“Netflix and chill” has been deemed the new mainstream vocabulary, a euphemism for hooking up, but now an Internet joke complete with memes, vines and amusing captioning for otherwise mundane images. You may have heard the phrases, “Wanna come over for Netflix and chill?” or “An hour into Netflix and chill but he hasn’t made a move yet,” which may sound innocent, but insinuates a lot more intimacy. Social media news outlets like Buzzfeed and youtubers have picked up and made parody videos. This term is a direct result of the millennial addiction to technology. In the past, before Netflix and chill was even a thing, we had a lot more imagination than to marathon through movies all day. So, in spirit of trying new things without being too dependent on technology, here are a couple of alternatives to the classic Netflix and chill date. Whether you want to these activities alone or with a special someone is up to you, but leave your computers, phones, iPads, TVs and anything touch-screen at home and let’s do things the old-fashioned way.
Get creative and reflective in a journal
What’s more interesting than your thoughts? Remember the times you would write in a stream-of-consciousness style? Just go for it. Word vomit. It will come easier after the first few sentences. Maybe you’ll discover something new about yourself.
Paint something, anything
Painting is a very cathartic thing to do. It doesn’t require much thought, just find the flow and absorb yourself within it. Very relaxing.
Exercise and do yoga
Give your body a work out. Sweat is good for you. If you don’t want anything too hardcore, try a tranquil stretch with yoga poses.
Cook
Follow an old fashioned cookbook and try out a new dish. If you don’t want to cook, go out and eat with a friend at a new restaurant.
Read a book or a magazine
Instead of scrolling through facebook for articles about mythical celeb news, try picking up a novel from a use bookstore or grab a magazine, read a newspaper. Get off online outlets and get into a completely new world behind actual pages.
Go outside, walk around in the park and take photos
What’s better than a Polaroid camera taking photos of landscapes? If you don’t have a camera, get an easy cam disposable film and you’ll see things a little differently through the lens.
Spa day
Treat yourself to a spa day! Get a massage, take a dip in the hot springs, and open your pores in a charcoal sauna.
Local community activities
Rule of thumb, be a tourist in your own city. Sometimes big parks and event spaces hold communal movie screenings, flea markets or festivals. Try rooftop bars with live jazz bands, a wine tasting, or simply site-seeing to learn about your city.
Visit a museum, go sit at a casual café and strike a conversation with someone new
Okay, maybe not everyone is comfortable with striking up a conversation with a random person, but museums are a perfect place to be cultured artistically, spiritually and enriched academically.
Check something off your bucket list
You know you’ve been slacking off by being on twitter too much. But don’t wait until your old to accomplish everything on your bucket list. If you don’t have one yet, make one and challenge yourself!
Go GIFT SHOPPING AND BUY SOMETHING FOR SOMEONE SPECIAL
A little surprise never hurt anybody. A gift for someone might just make his or her day even better, especially if they were having a rough time. Show someone you appreciate them.
Go vintage shopping
Thrift shops are full of secret treasures. Clothing, jewelry, timeless décor, shoes, etc. Maybe you’ll find a special token.
GIVE BACK TO SOCIETY
Donate to charity, try a day at the soup shop, help some veterans, give food to the homeless or buy something from our PRJON store, which will automatically donate a percentage of the purchase to a charity of your choice!