There’s a particular art to doing very little well. A sunbed, a warm afternoon and nowhere urgent to be can sound idyllic for about ten minutes, right up until the fidgeting sets in, particularly if you’re of the ADHD persuasion.
Keeping boredom at bay when reclining in the sun doesn’t have to mean endlessly doomscrolling.
With the right mix of reading, listening, offline entertainment and a little mindful stillness, a lazy afternoon can start to feel genuinely restorative rather than just hot and slightly uncomfortable.
1. Lose Yourself in a Good Beach Read
Reading remains one of the easiest and most satisfying ways to pass time on a sunbed. The trick is choosing the right kind of holiday books.
Dense literary tomes and tiny paperbacks printed in faint grey are probably not ideal in bright sun.
Instead, go for a gripping thriller, a warm romance, a sharp memoir or anything with short, moreish chapters that make it easy to dip in and out.
2. Tune Into Podcasts and Audiobooks
Sometimes, reading in full sun feels a bit too ambitious. That’s where podcasts and audiobooks come in.
They let you stay entertained without needing to focus your eyes on a page, and they’re ideal for those moments when you want to switch off physically while keeping the brain lightly occupied.
A good travel podcast, celebrity interview series, comedy show or true crime episode can make an hour disappear.
Audiobooks are equally useful, especially if you like stories but don’t want to commit to holding a book while reapplying sun cream every ten minutes. They also suit the relaxed rhythm of a beach or poolside afternoon brilliantly.
3. Offline Apps and Games
A little preparation goes a long way. Download playlists, puzzle games, saved articles, eBooks or language apps before heading out, especially if Wi-Fi is patchy or mobile data charges are lurking in the background.
Offline entertainment is often better anyway. It cuts out the temptation to drift back into emails, news alerts or social feeds and keeps the mood firmly in holiday territory.
Crosswords, sudoku, solitaire and story-based games all work well here, as do note-taking apps for anyone who likes journalling or casually planning ideas while they relax.
4. Embrace Mindful Relaxation by the Sea
Of course, not every moment needs filling with “content”. Sometimes the best entertainment is simply letting the environment do the work.
There’s growing evidence that blue spaces such as the seaside can support wellbeing, relaxation and mood.
So yes, by all means bring the book, queue the podcast and download the game. But every now and then, put the phone down, take some time to close your eyes, listen to the waves and let the boredom melt away into calm.
That’s part of the summer experience too!
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