Free Indoor Activities for Adults: Stay Cool Without Spending a Dime
Summer makes many of us want to get outside more — enjoy a little bit of time away from screens and in the sunshine. However, for some of us, the sunshine also is what’s sending us right back indoors. It is hot. But that doesn’t mean you have to resign yourself to doing nothing but watching TV. There are plenty of free indoor activities that can be relaxing, productive or even make you money.
Why Free Indoor Fun Is More Important Than Ever
Free indoor activities aren’t just a reprieve from scorching weather, they also are a way to save money. Going to the movies, going shopping or going to a museum are all great for escaping rising temperatures. But it’s not always easy to make those activities budget friendly.
We know watching TV and movies or scrolling on our phones are an option for most of us. But more and more people are tired of passing the time in mindless ways. There are plenty of free indoor activities that can enrich your life or help you relax as you wait for a heat wave to pass.
10 Free Indoor Activities for Adults
If you’re stumped on how to pass the time in a productive way when it’s too hot to go outside, try these 10 activities.
1. Free Virtual Museum Tours
Walking around a museum for the day typically comes with a fee. But did you know some of the most famous museums in the world offer free virtual tours? You can explore The Smithsonian, The Louvre, The British Museum and many more from your own devices. Just look up the name of any museum you want to see along with “virtual tours” and see if it’s an option. You can take as long as you want at each exhibit without another patron breathing down your neck. It’s a great way to learn something while enjoying your air conditioning.
2. Take Online Surveys for Cash
Scrolling on your phone is definitely something you can do for free indoors. However, you could also use it as a way to make money. Taking a few surveys with platforms like InboxDollars can get your brain working as you think about your answers, plus earn you a few bucks. Just sign up for a free account with InboxDollars and you could add up to $225 a month to your pocket. They’ll send you short surveys every day. It won’t replace your full-time job, but it’s something easy you can do while you’re already on the couch.
Other platforms include a free site called Branded Surveys, which will pay you up to $5 per survey for sharing your thoughts with their brand partners. See our full list of survey sites that pay you real money here.
3. Learn Something New on YouTube
If you have some time to kill, now is the time to finally learn how to sew that button back on your coat. Or how to change the oil in your car. Maybe it’s finally time to learn how to use Excel.
No matter what skill you’ve always wanted to learn but said you never had time for, you can probably find decent resources on YouTube. You could also download apps that help you learn a foreign language. In fact, we gathered a list of some of the best language learning apps to get you started.
4. Start a Home Workout Routine
Gym and workout studio memberships come with a cost. You can, however, find fitness experts online who offer workouts or tips for free. Yoga is easy to do from home, especially if you already have a mat. If you don’t, you could lay a towel down for cushioning or workout on a rug. Just be careful not to slip.
A lot of aerobic exercises only require your body weight. You can follow along with videos or do some research and customize your own workout. Either way, you’re up and moving without risking heat exhaustion.
5. Host a DIY Game Night
All you need is a few friends and pen and paper to play charades. Split everyone up into two equal groups, write down well-known phrases or words on slips of paper and put them in a bowl. Then have people act out the phrase so members of their team can guess what it is within a certain time frame.
Or, if you or anyone you know already has a deck of cards, you have a lot of options. You could play Euchre, Rummy, Go Fish, Old Maid and much more.
6. Declutter and Organize (Then Sell!)
This is another thing you may have been putting off (OK, maybe we’re projecting here). Staying indoors and reining in spending presents a perfect opportunity for clearing out some spare rooms, closets, etc.
You could start with one category, like your winter clothes, your pantry or the garage. Clear out what you don’t need anymore, see what you could sell and start listing. Facebook Marketplace is popular for selling anything and everything. But there are lots of niche platforms that are best for clothing or books. At the end of the day, not only have you improved your household, you’re on your way to making some extra money.
7. Explore Free Audiobooks and eBooks
Is it too hot to even venture out for a new book? You could access free digital titles without leaving your home. If you already have a library card (and if you don’t, you should get one) then you can get free audiobooks with the Libby app. Hoopla also provides free audiobooks. If you have a Spotify Premium membership already, you get 15 hours of free listening time each month.
8. Cook a New Recipe With What You Have
If you have some time on your hands, why not use it to cook a meal you haven’t tried before? Take a look at what you already have in your fridge or pantry and try to make something new and fun. Look through the AllRecipes ingredient search to get inspiration for your next culinary adventure. You never know, you might just find your next favorite easy weeknight dinner.
9. Start Journaling
We all hear about the positive effects of journaling. It can be relaxing, good for your mental health and even improve your physical health by boosting your memory and lowering your blood pressure. You can do this either on paper or digitally, whichever works for you. Start with just going over your day or what’s been on your mind. You can also look up prompts if you’re stuck on what to write about. There are even journaling apps, like Penzu, where you can write as much as you want and keep it private. You can also set reminders to journal so you can keep up the habit long after the hot summer days are behind us.
10. Watch a Documentary or Educational Series
Most of us enjoy a little bit of mindless TV every now and again. But watching it all day long all summer long isn’t the best idea. Learn something new by watching an educational documentary or limited series. Most streaming platforms have their own category for this so you can easily search your options. If you don’t have any streaming subscriptions, look for free content on YouTube or on Pluto TV.
How to Make the Most of Free Indoor Activities
We often use the phrase “stuck” inside, but it doesn’t have to feel that way. Whether you’re looking for free indoor activities because of the weather or you just need to dial back entertainment spending, you have options. See if anyone else is looking to avoid the toasty temperatures and have them come over for game night or to enjoy the new meal you created. If you finish your audiobook and have more time to kill, write a reflection about it in your journal. It’s all about doing what you’d actually enjoy and having the right attitude.
