21 Jan 2020

I don't know about you, but for the majority of the year, I wither away until the sun finally appears in full force and I can come out of my hibernation. Okay okay, I am a little dramatic but seriously, summer is my prime time to start new hobbies with the onslaught of inspiration and motivation that overwhelms me, as well as all the free time from uni.

1. Photography

No no, I’m not telling you to pay the price of Jesus’ tears on a fancy camera with a fancy lens. Whip out a crisp twenty-dollar note and go buy a disposable camera. All you have to do is bring it everywhere; to the beach, camping, parties, clubbing. Snap your friends and fam. Snap a cute doggo you see on the street. Snap your favourite shop or some pretty flowers. 

 

2. Surfing

Step One: Watch Point Break (the OG), The Endless Summer and Surfs Up (channel Chicken Joe's energy).

Step Two: Borrow your mates’ old surfboard, hire one or buy one on gumtree.

Step Three: Practice your pop-ups on the sand. (This is what my dad always made me do) 

Step Four: Get out in the water baby! If I can stand up every now and then whilst having the coordination of a blind, one-legged giraffe, anyone can.

 

3. Gardening 

The sun is here to keep your plants alive!!!! (Unless they’re plants that die from too much sun exposure… do your research). Grow your green thumb, do some digging, plant some plants, water them, name them. Grow some fruits and veggies if you have the means to! If you're not very responsible with plants, just buy one little cactus and give it all of your love.

 

4. Make some clothes

If your summer wardrobe is lacking, rather than going straight to the shopping centre, why not revamp some old clothes or create some pieces out of groovy fabrics. Mother Nature will be stoked that you're upcycling your clothes and creating something basically from scratch will make that item of clothing all the more special. Sewing always intimidated me but if you break it down and watch some YouTube tutorials, it really isn't rocket science. 

Just imagine walking around in something that no one else in the world has because YOU made it. Goals.

 

5. Reading

Summer is the best time to kill two birds with one stone. You can read a book whilst tanning on the beach! Result! Get some colour on your skin (but remember your sunscreen!) and read some dang words because, in a world of technology, it’s refreshing to just read a good old fashioned book once in a while.

On the flip side, if you're not a fan of the heat, stay indoors and read there. It's a win-win.

 

6. Art

Here’s the fun thing about art. Even if you think your artistic ability is the equivalent of a 5-year-old, art is subjective therefore everything is arguably good. Anyways, who cares about that! Just have some fun with it! Buy a sketch pad and some pencils, sit at the park and draw the people that go past. Throw paint at a canvas, scrapbook, scribble over photos, get drunk with your friends and paint portraits of each other… Who knows, you could be the next Vincent Van Gogh without knowing (but please don’t cut off your ear).

 

7. Instrument

Knowing how to play an instrument is groovy in so many ways. Of course, it's fun mucking about and making noise as well as learning your favourite songs. Then, think about street cred. The amount of times that you can slip into a conversation "I play the cello" is astonishing and it makes you seem way funkier... Even if you can hardly hold a note and can only play twinkle twinkle star, you're still a muso in my book.

 

8. Yoga

Now in summer, everyone is sweating up a storm, therefore, going for a leisurely jog on a 35-degree day would surely put anyone in cardiac arrest (or is that just me?). Yoga, however, is zen. It's great exercise whilst also calming you, no matter if you're inside or out.

 

9. Journalling

Summer is normally event filled. Trips to beaches, waterfalls and jump rocks, funky gigs, parties, road trips, festivals... There is a lot happening, therefore, a lot to journal about!

Journalling has a tonne of subconscious benefits like decreasing stress and clarifying your thoughts. It's also golden to look back and read about how worked up you once were at a customer or your first kiss with your girlfriend...

 

10. Baking

Act out your Masterchef dreams, chuck on an apron and get baking. Create some summer treats and bring them to your next picnic. My friend used to bring something he baked to every single party and everyone adored him. I mean, who doesn't love food, right? 

 

Now get out in the sun and get learnt up yo!