As a college student that's home for the summer, working part-time, and taking an online class, I've been finding myself with a little more free time than I'm accustomed to. With so many of my friends away for the summer, I've been trying to think of things to do to keep myself occupied and productive. Here are 50 ideas for things that you can and should do (at least once) by yourself!
1. Go camping at a state park.
2. Learn how to make a gourmet meal.
3. Surprise your family and have that gourmet meal ready for them when they come home.
4. Read a book out loud to your pet(s).
5. Go to an amusement park and take advantage of being a single rider.
6. Eat an entire gallon of ice cream.
7. Go for a walk and smile at every stranger you pass.
8. Keep a daily journal.
9. Learn a new language with Duolingo.
10. Rearrange the furniture in your bedroom.
11. Memorize one of Shakespeare's sonnets.
12. Go swimming at your public pool.
13. Try all of the ice cream shops in your town and decide which one is the best.
14. Try being a vegetarian or a vegan for a week.
15. Learn how to hem clothes.
16. Use your newfound sewing skills to hem anything that needs adjusting in your closet.
17. Dust the house/apartment.
18. Learn how to play your favorite song on the piano.
19. Write a longhand letter to a friend that is out of the state or country for the summer.
20. Bake a cake.
21. Learn how to do the perfect cartwheel.
22. Reread your favorite childhood picture book.
23. Adopt a hamster and name him Charles.
24. Binge watch a series on Netflix (be careful with this one, set limits for yourself).
25. Get a new haircut.
26. Go to the movies.
27. Plant some flowers in your front yard.
28. Burn a CD featuring your favorite songs to keep in the car.
29. Reorganize your desk.
30. Make posters with your favorite quotes on them.
31. Tie-dye a set of white bedsheets.
32. Try to write a stand-up comedy bit.
33. Alphabetize your books and DVDs.
34. Beat your favorite childhood video game.
35. Cover your driveway with chalk art.
36. Wash and clean out your car.
37. Go to bed at 8:00 .pm., just because you can.
38. Walk around the mall until you have walked for five miles (use the Health app on your phone to see how far you've walked).
39. Spend all day in a museum.
40. Go through your wardrobe and fill one garbage bag with clothes to donate.
41. Color every page of a coloring book by the end of the summer.
42. Write a haiku in a sarcastic tone.
43. Scan all of the pictures from your childhood onto your computer for safekeeping.
44. Go to a waterpark and, again, take advantage of being a single rider.
45. Get a massage.
46. Read the entire newspaper.
47. Spend the day looking for hidden treasures at the resale shops in your area.
48. Make a pitcher of lemonade.
49. Get a gym membership specifically for the sauna and steam room.
50. Pledge to have fun this summer, whether it's by yourself or with the people you love.