The Ultimate Summer Survival Guide: Fun summer ideas
Part four: Coming from a woman with Reverse Seasonal Affective Disorder, summer tips for everything, cooling down, fun things, depression tips, etc.
Thank you for joining the last part of my summer series. After the last one, this is a happy one! You can read the three parts: Plan your summer, Survive the heat, and Summer depression tips.
Since the last post was already so long, I try to keep it down this time for the last part in this series. It was supposed to be up before summer even arrived, but health problems and a lot of insecurities got in the way. It feels good to write and post this despite telling myself it’s not good enough.
This one is all about fun things to do in the summer.
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1. New recipes, food, and drinks
No matter your taste and what it is, this is a fun activity to do alone or with someone. There are so many great recipes out there, even when I am not a huge cooking fan, but a baking one, that is what I love to do.
It’s how I found some of my favourite recipes. This summer, I am focusing on drinks. I don’t drink any alcohol, yet I see so many lovely alcohol free ones or different smoothies or milkshakes I want to do.
I have a Pinterest board with a few here, since every recipe in the picture is in the board.
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Collage made with Pinterest pictures
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2. Barbeques
My family and I do them a lot, it’s a tradition the moment the sun starts to come out in my family. I think they are a lot of fun; you can do them with a small group or a big one. All to your liking, or even alone!
You can make them as individual as you like with what you are doing and all of the sides, it’s a fun thing that is my favourite in summer since I can’t do much with the heat. It makes you feel normal.
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Collage made with pictures from Pinterest.
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3. Hobbies you love
I feel like everyone who has followed me for a while was expecting this one. I am a huge advocate for Hobbies. It is expected in some of my posts for it to be in here.
It’s just a lovely way to fill your time, you can try out new ones or the ones you always enjoy doing. I have a post about hobbies here if you want to check it out. A little fun fact, this was my first post here after my introduction post.
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Collage made with pictures from Pinterest
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4. Read
I know this is technically a hobby and fits in the upper point, but for me as a reader, it deserve it’s own part here, since maybe that is your plan for your entire summer. Taking on the famous TBR that never seems to get down, magically, more books are always added.
Guilty for me too!
So, this is why I did this as an own category, I want to tackle this one too and spend some more time reading, which I haven’t been doing the last few weeks. Finally, got out of another small reading slump. I am excited about the books I chose for my vacation.
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Collage made with pictures from Pinterest
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If you have someone who could benefit from this post, feel free to share it with them!!💕
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5. Picnic outside with friends
An obvious one without explanation, have a picnic outside with friends or alone. Pack some lovely snacks and beverages to have a fun time. You can choose a lovely location that is to your liking.
No right or wrong here, all up to your liking. What I also love is a theme picnic, maybe have one of those with your friends, where you choose a topic. What you take, do, and if you like what you wear, it can depend on that theme.
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Collage made with pictures from Pinterest.
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6. Visit a lake
There are so many things you can do and take with you there, no matter if you go there alone or with friends. The water will cool you down when it’s hot, and you can go for a swim.
But you can also combine a few things out of this post there, and choose this as a location to enjoy your hobbies, picnic, or just time sunbathing and talking to your friends.
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Collage from pictures from Pinterest
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7. Make jewelry outside
This is a hobby I started recently. When I got everything for it, my mom asked me if I could make her a rosary, and I thought about what I could do with all the things I have, and I remembered I have everything now to make my own bracelets.
So, this is a summer project I am starting, which sounds like a lot of fun to experience. You can also make your own necklaces or earrings and have a lot of fun with this.
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Collage with pictures from Pinterest
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8. Take a nap outside
Sometimes the heat just gets to you, and all you need is a nap! Take it outside, just not in the sun obviously, but how fun is it to lie in the shade and take a good nap?
Your body will thank you.
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Collage with pictures from Pinterest
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9. Beach or Pool day
A confession: I am not much of a beach or pool person, even though I love water. Yet I wanted to bring it in since a lot of people love this, which makes me always happy. I love looking at the ocean, but you won’t catch me lying there as much as I’d like to; it’s just not for me.
You can add to this as much as you like; maybe you just want a relaxing day without doing anything except swimming and tanning. Or you take your book to catch up on some reading.
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Collage with pictures from Pinterest
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10. Vlog or picture your summer for yourself (Or post it)
In 2019, I did this, and it is so much fun to look at it. I filmed the vacation we did that year, which was a celebration for me since I was free from my abusive ex, and it caused me to have so much confidence and happiness. I honestly don’t recognize how bold I was; I think I can learn something again from my past self. Since I was talking to my camera like nothing bothered me. Now I am back at being too shy to even take a lot of pictures, haha.
I had everything set up, I grew up with YouTube, this was my social media, and till now, I mostly watch YouTube. Always wanted to have a Chanel myself, but I am way too shy for that. This here took me a good while of getting out of my comfort zone.
But it is so much fun watching that video back, I even think about doing it this year, although I am not sure I can manage this because I tried a few years ago and always got too shy. Not sure what my nineteen-year-old self was doing, I need a bit of her back!
Since it is so much fun looking back at it, I can recommend this. You can watch it alone or with family and friends. Or you can upload it if you like!
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Collage with pictures from Pinterest
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11. Make a flower crown or braid them in your hair
It’s a two-in-one thing! You have something you can do, and a pretty hairpiece. I always did this when I was younger. It's something that is a lot of fun.
And you can also do it with fake flowers if you like, so you have something to wear all the time.
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Collage with pictures from Pinterest
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11. Boat driving
Let me be clear, not everyone can do it, but that is also not what I mean, I mean you can go on a pedal boat, kayaking, or so many small boat activities which are a lot of fun.
In vacation spots, you also have a few more activities like this, depending on where you live, check out.
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Collage with pictures from Pinterest
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12. Mini golf/golf
As a kid, that is what I played often, and it’s one of my favourites even when I didn’t do it in a long time. It’s an activity that can be so much fun, especially with the right people!
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Collage with pictures from Pinterest
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13. Camping
Camping is a lovely thing you can do whichever way you like it, maybe you go real camping somewhere, or you do it in your backyard, where it can be safer but also fun. Of course, this then isn’t real camping, but you get the message.
I think it can be fun to do it! I even saw someone do it on their balcony, escaping the heat in any way you can seems like a fun thing.
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Collage with pictures from Pinterest
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If these essays, tips, and reflections have added a bit more peace, beauty, or intention into your day, I’d love your support.
Buying me a coffee helps me continue to write, creating new resources, and keep this space growing.
I appreciate your support, no matter how!💕
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14. Biking
Another thing you can combine with a picnic or take your hobbies with you on the ride, and use them while you take a break. This activity can be done alone and with friends or family.
I love how a lot of things are up to the individual, even when it’s a general thing to do.
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Collage with pictures from Pinterest
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15. Hiking
I love going for a hike and exploring. You can get creative with this. Plan a path or see where it gets you; you never know where it will take you.
Also, depending on where you live, that can be fun too! You can even explore regions where you have never been, just stay safe.
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Collage with pictures from Pinterest
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16. Open-air cinema
Something I always wanted to expierence it’s not popular where I live, but recently one opened here, which makes me so excited to go there eventually. First, it was only for events, yet now it’s always there in the good weather.
Grab some snacks and watch your movie like this; it’s different from the usual cramped cinemas.
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Collage with pictures from Pinterest
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17. Carnivals and fun fairs.
Different smells. Lovely rides. Sounds like fun!
In my area, you have a fair that has a day for people with autism, or easily overstimulated people, and since I can’t deal with the loud noises, too many people, and five hundred blinking lights, I go on this day, which is still a lot of fun.
It’s a lovely thing to do, you can get your favourite food, and if you like, go on the rides and play some games.
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Collage with pictures from Pinterest
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18. Ice cream
You can try out new ice cream places around your city and find the best one for you. Or make it yourself; there are so many lovely recipes even without having an ice machine.
It is an activity to do, and you get a reward when it’s finished, and you can taste your own ice cream! You can find the recipes and the creators here.
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Collage with pictures from Pinterest
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Thank you for reading! I had a rough time with this series, not because it is a difficult one, but imposter syndrome was there the entire time. I didn’t want to write this series because of it; I just ignored it to push through, and here we are!
All pictures are from Pinterest. I want to discuss this again; it can be found on my boards here. Just so you see where the original uploader is, the rights to the picture are obviously with them.
xx
Lena
