How to make the most out of summer evenings

Summer’s here and it’s time to make the most of the lighter evenings. And after a day at work, there’s nothing quite like relaxing and enjoying the last of the sun.

Here, we bring you some ideas to help you get the most out of the lingering daylight.

 

Why extend the day?

Winter is a time when we have shorter, darker days. All we want to do is huddle up in the warmth, watch the latest series on our streaming service, and tuck into boxes of Quality Street.

But in the summer, it’s time to make every bit of the lighter evenings count. Spending time after a day doing your job – whether you teach primary school-aged kids, work in an office, or spend hours on a building site – can be beneficial for several reasons.

First, it can help you to switch off. While there are plenty of pros to staying in and watching TV, being in front of a screen isn’t always great for helping you unwind. Also, by taking up a hobby, you’re getting the opportunity to meet new people and socialise – something that many of us missed out on in recent years.

 

Activities to try

Looking for something to do after work? Here are some ideas:

 

 – Go somewhere new

You might have lived in your city or town for ages. If so, it’s likely you feel like you’ve seen all there is to see in the area. So why not go a little further out? Its likely that you’ll discover a park you’ve never been to or a nature trail you’ve often driven past. Do a little research and see where you could end up this evening.

 

 – Go on a bike ride

Cycling is great exercise, plus it can give you a chance to explore your local area in ways that you simply can’t by car.

 

 – Spend time in the garden

Spending time in nature, even if you just take a seat in your garden for an hour, can be good for your mental wellbeing. This can give you a chance to give your brain a break from your workload.

Summer is also a popular time to update your outdoor space. You might decide it’s time for something bigger, like creating a patio or adding a conservatory. These larger jobs are an investment in your home, in which case planning ahead and saving up could be key.

If you rent, you could do something small, like invest in some planters or repot some plants. These little updates could be the perfect way to boost your credit history, which can be tricky when you rent. Plants or other big-ticket items bought on a credit card could be a possibility here. You just need to make sure you can keep up with repayments if you do buy on credit.

 

 – Learn a new hobby

If you’ve always wanted to join a local sports team or you want to take up knitting, this is a great time to take something new up. Playing netball outside or joining a dance class now is a lovely experience. Plus, you can socialise with new friends outside during these longer evenings.

What will you do during these summer nights?