As summer approaches, the excitement of summer vacations and free time begins to rise. But for some, summer is just another two month break of loneliness and boredom.
With parents working and some teens not having cars or having transportation to travel to do fun things with friends, summer can make teens feel left out, alone and bored.
“I start to feel a little bit upset when I see everyone hanging out with their friends and I can’t,” says junior Diaja Newson.
These 10 activities will guarantee a fun productive summer with no need for transportation.
Learn a new hobby
With school being out that means more free time. You now have the time to learn something new and challenging. Some examples of new hobbies are crocheting, scrapbooking, dancing, candle making, learning a new instrument and singing. Not only will you learn something new, time will go by faster and screen time will decrease while the entertainment is still present.
Vision board project
Vision boards aren’t only fun but also help you achieve short and long term goals. During the summer, a vision board can be useful to make goals for the school year ahead. Whether your goals are to join a new sport, pass all final exams or just make new friends, vision boards are really helpful for prioritizing your goals and ambitions.
Home workouts
Being at home all day can take a physical toll on the body due to the lack of movement. Home workouts can help with that. They are quick and easy with the freedom to choose how long each workout is. Home workouts are a good way to keep the body flowing and moving.
Game nights
A fun way to keep the family close and entertained is with a game night. Game nights can last for hours depending on the game and family. With these nights, not only will family be closer, but boredom will be out of sight.
Some games to play are Monopoly, Phase 10, Uno, Hide-n-go clap, and Speed. Each game is unique and different yet still brings interest and excitement.
Host a themed movie night
Want to have a more magical movie experience? Invite some friends over and have a themed movie night. This activity enhances the film by having the same themed decorations, outfits, drinks and food as your movie.
It transforms the movie from just viewing it, to fully interacting with all of the things within it. Enjoy the movie with friends while also experiencing the movie to the fullest extent.
Nature scavenger hunt
Nature scavenger hunts are a good way to get some sunlight and exercise. To do this activity, make a list of specific things to look out for. Items like flowers, rocks, insects or animal tracks.
Through a nature scavenger hunt you get to feel the warm sun and see nature, while also keeping your brain busy. According to The Health Benefits of Sunshine, being in nature has so many benefits and brings you into a positive mood, unlike staring at a screen all day.
Read a book
Reading doesn’t have to be boring. Instead reading can be fun and interesting while helping build a good imagination. Finding a good book whether that be romance, fantasy or thriller is a good way to dive into new worlds and expand horizons.
According to Benefits of Reading Books: How It Can Positively Affect Your Life, studies show that reading can strengthen the brain, build vocabulary and improve sleep.
Create a time capsule
Summer is the perfect time to create a time capsule. This activity makes a perfect memory to look back on years from now. Grab a glass bottle or a box and pack it with a lot of different memories such as pictures, old concert tickets or notes to your future self. Write some things down that you wish to accomplish or what life might be like.
Having family and friends be a part of the time capsule can be even more fun. Finding old pictures and memories from friends and family can be like finding treasure from the past. It will also be a fun unique experience that will make time pass by.
Baking or cooking contest
Next up is a baking or cooking contest. This challenge will not only be fun but increase cooking skills. For this challenge gather two or more friends or family members. Each gets a meal to cook and presents it at the end of a timer and you can vote to select a winner.
This activity is a good way to bond with friends and family and help perfect cooking skills.
Bike riding
Bike riding in the summer is a good way to defeat boredness. This helps you to get outside and be in the sunlight, while also getting a good amount of exercise. Bike riding gives you an opportunity to get out and explore places that you’ve never seen before. Places can include trails, different neighborhoods or even just riding down to a local ice-cream shop.
While exploring is fun, bike riding is very good for your health. It gets your heart rate up and makes your muscles strong.
Summer doesn’t have to be boring because there are many activities that can be done during the break that don’t require money or transportation. It just takes a little bit of thought and motivation.