As the seasons change, the weather gets nicer, and warmer temperatures are upon us, you might be wondering how you can stay both active and productive while engaging in fulfilling outdoor activities. While it’s certainly true that the best things to do outside vary from person to person, there’s no denying the fact that some of the most engaging activities share some common traits. Have you been wondering how to stay active and productive outside? Are you curious about how you can stay fit this summer while also being proactive in pursuing your hobbies and interests? Here’s our simple guide to some of the best things to do outside!
Take Care of Cleaning the Pool and Prep it for Summer
Depending on your current climate, you may already be eager to take that first dive into your swimming pool. For many people who own a swimming pool, the fun times that summer brings about are nearly limitless. But that doesn’t mean that owning a swimming pool is not without its own distinct set of challenges and responsibilities. As a matter of fact, most people are simply unaware of just how much work goes into taking care of a swimming pool, both during the warmer months and in the offseason. Thankfully, taking care of your pool and getting it ready is one of the best things to do outside, regardless of your location.
When you own a swimming pool, it’s important to give yourself enough time to complete all the tasks associated with opening the pool. After all, you can’t just open up a pool and jump right in after it’s been sitting inactive for some amount of time. There are lots of steps that must be addressed before you can enjoy your first swim. For example, you have to ensure that the water has reached the appropriate pH levels. You also want to ensure that the pool water has enough active chlorine. You may also need to take care of any problems in the linings, filters, and lights inside the pool. Of course, these steps don’t even mention addressing any issues with the pool pump system or cover. In any case, engaging in the process of opening your pool before the season begins is one of the best things to do outside if you’re looking to stay active and productive.
Take Care of Any Outstanding Home Improvement Projects and Renovations
Similar to taking care of your pool if you have one, it’s never a bad idea to improve your home with a few renovation projects. As a matter of fact, lots of other homeowners agree. For example, were you aware of the fact that homeowners remodel more than 10.2 million kitchens and 14.2 million bathrooms annually? While focusing on an indoor renovation project such as a bathroom or kitchen remodel may not represent one of the best things to do outside, such projects certainly add value to your home over the short and long term. If you’re looking to enhance the quality of your day to day life, then enhancing your home in some way is one of the best ways to do so. Conversely, if you’re looking to spruce up your home to make it more appealing and valuable to new buyers, then taking care of some home improvement projects and renovations is one of the best choices available to you. As a matter of fact, this kind of added value explains why so many people invest in remodeling their kitchens, bathrooms, and other parts of their homes.
Invest in Proper Tree Maintenance
While many people may not be aware of it, proper tree care plays a huge role in the overall appearance and function of your home’s indoor and outdoor spaces. Just how does this play into the rest of the home’s environment? Well, for one, if your trees are getting too old or overgrown, then they can interfere with other trees and plants in your yard, or they might even interfere with your neighbors’ property line. Even if it may seem like a minor issue, these kinds of problems can actually snowball quickly out of control. Also consider the fact that a major branch hanging over a delicate part of your home or property is prone to damaging the home in the event of a bad storm. For this reason, it’s safe to say that taking care of your home’s trees and other plants is one of the best things to do outside whenever you get the chance.
Even if you’ve never done it before, tree pruning doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. Of course, certain situations may require deeper and more involved attention to detail, but in many cases you’d be surprised just how much progress you can make when you arm yourself with the right knowledge and toolset. In any case, there’s also no shame in hiring an outside company to consult or assist you with your tree pruning efforts. After all, you can’t expect to be an expert in everything. When you take care of the trees on your property, it will be easy to notice just how much of a difference it makes in the overall look, feel, and presentation of your home. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that this kind of yard work is sure to keep you active and productive when you’re spending time outside!
Increase Curb Appeal with Landscaping Projects
Similar to taking care of your trees, doing a bit of front yard landscaping is also one of the best things to do outside. The canopy of trees and branches surrounding your home doesn’t compose the entire landscape portrait after all. There is also so much detail and beautifying that can be added with the right landscaping projects in place. As a matter of fact, many homeowners will discover that improving their home’s landscaping is one of the easiest and most effective ways to dramatically increase the curb appeal of their home. Not only does this help with adding some extra style to your home when guests visit, but it’s also an excellent way to make your home more appealing to buyers if you’re looking to sell it anytime in the future.
Head to the Gun Range
Of course not everything you do outside has to be related to home improvement. As a matter of fact, many of the best things to do outside involve getting outside of your home, your yard, and even your own neighborhood. If you’ve never visited a gun range before, it could be the perfect outing for you and some of the people in your life. Not only does taking a trip to the gun range provide you with some fun new experiences, but it can also teach you some valuable skills. For example, if you or someone you know is a hunter, then taking a trip to the gun range can help you to both practice and learn some invaluable skills that will translate directly into improved hunting skills and know-how. In addition to these benefits, the gun range is also one of the best things to do outside because it can help you to keep on your gun maintenance habits.
Don’t Neglect Repairing and Maintaining Your Boat Deck
Anyone who owns a property with the privilege of access to a body of water knows just how important it is to keep up on all necessary boat maintenance. However, far too many people also make the mistake of neglecting the other aspects of their boating experience. Sure, it’s tempting to invest the majority of your time and efforts into improving your boat, but you shouldn’t overlook the important role that your boat dock plays in the entire experience.
Whether you’re looking to invest in brand new boat decking hardware, or if you’re just looking to tidy things up, there’s no doubt that taking care of your boat deck before the rush of the season reaches its full swing is one of the best things to do outside. Not only does the process help you enhance your boating experience for you, your friends, and your family members, but it also keeps you active, healthy, and productive when you’re spending lots of time outside. It’s all about timing when it comes to repairing your boat deck, too. Wait too long and any existing problems could cause large, nearly irreversible consequences. It’s always a good idea to know exactly what needs to be addressed before the boating season begins. When you know what you need to take care of in advance, it can help you to avoid missing any of your precious hours out on the water once the season arrives.
Fence Maintenance
Taking care of the outside of your home is a process that involves a comprehensive approach to repairs and maintenance. Sure, you never want to ignore your siding, roof, or landscaping. But you should also remember that the quality of your fences is a major factor in the overall look and feel of your home’s exterior. As such, it’s good news that fence repairs provide projects that are fun, fulfilling, and satisfying to all types of homeowners. There’s nothing quite like the feeling you get from noticing a problem in your fence and fixing it yourself.
However, in some cases, performing a fence repair project may be unrealistic. Unfortunately, some fences just get too old and damaged to warrant going through with restoration and repairs. In such cases, performing a brand new fence installation is often your best bet. While this may sound like bad news at first, it’s actually not so bad. Installing a fence, in many cases, isn’t nearly as complex as it may sound or look upon first glance. There are many advantages to installing a new fence, as well. For example, far too many homeowners don’t like the way their current fence accents the rest of their home, but they’re simply stuck with it. When you decide to embark upon installing a new fence altogether, you have the freedom and flexibility to decide just how your fence will look. Everything from selecting the right materials, to experimenting with stain types, shades, and colors can make a fence installation one of the best things to do outside.
Walk Your Dog Routinely
While keeping you and your family healthy with plenty of outdoor activities is certainly crucial to any well-rounded life, keeping your pets healthy is also something that should never be put on the back burner. As you’ve probably heard from your veterinarian, dogs need just as much if not more exercise than their owners most of the time. Thankfully, walking your dogs on a routine is a great way to keep both you and them happy and healthy. A nice walk around the neighborhood gets you some great cardio exercise. It also helps you to bond with your animal, and maybe even discover some new parts of town. Of course, you also have the added benefit of knowing that you’re doing your part as a dog owner to help avoid any unwanted trips to the veterinarian’s office.
Get Involved in a Local Volunteer Organization
Volunteering is one of the best things to do outside and inside. Contributing to your local community by volunteering with an agency or organization that shares a mission or values that are similar to your own is one of the best ways to develop a sense of meaning and purpose in your life. It doesn’t hurt to know that many times these volunteer positions can also serve as an excellent way to keep you active and healthy in the outdoors. Not sure who to volunteer for? Try looking around for local organizations that are related to a cause you care about, such as animal rights, food shortages, or public health. Chances are, there’s no shortage of opportunities nearby.
Clean Around Your HVAC Unit
Finally, performing some form of AC maintenance is one of the best things to do outside for a few key reasons. First and foremost, you can often expect that the shift in seasons will bring with it a new wave of higher temperatures. As a result, it’s probably safe to assume that your air conditioning unit and the rest of the system will be getting more use than usual. However, even if you’re expecting increased usage in the warmer months, you should also be prepared for the potential problems that such an increase can bring about.
Taking care of your AC and HVAC system is crucial for a number of reasons. We all know that an old or outdated HVAC system can quickly lead to inefficient energy usage. Even something such as an old, clogged filter can add up to cost you significant amounts of money on your monthly utility bill. When you hire a qualified HVAC technician to inspect your system before the peak of the warmer season hits, you can oftentimes avoid many of the problems associated with malfunctioning or overworked air conditioning units. The last thing you want is a hot, humid house that results from a broken air conditioner.
We hope this list gives you awesome ideas of ways that you can stay both active and productive outside this summer!
