Beating the heat and the boredom this summer

School’s out for summer! And that means no homework, no deadlines to run behind, and plenty of free time to whatever you want. But with all this free time comes the question: What’s a good way to spend three months? Asked and answered.

Hobbies to spare

1. Photography
2. Volunteering
3. Candle and soap making

You can even opt for simpler hobbies like making collections, journalling, and observing birds. Hobbies don’t have to be necessarily artistic.

Candle making.
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Kitchen fun

The kitchen can be a fun place to learn to prepare your favourite dishes. Ideally, you’ll want an adult to help you. You can learn to make treats like fruit popsicles, cold sandwiches, drinks like buttermilk, lemonade and fresh fruit juices, smoothies, and salads.

These activities teach basic cooking, which is a very important life skill on its own. You also learn about hygiene and nutrition, as well as the various flavours and ingredients, bringing up a curiosity about food. And, it can also be a great family bonding activity.

A summer holiday is here,group of children are busy preparing ‘kootanchoru’ under the shades of a tree near their house at Thondanthulasi, near Katpadi.
Kootanchoru means cooking rice together, where ingredients such as rice, vegetables, greens and utensils were cooked and shared among them.
| Photo Credit:
Venkatachalapathy C/The Hindu

The city you love

This is an opportunity to observe your surroundings more closely. And even if you are familiar with your neighbourhood and city, you will still be surprised by the interesting stories and sights revealed when you explore more closely.

You can visit the various parks and gardens, observe daily life in local markets, uncover history in museums and historical landmarks, and spend some quiet time in libraries. The city is your oyster after all.

The rarity of open spaces makes the citizen walk on the busy roads, on a hard surface but if the walking exercise is carried on a garden path surrounded by green trees, it really rejuvenates the spirit.
| Photo Credit:
K_MURALIKUMAR/THE HINDU

Feed the birds

It’s not just people that are affected by the blazing heat, birds and animals also struggle to find water and shade amid the heat, especially in big cities. It’s up to us citizens to give them some relief.

Place a bowl (or an earthen pot) of water or two on your balcony, terrace, or anywhere outside your home for the birds and animals to drink up. Be sure to refill it every now and then.

A Red vented bulbul drinking water from a tap in a bright sunny day.
| Photo Credit:
JOTHI RAMALINGAM B/THE HINDU

Nothing sings summer like showing compassion towards animals.

Hydration

It is important to drink enough fluids during the summer in order to keep your body cool. High temperatures can often lead to dehydration, fatigue, headaches, and exhaustion. And it needn’t be just water, you can have coconut water, buttermilk, lemonade and fresh fruit juices. Just try to keep away from those sugary sodas, as they can only ramp up that dehydrated feeling. Carry a water bottle on you at all times.

Students of Government Higher Primary School at Gandhinagar in Mangaluru line up to drink water following “water bell”.
| Photo Credit:
MANJUNATH H S/THE HINDU

Digi-detox

We get it. The holidays are meant for you to relax. But that does not account for excessive screen time. While it is not necessary to completely avoid technology, try to limit your screen time and balance it with other activities like your hobbies, reading books, spending time with friends and family, indoor games during the peak hours of heat, and outdoor activities during the cooler hours of the day.

An Indian boy plays an online game PUBG on his mobile phone sitting outside his house in Hyderabad, India
| Photo Credit:
MAHESH KUMAR A/AP

Summer care

Summers can affect skin and hair in many ways. Hydration is one thing, but protecting our skin and hair from the heat is also important for our health. Some simple habits include wearing caps or hats when outdoors (we know bucket hats are fashionable right now), and regular bathing to remove sweat and dirt. We also recommend wearing light and comfortable clothing, and bust out some sunscreen before you step out. When it comes to sunscreen, experts recommend using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF (sun protection factor) 30, which blocks 97% of ultraviolet rays.

Sunscreen
| Photo Credit:
Getty Images

Fruit for the heat

Summer is the season for some fine and fresh fruit. These fruits have a lot of water content, which is really great for beating the heat. They also contain the necessary vitamins, minerals, and natural sugars your body will need. Watermelon, mangoes, muskmelon, papaya, cucumbers, and pineapples are popular options for summer fruit. And yes, if you’d like, you can juice it up or just have them as a salad, adding variety to your everyday meals.

Students taking a bite of watermelon to keep themselves cool from the summer heat in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
| Photo Credit:
RAJU V/THE HINDU

Summer holidays do not have to revolve around boredom or endless screen time. What makes the best summer is the small activities that bring joy, curiosity, and connection to the world around us.

Published – March 28, 2026 09:00 am IST