that could use an upgrade? Now is a brilliant time to scavenge for cool found objects around your home and revamp them through DIY projects. 

14. Get sporty.

When’s the last time you enjoyed a game of badminton? Volleyball? Pickleball? Take what gear you’ve got and set it up in your backyard (or make use of the equipment at your local park) to compete against your friends.

 15. Volunteer for your community.

Volunteer work is free and makes you feel good. Try delivering meals to older folks, organizing a cleanup around your neighborhood, restocking your local community fridge, and more. 

16. Host a Bake-Off.

For those overcast and rainy summer days, call up your friends and challenge them to a Bake-Off. Turn it into a friendly competition where you can only use the ingredients you already have on hand or allow everyone to make a quick grocery run. No matter if you win or lose, you’ll get a delicious treat out of it.

17. Build a sandcastle.

It goes without saying that building a sandcastle is one of the very best things to do in the summer. If you’re near any beaches (or even sandboxes), challenge yourself to spend an afternoon building a truly impressive sandcastle.

18. Start a book club.

You can finally start on those books you’ve been meaning to read. Call up some friends and see if they’d be interested in reading the same novel and meet up once a week or month to discuss.

19. Write letters or send postcards.

Grab your best stationery (or make your own) and send some dear friends some correspondence. Try slipping pressed flowers from your yard to friends to send a piece of your home to them.

20. Head to your local library. 

Seek refuge from the summer heat in the public library. Whether you’re there to browse books or take part in community events, there’s never been a better time to support your local library and librarians.