Take Advantage of the Nice Weather

Whether you’re outdoorsy or not, you likely are excited for the nice days of summer ahead. It can feel great to get out and enjoy the warm weather and longer daylight hours. Being trapped inside might feel like your kryptonite. If the forecast calls for nasty days ahead, don’t let that get you down, though. Just make sure you soak up the gorgeous days when you can.

Keep reading to learn how you can fully take advantage of the nice weather as an outdoorsy person.

1. Make a Plan

If you see a prime chunk of time on the weekly forecast for your favorite outdoor activity, make a plan. After all, a float trip with all your buds doesn’t just happen on the same day you think of it. Make a plan, invite your friends, get the gear ready, and enjoy! To ensure you don’t overbook or overlook it, you can even send out a Calendar invite to the group.

Planning ahead is great for weekday fun, too. If you want to go biking after work, pack your clothes and hitch up your bike to the car. That way, as soon as you clock out, you can head straight for the trails. Being efficient in planning means taking full advantage of every glimmer of daylight. If work allows, you can even start your day earlier or later to plan around your activities.

2. Find Hidden Moments to Get Outside

If being outdoors feeds your soul, find ways to get outside. Work and office life can make that a bit of a challenge, but there are creative ways to make it happen. For starters, you could find a career that lets you be outside. For example, landscape teams, survey crews, and construction workers spend lots of time outside. You can also set up your laptop on the deck to catch some afternoon rays if you work remotely.

For those who work in person in an office setting, squeeze in an outdoor workout over lunch. If you don’t want to get sweaty, you could also just go on a walk. Finding a park or a picnic table is also a great way to connect with nature while eating lunch. You could also try taking phone calls outside. Even if you take a 10-minute break to feel the sun on your face, it can recharge you.

3. Do Life Outside

Finding ways to do the inside things outside can be one of the greatest joys in life for outdoor enthusiasts. Why cook indoors when you can cook on the patio? Create an outside kitchen for yourself. There’s something pretty special about sipping your coffee on a Sunday morning while flipping pancakes on the Blackstone. Watch the sunrise and enjoy cooking and eating your breakfast outdoors.

Invite friends over to sit and enjoy time around the fire pit. You could even host an outdoor game day. Ladder golf and horseshoes can be a good time. You can even play cards and board games on the patio table. Connect with nature while connecting with your community. If you have kids, there’s also something magical about everyone just being outside together.

4. Use the Whole Day

In the summer, there’s no question that some things are just miserable to do at different times. No one wants to be out mowing at high noon. But one way to take full advantage of the nice weather outside is to plan by the time of day. For example, fishing, running, hiking, and biking are best done in the early morning before it gets too hot. The same goes for your gardening and landscaping.

When that sun peaks, it’s time to splash with water activities! (Don’t forget the sunglasses and sunscreen.) Backyard water slides and water balloon fights are plentiful in the hottest time of the day. So, too, are trips to the pool or swims at the lake. Grilling out and sitting around that fire pit in the evening can be fun.

5. Find New Hobbies With the Outdoors in Mind

One way to find more time outside is to enjoy hobbies that take you outdoors. Look for some hobbies you can do in your own backyard and beyond. Birdwatching or gardening is one easy way to get out and use the backyard. If you have trees and like to climb, you can embrace your inner child. Add climbing steps to the tree or a climbing rope.

Integrating working out and those types of activities outdoors is another great way to take your hobbies outside. You could even create a workout zone in your backyard. Some parks also have workout circuits you can take advantage of. If you like to bike or run, enjoy the nice weather and find some new trails. If you haven’t tried hiking, pickleball, golfing, or frisbee golf, give it a whirl — you might find something new you love.

6. Visit the Farmers Markets

Spring and summer bring Farmer’s Markets and spring and summer festivals. What an excellent way to enjoy the early morning on a weekend. Depending on your area, Farmers Markets can be a social event. Enjoy live music and get local coffee and breakfast. Peruse the plants, flowers, baked goods, jams, honey, and vegetables.

Fresh and frozen organic meats and artisan goods might also be available. Often, you’ll find craft vendors at Farmers Markets as well. These events tend to happen frequently during this time of year. Some have a monthly cadence, while others occur every Saturday and Sunday. Plan to come back weekly and watch for themed weekends, too. You might even be able to pick up a tree or two at the local nursery.

7. Change How You Commute

If you live in a walkable or bikeable area, switch up how you commute. Try to walk as many places as possible and let the car sit. For further distances, try biking or even an electric scooter. Many areas have bike trails to encourage bike routes; look up trails near you. Try to convince some friends, family, or coworkers to join you in this endeavor.

If your commute to work isn’t fully accessible by walking or biking, try to venture as far as possible. Have a family member or coworker pick you up to rideshare the rest of the way. If walking or riding to work isn’t feasible, try walking for your coffee or lunch during the day. Quickly walk outside to get some sunshine when getting water or soda during the day. You’ll be surprised how good even a 15-minute walk outside can make you feel.

Chase the Sun

This time of year can feed an outdoorsy person’s soul. Don’t let it go to waste. Get out there and chase the sun. Try out a few of the tips above, and see if your enjoyment in your day increases. With some creative tweaks to your life, you can take advantage of nice weather every day.

And don’t forget, gross and dreary days will come. Don’t let those wreck your mood. Find a favorite weather app to track the weather. Make plans for the days that look gorgeous. Then, get creative and enjoy some outside time even when it rains. Sitting on a covered patio, sipping coffee, and watching the storm can be enjoyable, too.

Featured Image Credit: Photo by Askar Abayev; Pexels