You’re bound to have *tons* of downtime this summer, but before you pick up your phone for a “quick scroll” (aka three hours of your life down the drain), take a sec and think about what sort of summer you want to have. Sure, a little scrolling now and then doesn’t hurt, but…wouldn’t you rather have a main character vacay instead of a scrolling 24/7 one?

If boredom’s hitting hard this szn, try out one of these amaze screen-free ideas (and get ready for the least boring summer of your life).

Take a color walk

As the ultimate brain reset, the color walk has been on everyone’s mental health to-do list lately, and it’s time it gets on yours. This activity is a way to slow down and appreciate the little things, like your neighbor’s gorg gardenias you never noticed or the baby bird’s nest right outside of your door. How to? We’re glad you asked.

To take your very own color walk, all you need to do is pick out one color to pay extra special attention to. As you walk through your neighborhood, try to find things of that color. Love lavender? Maybe you’ll find a hint of purple in the fluffy morning clouds or your neighbor’s cherry trees. All you have to do is make sure that you’re taking it all in instead of breezing by. The whole point of this exercise is to get you to notice the beauty in things that you wouldn’t usually give a second thought to.

Try a new nail trend

TBH, nothing’s quite as empowering as being able to do your own nails. You get to bring your exact vision to life and experiment as much as you want. But, like most things, nail art is a skill, and it takes practice (a lot of it). We’re not saying you have to become a total nail tech over the summer, but trying out a new trend you’ve been eyeing is actually one of the best ways to bust boredom.

Go thrifting

Thrifting is great for the environment, super fun and super cheap. What’s not to love? If your wardrobe is in need of a summer refresh (or you’re just tired of sitting on your couch all day), it’s time to put your local thrift store back in business.

Make a simple shopping spree a full-blown hangout by inviting friends along for the ride (the more, the merrier!). After you’ve gathered what you’ll, YK, *actually* be buying, you and your friends can have a blast picking out crazy or cute outfits for each other. You can even take it up a notch by hosting a mini dressing room fashion show.

Journal it out

Time to set things straight–journaling doesn’t have to be ultra-aesthetic to work, and you def don’t have to commit to just junk journaling or midnight diary entries, either. Your journal isn’t for anyone but you, so it should reflect whatever you’re feeling at the moment, whether that be a three-page-long vent or a sketch of your latest dream.

Once the journaling bug bites, you pretty much have a forever cure for any and all boring vibes. Bedrotting with nothing to do? Pull out your trusty journal and pen a poem about your future dreams. Got nothing to do while the rest of the fam is out having fun? Dish the deets with a paper and pen.

Take a mini road trip

Does anything give summer more than spontaneous adventures with your crew? We think not. Round up the crew and head to whatever nearby attraction is going on at the moment, whether it be a one-day-only festival in the next town over or a rural strawberry farm you’ve wanted to check out your whole life. By adding spontaneity into your life via mini adventures, you’re making your summer *so* much more cinematic, Insta-worthy and, dare we say it, Belly Conklin approved (see: the boardwalk at Cousins)!

Ready to romanticize your summer even more? Check out these other articles down below…
☀️ Live Your Cool Girl Summer On A Budget
☀️ QUIZ! Which Summer Activity Should You Add To Your Bucket List?
☀️QUIZ! Build Your Dream 7 Brew Drink And We’ll Reveal Your Summer Personality

Image: @goodmeredith, @itsjennaraine, @brittany_nailart