5 new hobbies to do this summer
Looking for a fun new indoor hobby this summer? It seems that all summer hobbies are outside and active, but not everyone feels like that all the time. Sometimes you just want to relax and be comfortable in your own home. Whilst reading will always be my number one (indoor) hobby, there are a few other things I like to do as well during the summer months.
1. Puzzle
The ultimate brain teaser that is also super relaxing, is to do a jigsaw puzzle. It helps you to take some time for yourself in silence. Of course you can make a puzzle while listening to an audiobook, but I always prefer to do it in silence. This summer, Milena’s Bookshop has a small collection of literary puzzles that is just the right amount of challenging.
2. Annotate your books
When reading a classic, I always try to get the most out of the experience. There’s a big chance I want to look back at my reading experience and find my favourite quotes. I started annotating classics in 2019 and have found I prefer transparent sticky notes and a pencil to mark my favourite passages. Annotating takes time though, so the summer might be the perfect time to start. Here's a blog on how to annotate a classic.
3. Get into audiobooks
Listening to audiobooks is a skill in itself. It takes time and practice for your brain to process books in this format. It took me about a year to really appreciate this way of reading. Now, I couldn’t imagine sitting in my garden without an audiobook. Milena’s Bookshop offers audiobooks through libro.fm, you can get a free audiobook to give it a go!
4. Decorate your Kindle or Tablet
The transparent kindle/tablet sleeves are trending on TikTok. I love seeing people personalise their devices. You often see people switch their decoration around depending on their mood or the seasons. This summer is a great opportunity to have some fun with that. Tip: don’t actually ‘stick’ the stickers to your device, so you can switch your decoration around and reuse a sticker for a later mood.
5. Paint your own tote bag
Designing a tote bag is so much fun! Believe me. I worked a long time on getting the colours/fonts/lay-out right for the shops tote bag. But you can easily do this yourself without getting it professionally printed. All you need to do is to hop on to your local craft store and get the following supplies:
- 1x tote bag (you can also use the back of our tote)
- a set of brushes
- textile paint in the colours you like
- a piece of cardboard to put in the tote bag, to prevent the paint leaking to the other side.
Have fun!
🌼 about Milena's Bookshop 🌼
Milena’s Bookshop is a modern new and second-hand book store for classic works. Inclusivity, feminism, and curiosity are at our core. A combination of famous authors and forgotten names makes up the collection. Whether you’re looking for books second hand or new releases, we offer a range of literature. Both inside and outside the canon, classic literature gives a unique insight into the past. If you're wondering what books you should read, explore our curated collection, including a must-read book list called 'Milena's Favourites'. For those in the Netherlands, we are your New English bookstore and your go-to for 2e hands boek finds. Our love for authors is celebrated with cheerful bookmarks, cards, and more. All books and gifts are shipped from The Netherlands by a woman-owned independent bookshop. Plus, all packaging is plastic-free.
