This summer I told my parents that I wanted to spend my time traveling the coast (I live in Seattle), backpacking, hiking, and spending time with the friends I know I won't be able to see much later in the year. Although this is a dream of mine to live a life of leisure, it begins to present a problem when boredom and solitude sets in. I'm fortunate enough to live in a beautiful and interesting place, but what fun is it if everyone is working? Here are six quick tips on properly living a lonely, lazy lifestyle while at home.
1) Stay away from the kitchen.
A beach bod is rarely formed in there. When I'm bored, it's not only tempting to constantly try and fuel my hungry beast, but finding good healthy food to snack on isn't always easy. A day spent happily watching Netflix should avoid being paired with a tub of ice cream. Intersperse new workouts, not just the same routine every day at the gym.
2) Get outside.
Try going for a walk with your dog, cat, or pet fish. Try going hiking or exploring a new space. Try a spin class (I tried Flywheel in downtown and it was a great change of pace from the weight room).
3) Put down the iPhone.
Staring at your phone, constantly switching through your top social media sites, battery dying, are all symptoms to chronic iPhone usage and addiction. Let's not play it softly, you obviously have a problem and should turn it off.
4) Create a bucket list of Netflix shows and movies.
I personally hate the never ending search for a new show or movie on Netflix. I honestly can never decide on anything. As a solution, I got a few of my friends to make a recommendation for shows to watch. After getting a couple responses, I ended up with a pretty interesting list of shows that now I already know I'm curious enough to watch.
5) Clean the closet.
Don't kid yourself, I know you probably have a bunch of old high school papers and notebooks lying around, taking up precious space in your closet. While the temptation to stay in bed and procrastinate doing anything the least bit productive, you don't have a job so what else better could you be doing with your time? Dump it all, or give it to your mom because you know she will nag you for throwing it out later. Sell it on Ebay? Maybe, who knows, that's a lot more work than throwing it away.
6) Talk to your parents about the old days.
It makes them happy, you get partial entertainment value, and who knows, maybe rack up a few brownie points with Mom and Pops. For anything else, I'm not entirely sure. Live your summer the way you want. For me, that entails staying in my bed until 2:30 in the afternoon. To each their own, I guess.
