Summer is a season made for adventure, but it’s also incredibly easy to spend it glued to your screens. Whether it’s binging the latest show, rewatching comfort movies, or endlessly doom-scrolling, the pull of digital distractions can leave you feeling disconnected and drained.
This summer, reclaim your time and attention by being present. Take advantage of the long sunny days by explore new hobbies and challenging yourself to trying something new. Here are 5 unique screen-free things you can do solo or with friends to slow down, spark creativity, and make the most of these bright summer months.
1) Start a Foraging Journal Take your nature walks to the next level by capturing a piece of the wild. Get creative by taking photos, sketching, or pressing samples of the wild plants and flowers you discover to your journal. You’ll start noticing the small wonders that most people miss.
2) Tend to Your Space Is there an area in your home that’s been needing attention? Whether it’s a squeaky door, a cluttered drawer, or that one corner you’ve been meaning to organize, summer is a great time to tackle it. A tidy environment can boost your focus, improve your mood, and make daily routines feel smother. Consider it a gift to your future self!
3) Plan Ahead With time flying by so quickly, it’s a good idea to review your calendar so you can stay on top of upcoming events and celebrations. Whether it’s planning for a trip, shopping for gifts, or organizing a special event, you can make things feel much more manageable and avoid last-minute stress.
4) Attend a Local Event There are a ton of activities to enjoy during the summer and I encourage you to see what’s happening locally. From night markets to community concerts, there’s something for everyone and many of them are free to attend.
5) Upcycle Tackle an upcycling project this summer and transform ordinary household items into something unique and special. A few of my favorite methods include making your own hair scrunchies from old cotton t-shirts or loose fabric scraps, cleaning out old candle jars and repurposing them as vases, and reusing food jars for pantry storage.
Let’s not forget the classics…
• Read, write, and draw
• Declutter your space (home, car, digital life)
• Call/catch up with a loved one
• Spend time in nature and visit local parks
• Explore local library, shops, and restaurants
• Try a new recipe and share with friends/family
• Go on a staycation/camping
• Learn to play an instrument
• Dedicate time to self-care (mani/pedi, Epsom salt bath)
• Prioritize resting (7 types of rest)
Whether you’re rediscovering a familiar activity or trying something completely new, the best kind of summer is the one you create with intention. How will you be balancing screen-time and mindfulness this summer? I’d love to know.
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I love the idea of a foraging journal, and upcycling is always great! This month, I went on vacation with my partner’s family and then my family, and we spent a lot of time outdoors and in nature. It was nice spending screen-free time together.
That sounds lovely, Karalee! My favorite screen-free activities always involves the outdoors.
Gracias por los consejos. Te mando un beso.
Thank you for reading Citu!
Planning ahead is so important. Summer has a way of slipping by so quickly! And I loved your idea for finding a fun project to upcycle. This would be so fun and frugal, too!
Upcycling is always a fun task! Thank you for reading Heidi.
I love having a few activities to try out and focus on, and this post really helped with deciding what to do. I often run out of ideas so this was a point in the right direction!
I’m glad to hear that, Molly! Thank you for reading.
I used to write, draw and read a lot. However my previous job taking a toll on my body and time so I stopped doing it. Now I change to new job and thinking to start something new and screen-free. Thanks for suggesting some interesting activities for me to try ^^
I find myself sometimes straying away from those activities too, but it always brings me so much joy once I get back into it. Thanks for reading Nana!
All very good suggestions Winnie. I love the creativity of a foraging journal!
I’m happy you like that idea too, Jodie! Thank you for reading.