Check out this fun post with 45 fresh May ideas that you can pick from to try this month.
I don’t know about you, but May always feels like one big exhale in my life.
It’s not quite summer yet, but the sun is starting to stick around longer, the air feels warmer (without trying to kill us), and life just feels a little more doable.
You can open your windows, drink your coffee outside again, and wear breezy clothes that make you feel like sunshine.
But the beauty of May (or any month for that matter) can get lost in the routine stuff, which is why I felt the need to write down this post.
We are going to look at the 45 best things to do in May to soak up the month instead of letting it slip by.
No pressure, just some happy inspiration. Pick your fav ideas from this list and have a happy May!
45 Fun Things To Do In May
1. Declutter your space
Open those windows, put on your favorite playlist or podcast, and go on a decluttering spree.
May is the perfect in-between time to freshen up your space before summer chaos kicks in, so get working before it gets too hot for you to even think about organizing.
2. Make a fresh summer playlist
Make a summer playlist that you can listen to while watching late sunsets, rolling down the windows, and walking barefoot in the grass.
Fill it up with songs that make you feel like the main character in a soft indie film.
3. Start waking up a little earlier
I am not asking you to join the 5 a.m. club, but you can set your alarm 20 minutes earlier and enjoy some peace before the day begins.
You can sit by the window with a cup of tea and just stare at the trees like a proper lady.
4. Spend time outside every single day
You can sit on your balcony while reading, take a walk around the block, and go on weekly hikes.
All this will help your body soak in the fresh air and sunshine, and remind yourself that you’re very much alive and one with the world.
5. Try a new seasonal recipe
May is the time to swap your comfort food for sweet, fresh, and healthy recipes.
When you eat seasonal foods, your body thrives better in the environment.
So, make strawberry salads, colorful fruity drinks, lemony pastas, and herby everything. You’ll have a lot of fun preparing these dishes too.
6. Visit a local farmer’s market
Even if you don’t buy anything (though you totally will), farmer’s markets in May are such a vibe.
Fresh flowers, juicy fruits, homemade goodies — I say yes to all of that!
7. Go on a picnic
Pack up some snacks, a book, and a blanket and find a patch of grass somewhere.
It doesn’t have to be Instagram-worthy, just comfy and relaxing.
8. Deep clean your phone
Delete old screenshots, clear out your photos, and unfollow people who don’t bring you joy.
Your phone deserves a summer refresh too.
9. Journal outside
There’s something so peaceful about journaling with the sun on your skin.
Bring your notebook to the park or sit on your porch with a cup of tea, and just write what’s on your mind.
10. Buy yourself flowers
Even just grabbing a tiny bouquet from the grocery store can make your whole space (and mood) brighter.
11. Do a 30-day wellness challenge
May is a great time to get into a rhythm before summer hits, and a 30-day challenge is the perfect way to do that.
You can challenge yourself to stretch every morning for 30 days, or drink a green smoothie, or take daily walks. Whatever your body needs the most and your mind finds exciting.
Must read: 10 Healthy Summer Habits You Need To Practice Every Day
12. Switch to lighter skincare and makeup
Time to tuck away those heavy creams and go for glowy, dewy, light textures.
May is your skin’s soft girl era, so embrace it and give your skin some room to breathe and thrive.
13. Watch the sunrise or sunset
Set an alarm one morning just to watch the sky do its thing, or make it a sunset date with yourself and a snack. Free therapy from nature!
14. Eat dinner outside
Even if it’s just on your balcony or near an open window. Somehow, food tastes better in fresh air (that’s nature for you).
15. Refresh your wardrobe
Pull out your summer clothes, donate what you don’t wear, and mix things up with a few new (or thrifted!) pieces that actually feel like you.
16. Plant something
If you have a garden, then bring some new plants home and care for them throughout the month.
If you live in an apartment like me, you can grow a herb plant on your windowsill or balcony.
17. Create a seasonal bucket list
Make a list of things you want to do this summer.
It can include things like making homemade lemonade, stargazing, and reading a romance novel in the sun.
18. Go tech-free for an afternoon
Put your phone away for an afternoon and just… be.
Go outside, paint something, bake, nap, and do whatever feels good. Just no screens, only pure mindfulness.
19. Host a low-key brunch
Invite a friend or two over for pancakes and coffee. Keep it chill, and catch up on all kinds of things while enjoying your brunch.
20. Plan a weekend getaway
Even if it’s just a staycation or a one-night trip nearby. Sometimes a change of scenery is exactly what your soul needs.
21. Make iced coffee at home
Experiment with different flavors (vanilla, cinnamon, caramel) and become your own barista. Your wallet will thank you.
22. Switch up your workspace
Even if you just move your laptop to a different corner or add a plant — small changes can make a big difference.
23. Try a no-spend weekend
Challenge yourself to enjoy what you already have, and try some free activities like walking, reading, cooking, and sleeping in.
Honestly sounds like a dream to me.
24. Make a vision board for the next 3 months
What do you want your summer to look like? How do you want to feel? What do you want to accomplish?
Gather photos, quotes, loads of energy, and then sit down to create a summer vision board for the next three months.
25. Have a movie night with May vibes
You can watch spring rom-coms, coming-of-age stories, or some nostalgic favorites. Blankets, snacks, and low lighting are required.
26. Read a book set in spring or summer
Something that makes you feel like you’re on vacation, even if you’re just curled up in bed.
27. Do a mini digital detox
Unfollow, mute, delete, and clean up your digital world so it feels more like a cozy home and less like a noisy train station.
28. Spend time barefoot
Walk barefoot in your home, your yard, or on the grass.
It will ground you to the present and remind you that you’re a real human, not just a floating brain in a spreadsheet.
29. Build a morning or evening walk routine
Start/end your day with a gentle stroll and see how much better you feel. It will be good for your body, soul, and mind!
30. Make a smoothie bowl
A smoothie bowl is very trendy, but also really fun.
Top it up with coconut flakes, fresh fruit, a drizzle of peanut butter, and you’re basically living your best life.
31. Sit outside with a book or podcast
Low effort, high reward. Add snacks for maximum bliss.
32. Start a gratitude list
Write down three good things every evening. Could be tiny things like iced matcha, a funny text, or having a good hair day.
33. Take more photos (but not for Instagram)
Capture moments just because they’re pretty or meaningful. No need to share. Just keep them for yourself.
34. Pick one thing to learn this month
Maybe it’s a new recipe, a random hobby, or even a few phrases in a new language. Just for fun, not perfection.
35. Let yourself rest more
You don’t have to ‘earn’ rest by doing a million things first. You are allowed to rest because you are human.
36. Try out a new cafe in your town
Be a tourist in your own area by visiting a new cafe. Order something you’ve never tried before for fresh vibes.
37. Get a fresh haircut or trim
Sometimes snipping a few inches off your hair can be the refresh that your life needs.
38. Write a letter to your future self
What are you feeling right now? What are you excited about or struggling with? Write it all down, and open it later this year.
39. Bake something citrusy
You can go for lemon cake, orange scones, or key lime pie.
Look up some more recipes on YouTube if you’re in the mood to bake a dish you’ve never even heard of before.
40. Have a solo date
Go somewhere by yourself (a cafe, bookstore, the park or the cinema) and spend time in your own company. It’s weirdly refreshing.
41. Clean your car or bike
It’s boring, I know, but you’ll feel very proud after. And future you will thank you.
42. Rewatch a comfort TV show
What’s your comfort TV show? You know, the one with the character that feels like your friends at this point.
Watch a few episodes guilt-free while sipping on iced tea.
43. Try out a new journal prompt each day
There are tons of fun journal prompts online that will make sitting with your journal fun in the summer.
You might be surprised what comes up when you give your thoughts some space.
44. Water your plants
May is when plants start thriving, so pour into your plants’ needs with extra enthusiasm and love this month.
If you’re a plant parent already, this is your time. If not, maybe it’s time to adopt some new green babies?
45. Just be for a while
The motive of this post may seem like getting a lot done in May, but it’s actually the opposite.
I just want you to slow down, practice self-care, and savor the simple pleasures of summer.
And the best way to do that is to let yourself just be.
You don’t need to fill every moment or do something epic. Just pick a few things from this list that feel fun to you, and leave the rest.
Enjoy what you can, rest when you need, and soak up the magic in the small stuff.
May is a gentle month. So, let’s keep it that way.
Read next: 5 Refreshing Ways To Become “That Girl” In Summer
You just discovered 45 things to do in May! What ideas are calling out to you the most? Lemme know in the comment box before you leave.
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