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Temperatures in the 90s or higher aren’t uncommon for this time of year. But that doesn’t mean I have to like them!

The recent heatwave – where the heat index spiked into triple digits – was unpleasant, especially when combined with the high humidity this time of year too. I tried to stay inside as much as possible, but I still had to spend a little time each evening watering my garden. (I don’t think the plants liked the excessive heat very much either, but they’re still hanging in there!) At least after the sunset, the heat was a little more tolerable. But only just barely!

Thankfully, the temperatures have gone back in line with our usual summertime heat for the time being. It’s still too hot, but the National Weather Service isn’t issuing Extreme Heat warnings at the moment.

During this time of year, in my opinion, the best thing to do is stay inside in the air conditioning as much as possible. And if you find yourself getting bored with all that time inside, here are a few suggestions on how to pass the time:

1) Read something

Of course, I’m going to suggest this! It’s one of the things I do myself when I’m inside a lot.

Now’s a great time to find a book that’s been gathering dust on your bookshelf and crack it open. If you don’t have anything appealing to read at home, try searching your local library instead. And if you aren’t in the mood to read a book, try looking for interesting feature articles or blogs on the internet.

Reading helps stretch your brain muscles, even if you aren’t able to go outside and stretch the rest of your muscles.

2) Listen to a full album of music

Lots of people get their music through streaming services these days, and many people organize their music through playlists where you can easily shuffle through your favorite songs from a variety of artists.

But when’s the last time you listened to an album of music from start to finish? Unless you’re out still buying music on CD or vinyl records, you might not even know this band or that artist just released a new album.

If it’s too hot to go outside, put your headphones in, get cozy on the couch, and pick an album to listen to. See if you can find a “no-skips” album where every song is so good, you never want to skip over any of them.

3) Try a new craft

Now’s the perfect time to pick up a nice hobby that doesn’t require you to go outside. Crafts – like knitting and crocheting and quilting, for example – are a great option. Unlike reading or watching TV, these activities get you to use your hands and create something.

Get started now on making a nice winter scarf!

If you don’t know how to get started, see if you can find a local group that you can join for guidance. Or, if that doesn’t work, YouTube has a tutorial for just about everything. And crafting doesn’t have to be perfect; you do it to have fun.

Another option to consider, if working with fabrics is too difficult or expensive, is origami. It’s not hard to get your hands on some paper. And then all you have to do is fold it!

4) Learn the basics of a new language

Not many of us have the time to formally study another language, even if it would be useful to learn. But nothing’s stopping you from picking up a few basics, such as how to say “hello,” “goodbye,” and “thank you.” These are the things you generally learn first with any second language, so it’s not hard to find the information.

There are plenty of language learning resources online to check out. Some are even free. And it helps too when you can watch or listen to things in other languages as well. Try watching your favorite movie with the Spanish or French language track instead and see what words you can pick up on.

I once learned how to say “I am the best” in Korean thanks to a Korean pop song that was popular at the time.

If spoken languages don’t interest you, maybe you can try learning sign language instead. Even the basics can be quite useful to know.

5) Relax with puzzle books and coloring books

Oh, you think fun stuff is only for kids? Actually, there’s no age limit!

Some people find it relaxing to sit down with a coloring book and a box of crayons. Like crafting, it’s something you can do with your hands. There’s no art skill required, and it doesn’t take a lot of effort to do. Puzzle books like sudoku or word searches or crosswords, however, usually do require some thought to complete. But if you like brain teasers, they’re perfect.

Both of these activities are also great if you want to take a break from staring at a TV screen, phone screen, or computer screen.

6) Play board games and card games

Invite some friends or family over for an evening of games. This is another good way to take a screen break and also have fun with people without having to go outside. You can play anything you want, but you can never go wrong with the classics, such as Clue, Monopoly, Go Fish, and Uno.

Are all these suggestions pretty common ways to spend time inside? They sure are. But it doesn’t hurt to be reminded of other easy (and some would say “old-fashioned”) options from time to time, especially with our increasingly digital lifestyle these days.

I hope everyone has a fun time this summer. Stay cool!

Holly Taylor is a staff writer for Roanoke-Chowan Publications. Contact her at holly.taylor@r-cnews.com or 252-332-7206.