Summer feels like a ticking clock. Everyone starts June with these massive, cinematic ambitions of road trips and "finding themselves" by a lake, but by July 15th, most of us are just sitting in front of an AC unit scrolling through TikToks of people who are actually outside. It’s the seasonal paradox. We wait all winter for the heat, then spend the entire summer hiding from it.
If you're wondering what to do in the summer that doesn't feel like a chore or a repeat of every Pinterest board from 2014, you have to stop thinking about "activities" and start thinking about "states of being." That sounds pretentious. It’s not meant to be. It just means that the standard "go to the beach" advice is boring because the beach is usually crowded, the sand gets in your car, and you end up sunburnt and annoyed.
Real summer fulfillment comes from the stuff that actually breaks the routine.
The Myth of the "Productive" Summer
We have this weird obsession with being productive when it's 95 degrees out. You see it in the "Summer Body" marketing or the pressure to learn a new language by August. Research from the University of Liege in Belgium actually suggests that our brain's cognitive functions for attention and task management peak in the summer, but our motivation often craters because of the heat. It’s a biological tug-of-war.
Instead of trying to win a marathon, maybe just try to survive the humidity with your dignity intact.
Honestly, the best thing you can do is lean into the "Slow Summer" movement. It’s not just a hashtag. It’s about doing fewer things but doing them until you’re actually sick of them. Like reading. Not "reading a self-help book to improve your career," but reading a 700-page fantasy novel while sitting in a park until the sun goes down and you can’t see the pages anymore.
Reclaiming the Great Outdoors Without the Cliches
Most people think "outdoor summer" means a national park. Sure, Zion is beautiful. But have you seen the crowds? In 2023, Zion saw over 4.6 million visitors. You’ll spend more time looking for a parking spot than looking at a canyon.
Go local.
There is almost certainly a "forgotten" state park within 40 miles of you. These places are the soul of the American landscape. They have weird statues, slightly overgrown trails, and zero influencers.
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- Try "Night Hiking": Most people hike at 10:00 AM. That’s when the sun is trying to kill you. If the park allows it, try a sunset hike. Bring a headlamp. The woods sound different at night. It’s spooky, sure, but it’s also the only time the air feels breathable.
- The 5-to-9 Adventure: If you work a 9-to-5, your summer usually happens in the dark. Flip the script. Leave the office, drive straight to a body of water—any water—and jump in. Don't go home first. Don't change into "proper" gear. Just go.
- Urban Foraging: This is a bit niche, but people like Alexis Nikole Nelson (The Black Forager) have shown that even in a city, summer is a buffet. Mulberries, Juneberries, and even dandelion greens are everywhere. Obviously, don't eat random berries unless you know what they are. Dying of accidental poisoning is a bad way to spend July.
The Science of Heat and Why You’re So Grumpy
Let’s talk about why summer can actually suck. Heat aggression is real.
A study published in The Lancet linked rising temperatures to increased irritability and lower mental health outcomes. When your body is working overtime to regulate its internal temperature—a process called thermoregulation—you have less "bandwidth" for being a nice person.
So, when you're deciding what to do in the summer, prioritize cooling down over "doing."
Hydrotherapy isn't just for fancy spas. Cold plunges are trendy, but just sitting in a pool or a cold bathtub for twenty minutes does wonders for your cortisol levels. If you’re feeling burnt out, the heat is likely making it worse. Move your workouts to 6:00 AM or 9:00 PM. Anything else is just masochism.
Forget the "Big Trip"
Travel is expensive right now. Flights are delayed. Hotels are gouging.
Instead of a big, stressful week-long trip to a "destination," try the "Micro-Cation." This is a 48-hour blast to a nearby city you’ve always ignored.
Think about it.
If you live in Chicago, go to Milwaukee. If you're in New York, go to Philadelphia. These "B-tier" cities (no offense to Philly) are often where the best summer festivals happen because they aren't overrun by tourists. You can actually get a table at a restaurant. You can walk the streets without being elbowed by someone with a selfie stick.
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The Low-Stakes Hobby
Summer is the time for hobbies that have no value to your resume.
- Birdwatching: It sounds like something your grandpa does, but once you start identifying the different calls of a Northern Cardinal versus a Blue Jay, it becomes a game. It’s basically Pokémon Go but with real animals.
- Fruit Fermentation: Buy a bunch of peaches. Let them sit in a jar with some sugar and yeast. In two weeks, you have something that might be delicious or might be floor cleaner. It's a fun gamble.
- Film Photography: Buy a cheap point-and-shoot. Take photos of your friends looking sweaty and gross. Wait a week for the scans. It feels more "real" than a thousand iPhone photos you'll never look at again.
What Most People Get Wrong About Summer Socializing
We feel this pressure to host the "perfect" BBQ. The matching plates, the marinated meats, the curated playlist.
Stop.
The best summer memories are usually the ones that involve a bag of chips, some store-bought dip, and sitting on a porch until 2:00 AM talking about nothing. We over-engineer our fun.
If you're hosting, make it a "Low Effort Night." Tell people to bring their own drinks. Order pizza. The "effort" should be in the conversation, not the catering.
The "Indoor Summer" is Valid
If you hate the heat, that’s okay. There is a whole subculture of "Summer Goths" who basically live like vampires from June to September.
Museums are your best friend. They are heavily air-conditioned, quiet, and culturally enriching. Spend an entire Tuesday at an art gallery. Sit on the benches. Stare at a painting until you actually see something in it.
Or, go to the cinema. Not the big IMAX 3D stuff, but the small indie theaters that play old movies. There is something incredibly nostalgic about walking out of a dark theater into the blinding afternoon sun, feeling slightly disoriented and deeply entertained.
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Re-evaluating Your Relationship with the Sun
We need Vitamin D, but we also need to respect the sun’s ability to ruin our skin.
Dermatologists like Dr. Shereene Idriss often talk about the "cumulative" damage of sun exposure. You don't just get a tan; you get a debt that your skin pays back thirty years later. Use the sunscreen. Wear the hat. But don't let the fear of the sun keep you inside if you actually want to be out.
The trick is the "Shadow Rule." If your shadow is shorter than you are, the sun is at its peak intensity. That’s your cue to find some shade or go inside. When your shadow is long, that's when the magic happens.
Actionable Steps for a Better Summer
If you want to actually enjoy the next few months, don't make a bucket list. Make a "Stop List."
- Stop saying yes to every wedding or party that you don't actually want to attend. Summer is short. Don't spend it in a suit in a humid banquet hall if you can help it.
- Stop checking your email at the beach. The world will not end if you don't reply to "Karen from Accounting" until Monday.
- Stop comparing your summer to Instagram. Everyone is filtered. Everyone is hiding the mosquitoes and the sweat stains.
Instead, do this:
Pick one thing that makes you feel like a kid. Maybe it's a specific ice cream shop. Maybe it's riding a bike down a hill too fast. Maybe it's staying up late to watch a meteor shower (the Perseids peak in mid-August every year—look up).
Do that one thing. Forget the rest.
Summer isn't a performance. It's a season. It’s meant to be felt, not managed. Whether you spend it hiking a trail or sitting in a dark room playing video games with the fan on high, if it makes the heat bearable and the days feel a little longer, you’re doing it right.
Keep your water bottle full. Wear your SPF. Let the grass grow a little too long. The winter is coming back eventually, so you might as well enjoy the chaos of the heat while it’s here.