Even if youāre someone like me who prefers the cool, crisp air of October to the heat and humidity of July, itās hard to deny that thereās something magical about summer. Lounging in a pool with your elbows propped up on the edge, holding a book in one hand and a drink in the other. Hanging out at the beach with your closest family and friends. Taking vacations to tropical locations. Exceptā¦ most of us arenāt doing any of that this summer. In fact, if you live somewhere without any outdoor space, COVID-19 means that youāre probably spending almost all your time indoors this summer. And if you arenāt lucky enough to have a patio or backyard, it can feel limiting, to say the very least. It also means that itās time to get creative about how you spend your free time.
So whether youāre a true homebody or someone who is feeling down about summer plans being canceled (hey, maybe youāre both), here is a list of 50 things you can do from the comfort of inside your own homeāeven if youād rather be somewhere else.
The best part? Not a single one of them requires a special outdoor space, patio, or backyard. Some of them might require a little imagination or getting outside your comfort zone, but all of them are a fun, interesting, and different way to pass the time than just mindlessly scrolling through Instagram or anxiously watching the news. And thatās always a win, right?
1. Start an Indoor Herb GardenĀ
Envious of seeing your lucky friendsĀ growing all kinds of plants and herbsĀ with their outdoor space? Well, if you have a window, you can do that inside. And even if you donāt have good light, there areĀ at-home garden solutionsfor that, too.
2. Make Over Your Entire WardrobeĀ
You know that romantic comedy scene where a person takes an afternoon and cleans out their entire closet, making way for a new life? This is actually a great (and productive) way to spend time. Take everything out of your closet and be honest about what you actually need to keep, then donate the rest.Ā
3. Find a New Workout RoutineĀ
If youāre used to a gym, the idea of working out at home can seem miserable. But instead of putting yourself on an at-home workout schedule you hate, make it a goal to try a new, different DIY workout each week. YouTube is great for this.Ā
4. Make a TBR Pile and Commit To ItĀ
If you have an untouched bookshelf, go through it and select a stack of books. This will be your TBR (āto be readā) pile for the rest of the summer. Go through the books one by one and donate the ones you know you wonāt read again.Ā
5. Start a Virtual Book Club
ā¦and if you want to make it even more fun, then start or join a virtual book club (sites likeĀ BookClubzĀ can help!). Gather friends on a video call every few weeks and talk about books, life, or anything in between. Itāll inspire you to read and get you to socialize creatively.Ā
6. Create a DIY Cooking CompetitionĀ
If you live with a partner, challenge them to an at-home cooking competition one evening. Choose an ingredient or a flavor category and compare recipes at the end of the evening. The prize can be anything you want!
7. Perfect Your Favorite RecipeĀ
You know that thing you love to eat, but have never attempted to make yourself? Maybe itās fluffy, perfect pancakes or a specific type of dumplings. Maybe itās a cocktail. Whatever it is, challenge yourself to perfect making it yourselfāno matter how many tries it takes.Ā
8. ā¦Or Work Through an Entire Cookbook
This one is admittedly inspired by the movie āJulie & Julia.ā Choose a favorite cookbookāāVegetable Kingdomā isĀ Kitchnās summer cookbook club pickāand commit to making every single recipe in it by the end of the summer. (You can even watch āJulie & Juliaā first if you want some inspiration for this project.)
9. Start a JournalĀ
Weāre in an unprecedented time. There will be many, many history books written about the year 2020āso why not write about your own experience as well? Odds are, one day youāll want to look back on it and see exactly what you were doing, thinking, and feeling.
10. Develop One New Daily RoutineĀ
Think about your daily routine. What does it look like? Is there one part of it that frustrates you or makes you feel anxious or nervous? Well, nowās the time to change it. Identify the most unpleasant part of your daily routine and make it better. Try changing your annoying alarm clock out for something more pleasant, or investing in a new workout tool that will improve your exercise routine. Whatever it is, change it up!Ā
11. Makeover an Entire Room For $0Ā
You know that room you donāt love to spend time in? Maybe itās an office or a guest room or your basement. Challenge yourself toĀ make it into something better with no money at all. Move around furniture or find some free items on Facebook Marketplace to decorate the space. Spending just a few hours of concentrated effort on a room (instead of avoiding it) can make all the difference.
12. Sit Down and Take a āLife Inventoryā
Have you ever sat down and thought about all aspects of your life and whatās working? Have you ever taken note of what isnāt working and committed to changing it? If not, itās time to take a life inventory. Write down a handful of life categories that are important to you (like family, friends, travel, finance, or health) and list some ways you can improve upon the most frustrating parts. Set goals.Ā
13. Create an At-Home Movie Theater
Youāre likely watching a lot of TV right now, but thereās something to be said for creating a more special viewing experience. String Christmas lights up, pop some popcorn, order all those weird snacks you only eat at movie theaters (Snow Caps, anyone?) and queue up a few newly released movies that you can easily rent on iTunes.Ā
14. Recreate Your Favorite Date Nights At HomeĀ
Do you and your partner have a favorite date night? Maybe itās going to a museum or a cooking class. Whatever it is, there are ways to do it at home. For example, you can take a virtual tour of a new museum exhibit or take a virtual cooking class together.Ā
15. Create a Documentary ClubĀ
Everyone knows about book clubs, but what about documentary clubs? Create a list ofĀ intriguing and thought-provoking documentaries and host a virtual club where you and a few others get together and discuss the films.
16. Learn a New Language
ā¦or at least try to. Is there a country youāve always wanted to visit? You might not be able to go there right now, but you can at least use the extra time to learn a few key phrases (or more than that, if youāre feeling ambitious) to use when you do go there.Ā
17. Organize Your Fridge or Pantry Once and For AllĀ
This might not sound like much fun, but trust me, it is oddly satisfying. Invest in a few affordable storage solutions andĀ create the dream fridgeĀ or pantry youāve always wanted. And if you donāt want to spend any money, then get creative. My favorite tip is to use deli cups to store cut-up veggies or pre-made salads.Ā
18. Switch Up One Space in Your House EntirelyĀ
If youāre lucky enough to have multiple living spaces or bedrooms in your home, try switching them up. Make your guest bedroom the office or your main bedroom the guest bedroom. Move your dining room to your living area. It might not be perfect, but it may just end up being the refreshing change of scenery you need.Ā
19. Find a Summer Pen Pal
Writing letters is kind of romantic, but itās something thatās very, very easy to not do. Whether itās someone youāre dating, an old friend, or a distant relative, find yourself a summer pen pal. Just think of how interesting the contents of those summer 2020 letters will be to look back on in 10 years!Ā
20. Start Something From Scratch
Whenās the last time you started something from scratch? This can be a recipe, or a brand new arts and crafts project, or anything at all. Whatever it isāstart it from nothing at all. Youāll feel extra accomplished at the end!Ā
21. FINALLY Clean Out Your PhoneĀ
If youāre someone who has 50,000 photos on your phone that may or may not ever see the light of day, take an afternoon to clean out your folders. Itāll free up some space on your phone and make your life much less stressful.Ā
22. And Upload Photos to a Hard Drive
To make sure the photos youĀ dolike actually get seen, make a point to upload them all to a flash drive or hard drive. That way, your photos and favorite are protected forever.Ā
23. ā¦And Finally Print and Frame Them
While youāre managing your digital photos, print out and frame your favorite ones. Itās all too easy today to never get around to having our favorite images exist anywhere other than our phones or online. So take some time and actually hang your favorite ones up sometime soon,Ā even just with washi tape or binder clips. Itāll make your home that much happier. Maybe even make aĀ gallery wall.
24. Create a āSummer 2020ā Time Capsule
It might not be the best summer, but itās going to be memorable. Save the things that remind you of this very odd time and put them in a time capsule to look at later.
25. Make Five Sustainable Household Swaps
This might not sound super fun, but itāll bring you a lot of satisfaction in the long-run (plus, itās good for the environment). Take a day to identify five household items that you can find more sustainable solutions for. Maybe swap out regular paper towels forĀ reusable paper towels. Maybe try reusable plastic bags instead of the traditional kind. Consider replacing plastic cleaning bottles with glass ones that are refillable. The options are endless, and itāll feel great to never buy them again.
26. Have a Board Game Tournament
Choose the games. Choose the rules. And then have an all-day board game tournament, complete with whatever fun stakes you want.
27. Optimize a Frequently Used Household Area
If your junk drawer, entryway, or bathroom always makes you feel less than relaxed, then itās time to change that. Make some simple changes that make the area less stressful, crowded, or cluttered, and your life will instantly get less stressful.Ā
28. Challenge Yourself to Write a Short StoryĀ
How many of us have said āI think Iād like to write a book,ā but have never even tried to write a short story? Spend an afternoon writing a short story and challenge some other friends or family to do the same. You can compare and contrast them all later.Ā
29. Plan, In Specific Detail, Your Dream Vacation
Even if itās difficult to makeĀ concreteĀ plans right now, it is still possible to dream of your dream vacation. This way, when itĀ isĀ OK to travel, youāll be ready to book things ASAP. Nowās the time to take an afternoon or two to do all the research. You can even plan specific ways youāll save for the trip, too.Ā
30. ā¦And Make a Vision Board For ItĀ
While youāre at it, make a vision board for the vacation. Manifesting good and happy things is more important now than ever.Ā
31. Clean Out Your Underwear Drawer
Save yourself the stress, anxiety, and frustration of anĀ overstuffed underwear drawerĀ full of uncomfortable and ill-fitting undergarments and take the time to clean out the thing. Only keep the things you reach for again and again. And those items you only wear if there are no other options available? Get them out.
32. ā¦And Your Email Inbox
Remember when you promised to get yourself to inbox zero one day? Nowās your chance. You and your partner could even turn it into a fun challenge. For every 100 emails organized, one glass of wine? One episode of a show? Make it fun.Ā
33. Create a Comedy Club in Your Living Room
If you love comedy, make a comedy club in your living room. Queue up stand-up specials, dim the lights, and hand out drink tickets that you and your family can use throughout the evening.Ā
34. Have an Early-2000s Theme Day
Whatever age you were in the early 2000s, odds are you remember it fondly. Watch your favorite early ā00s movies. Listen to the music you listened to then. Wear āvintageā clothing. Have fun with it just because.
35. ā¦Or a 1990s Theme Day
And hey, if the ā90s are more your thing, you can do that, too.Ā
36. Host an at-Home SleepoverĀ for One
Picture this: Pizza. Popcorn. Ice cream sundaes. Face masks. Nail polish. Scary movies. Celebrity gossip. Whatever sleepovers used to be for you, recreate them in your own living room as an adult, by yourself or with your housemates. The best part is you get to sleep in your own bed at the end of the evening.Ā
37. Upcycle Clothing You Donāt Wear Anymore
Take that old pair of jeans you never wear andĀ turn them into cut-offs. Tie-dye old unused t-shirts. Be creative about turning old clothing into something trendy and wearable today.
38. Have a āFind A Hobbyā Weekend
If youāve never really had a hobby you could pour yourself into, take a weekend to find one. Order supplies ahead of time and try out knitting or painting or indoor gardening. At the end of the weekend, pick the hobby you like the most (or a couple you loved!) and stick with it.
39. Host a Virtual Dinner Party
Just because you canāt get together with people in real life doesnāt mean you canāt have a dinner party. Choose a recipe that you and a few friends can all make (separately) and then turn on a video call when youāre all about to eat. You can discuss life, the recipe, and whatever else you want!
40. Shop Your Own Closet
It may be a while since youāve worn ārealā clothes, so nowās as good a time as ever to shop your own closet. Try on things you havenāt worn in a while. Donate things you have no interest in ever wearing again. Re-discover your favorite items.
41. Pretend Youāre On a CruiseāFormal Night And AllĀ
If youāve ever been on a cruise, then you know it can feel a little ridiculousābut itās still fun. So plan some daytime activities, make some piƱa coladas, and end the day in full formal wear just because. No bingo requiredāunless youāre into it. Hey, no judgement.Ā
42. Have a Karaoke Night (With Late-Night Pizza)Ā
Have a few drinks. Turn on that karaoke machine. Have the time of your lives. And at the end of the evening, order a late-night pizza to enjoy.Ā
43. Create a āBeach DayāĀ
ā¦but without a beach. The easiest way to do this is to put on a breezy summer dress, turn on a movie that makes you think of vacation and sunshine, and eat some fresh seafood. Frozen drinks are cool, too.
44. Make a Beach-Product Spa Day
If youāre missing the sun, but want to still feel glow-y and summery, why not give yourself a beachy spa day? Use the products that make you feel like youāre hitting the sandālikeĀ coconut oil,Ā sea salt spray, or even aĀ DIY self-tanning solution.
45. Have a Hackathon
Essentially, a āhackathonā is a day thatās exclusively dedicated to brainstorming big ideas and solutions to problems. So why not have a hackathon for your home or your life or your finances? Take a day to do nothing but brainstorm.
46. Wash the Things You Never WashĀ
That down comforter? Throw blankets? Pillows? Dish towels? Take all the things you donāt wash regularly and make sure theyāre all squeaky clean.
47. Have a Wine-and-Painting NightĀ
Choose aĀ YouTube painting tutorial video, buy a canvas or two, pour a glass of wine, and get to work. You may not end up with a perfect work of art, but itāll be fun.
48. Call Someone You Havenāt Talked To in a WhileĀ
Literally anyone. If you havenāt talked to them in a bit, make a point to call them. You probably have the time, and even if talking on the phone isnāt really your thing, odds are the person will be happy to hear that youāre thinking of them and that alone should make you feel great.Ā
49. Watch Your Favorite Childhood ShowĀ
Whatever your favorite show was as a childhood, take an afternoon to watch it back as an adult. A little nostalgia is never a bad idea.
50. Have a Family PhotoshootĀ
If you have a tripod and a smartphone, taking good photos is easy. If youāve never shot photos in your home of you and your family (or you and your pet, or just you!), then why not try. Watch some easy DIY photo tutorials and set up that self-timer!
Photo: Getty Images