If you’re a summer person, I’m so happy for you — you enjoy feeling like you’re frying every time you step into the sun, and that’s great! For some of us, sitting outside on some hot sand all day is our idea of personal hell, so 'tis the season to stay inside.
Determined to spend the summer my way, I’ve concocted a list of things to do over the next few months that’ll keep you cool without becoming a recluse (you know, avoid turning into SpongeBob and his “indoor friends” Penny, Chip and Used Napkin).
So without further ado, here are the five best indoor activities you can do to beat the heat, without going insane or abusing your streaming services in the process.
1. ‘Explore’ a new shopping centre (AKA stealing some public aircon)
Although Australia isn’t blessed with the same 20-storey ‘super malls’ as Asia, there is no denying that the humble Aussie shopping centre has a special charm of its own.
From the local $2 shop to the random gumball machine that’s probably been there since the early '90s, each Aussie shopping centre has a certain je ne sais quoi, and more importantly, it has free air conditioning.
This summer, grab your mates, crank up the car AC and consult Google Maps for an undiscovered shopping centre near you.
Hot tip: check the food court reviews. There’s always a niche ‘mum and pop’ shop that’ll serve you the best meal you’ve ever had.
2. Go ice skating so you can manifest the resurgence of winter
Every time I open my freezer to grab a Zooper Dooper, the cool breeze that hits my face painfully reminds me of the frosty winter air. Oh, winter, how I miss you!
Ironically, mourning over this frozen confection reminded me of the joyful existence of a good old ice skating rink. An entire activity revolving around being indoors AND being on ice? Sign me TF up!
Suit up in your cutest ice skating get-up and book a sesh at your local ice rink. If you close your eyes while skating a couple laps on the dark, cool rink, you might even believe it’s winter again. At least until you almost fall and have to cling to the wall again.
3. See an art exhibition (if they have to keep those paintings temp-regulated, they can regulate your temp too)
Now I studied art at school, so this one is absolutely peer-reviewed.
As a requirement of housing and handling significant cultural artefacts, galleries are required to regulate the temperature of their spaces in order to preserve the artwork. That’s an acceptable range of about 15 to 25 degrees Celsius, if you were wondering, AKA the weather of my dreams.
Get cultured without becoming cultured (yes, that was a bad fermentation joke) in the perfectly temperature-regulated galleries — and don’t forget to snap a pic for the gram to get that hipster street cred.
4. Join the online sensation: World of Warcraft
Want to have all the experience of exploring the outside world without leaving the comfy air-conditioned enclave of your home? Gaming might just be your saving grace.
Iconic games such as World of Warcraft can be played with lots of people remotely, so you can socialise within an indoor environment to your heart's content. Luckily for you, WoW’s epic fantasy concept is almost as fantastical as your denial that it’s 40 degrees outside.
With the new expansion, Midnight, set to release in March with the highly anticipated player housing feature, there’s never been a better time to start or continue your adventure on Azeroth. Afterall, you’ll be wanting to show off as many trinkets in your home as possible when the new expansion drops.
If you ask me, using this opportunity to dive into a different world could be your perfect escape this summer. Whether you're a new player or an OG looking to get back into an old passion, this scorching hot season really is the time to hone in on your indoor hobbies.
5. Host a ‘cold-themed’ dinner party
I can’t be the only one who struggles with food when it’s hot. The concept of room temperature goes out the window, and re-heating anything defies all logic. Which is why hosting a ‘cold-themed’ dinner party could be the next best social event of the summer.
The rules are simple: everyone brings a dish that is best served cold, no hot food allowed (and no Don Vito, revenge is not an acceptable option — although funny). Spend the evening happily tasting all of your mates' go-to cold creations at an event that fulfils both your social and survival needs this summer. Defs a win-win situation if you ask me.
So there you have it, five of the best indoor activities to beat the heat this summer that won’t see you bed rotting and re-watching Stranger Things for the umpteenth time.
Whether your goal is to explore different environments, interact with your friends or pick up a new hobby, there’s no reason to let the scathing Aussie sun stop you from spending the summer your way.
I, for one, am gonna get started on my WoW adventure. After all, that house ain’t gonna decorate itself in March.
See y’all in Azeroth.
