Is it Safe to Enjoy Summer Activities Now?

Is it safe to enjoy summer activities now is probably the biggest question everyone is asking because after going a whole year being scared of spending time with others but wanting to, we are all ready for the ‘summer we know and love‘. For most of us we are looking forward to spending time with our friends and family, enjoying low-risk activities like visiting a *stables or a farm where there is a lot of space and makes it easier to socially distance from each other. Or maybe like most people you are thinking about having a barbecue in your own garden or enjoy a nice picnic in the park. Regardless of what you want to get up to, the question on everyone’s mind is, is it safe to enjoy summer activities now especially with people being vaccinated and such?

Summers pre-covid were always a special affair for many people, school was out, vacations out of office messages were on and no alarm clock was set. As a kid what I loved about the summer is that all my first cousins would come to our house and spend the summer with us. Growing up in Zambia, we always attend Showgrounds and fun fairs which were the biggest highlight on my childhood. I remember how jam-packed the Showgrounds were and thinking forward to the current state of affairs, I am not sure we shall be able to experience such crowded places again without thinking, ‘what if I catch rona?’ The question – is it safe to enjoy summer activities now? – has a yes and no component and in this post I hope to share the two sides of this coin.

*Disclosure: This is a collaborative post, all opinions are my own.

Is it Safe to Enjoy Summer Activities Now?

Over the last few weeks we have been enjoying some amazing weather, it has been the right amount of warm for this time of year. I am excited that after so much uncertainty in the world, we can finally see the end of the tunnel although we still have a while to go before we can be ‘fully free’. I still want to start living a resemblance of my life before with a few exceptions – I want to continue wearing my mask, continue to practice better hygiene in public and for people to continue standing 2-meters away from me (hello personal space).

So, with that being said, what are some of the summer activities that are low-risk and we can enjoy without the fear of catching rona? Personally I can think of about 5/6 ‘safe to enjoy summer activities’ for everyone and in this post I will share what they are and how you can ensure you keep yourself, family and friends safe during these activities. I am very excited about the prospect of doing some of these summer activities again and just being in good company, enjoying good foods and creating memories with the people that I love.

#1 Outdoor Activities

The great outdoors is your friend especially during this time of the year where you would rather be doing something fun than being stuck indoors. I love going for long walks with my friends, breathing in the fresh air and sightseeing at the same time. The idea of being a tourist in my own ‘county’ is always a fun prospect for me and I am excited to be going on more walks this summer. The important thing to remember when you are outdoors is to ensure that you do no-contact activities and avoid the crowds and more especially avoid using public bathrooms especially in popular locations.

#2 Can I go to the Beach?

Yes, you can definitely go to the beach but like outdoor activities, you need to make sure where you are is not too crowded and/or you can find a secluded area where you can still enjoy a day at the beach. I have not been to a beach for a whole 2 years and I am mad about that. As someone who lives hours in all directions from the nearest beaches I am always jealous of those who have easy access to the beach or even live only a few minutes drive from one. Public toilets at the beach should be avoided where possible but if not make sure your hygiene game is on-point.

#3 Camping or even Glamping?

I am more of a glamping person than camping but camping is another summer activity that is relatively safe to do with another family provided you BYO (bring your own) things and avoid sharing cutleries and such. With glamping I would recommend wiping down the common areas after every use and making sure you sanitise your hands frequently to avoid cross-contamination. Make sure when camping you avoid the crowded camping sites and keep to the small groups you came with and try not to mix.

#4 BYO Everything (Picnic or Barbecue)

Another great activity that you can do with another family or a group of friends is going to the park for a picnic or maybe a barbecue. The trick here is to make sure EVERYONE brings their own foods, cutleries and even drinks because cross-contamination can easily happen at such events. You can also make sure that you are practicing social distancing and being in a wide space like the park this is easily doable for everyone in attendance. Avoid drinking as once drunk it might be easy to forget about rona and start re-living your old ‘fun-like’.

#5 Staying in Hotels or Vacation Homes?

Most families are more cautious now than before but still want to enjoy a vacation somewhere nice and away from home. I personally have a couple of holidays planned where I will be staying either in vacation homes or hotels and I have been particular about what hotels I shall be staying in. 5* rating should ‘normally’ translate to 5* cleanliness but that doesn’t mean I am going to completely entrust my safety to others, I will be wiping them down as well with my own sanitisers. But enjoying a staycation within the UK or vacation abroad all have low-to medium risk rating but this doesn’t mean you can lapse on your hygiene, no.

So, have I answered your question – is it safe to enjoy summer activities now? I hope I have and I hope you have thought about how to stay safe during summer as more and more things open back up.