It’s hot here. And humid. I can go outdoors in the early morning but by 10:30, it’s inside for me for the rest of the day.
But it makes for a long day indoors if you don’t do anything but stare at the thermometer. So, here are 25 things you can do when it’s really hot outside.
1. Do a closet purge. In fact, go room to room with boxes in hand and get rid of stuff you never use, that doesn’t fit, or should just be thrown away. If it has sentimental value, hang on to it for a while longer. Maybe someday you’ll be ready to part with it. I still have a lot of things that belonged to my mom or that she gave me. They aren’t taking up much space and it feels nice to see them there.
2. Bake some sourdough bread - or any kind of bread. Baking bread, because of the multiple rising times, confines you to your home. And, at the end, you’ve got a tasty treat to reward yourself. Best sourdough bread book ever: Artisan Sourdough Made Simple by Emilie Raffa.
3. Pick up some cheap jigsaw puzzles at the local thrift shop. Choose winter scenes with lots of snow.
4. Make a quick, haphazard attempt at dusting. Go all out if you want to and dust your ceiling fan blades. Overachiever, you.
5. Mix up a big batch of hummingbird juice for your garden visitors. Recipe:
Materials:
• 1/4 cup refined white sugar
• 1 cup boiling water
• Bowl
• Spoon
Do NOT substitute honey, which can promote dangerous fungal growth, or use red food coloring, which isn't necessary and could also prove harmful to birds.
Steps:
1. Mix sugar and boiling water until sugar is dissolved.
2. Cool and fill feeder.
3. Hang up your feeder outside and wait for the hummingbirds to come.
How often should Hummingbird Feeder Nectar be changed?
If the weather is cooler, say around 60 degrees, then leaving the nectar for two or three days is acceptable. However, on a 90 degree+ day, you'll need to change the nectar after one day. Rinse your feeder out with hot water and clean the feeding ports with a brush to make sure that you prevent a build-up of mold.
6. Put on some music and do a stretching routine. Do it once in the morning and once later on.
7. Go through your winter clothes and decide what you still want or can wear. Do NOT hang up any these items or put them in your dresser. That will only ensure another month of hot weather.
8. Rearrange your furniture. Redecorate. Try something different! Memorize the new arrangement before darkness falls to avoid stubbed toes.
9. Go to a matinee. Be sure the theater has a functioning AC.
10. Find a museum nearby that you’ve never been to. One time when I lived in Minneapolis, on a very hot and humid day, my parents and I went to the Pavek Museum of Electronic Communication. It was a delightful experience!
11. If you’re a senior citizen, stop by the local Senior Center and have lunch or play card with strangers. You’ll be glad to spend time alone after this. Just kidding!
12. Go to the library. Most libraries have lots of planned events that are worth checking out.
13. Do a craft project that you’ve always wanted to do.
14. Sort your socks. Throw out the ones that have holes.
15. Make your own popsicles with a favorite juice. Or make some no bake treats like granola bars or a fruit tart.
Photo by Lindsay Moe on Unsplash
16. Create a meditation space in your home. If you don’t meditate, refashion a corner into a cozy reading nook.
17. If you’re a gardener, get out your flower or veggie catalogs and choose what you’ll plant next spring.
18. Throw a tea party for yourself. Set the table with pretty plates and cups, make some tea or coffee, and be thankful that you have a cool place to be on a hot day.
Photo by Sebastian Kuss on Unsplash
19. Tackle an easy DIY project that you’ve been putting off. If you have to, do a search for the how-to on Youtube. But once you find your video, log off!
20. Write a poem, write a song, write a letter. But use a pen or pencil and paper!
21. Go through all your books and decide which ones you absolutely will read. Gather the rest and drop some off at free libraries (as soon as it cools down outside).
22. Make your bed. Nothing makes me feel more apathetic and angsty then an unmade bed.
Photo by Nasim Keshmiri on Unsplash
23. Organize the spices and herbs in your pantry. Toss out the ones that are so old, they no longer have a fragrance or flavor.
24. Put together a care package for a friend or for anyone who needs it.
25. Take a nap. Close all the blinds so that sunlight stays outside, fluff your pillows, turn on a fan, and just sleep.
I purposely tried to list activities that didn’t involve any screen time. It never hurts to take a day off from scrolling through your phone or computer. Keep this list handy, so that the next time temps reach into the 90s and above, you’ll know what to do on a hot day.
Cover photo of popsicle courtesy of Alison Marras on Unsplash
