How to keep your spirits up at the end of summer

After a last hurrah – another heatwave to knock out the nation – the summer is slowly drawing to a close in the capital. Next week, kids will be back at school and the city will transform: the streets will be emptied of toddlers clutching ice-creams; there’ll be no more walking through attempted family photos (but it’s still London, so you’ll have to watch out for the tourists); there’ll be a sudden drop in picnics in the park. Though this might be great news for some, the changing weather can also bring about a changing mood as the bustling metropolis succumbs to the dreary clouds and trademark drizzle. Here are some ways to ease yourself into the shortening days.

Sign up to unlimited cinema

If you find yourself stuck inside during the darker months, consider signing up to Cineworld Unlimited or Odeon Limitless. It may not be the most active hobby to take up but it gets you out the house, and as long as you catch two movies a month you will have saved money – and supported the industry in the process. It’s a worthwhile investment for any film fans, and the possibilities are endless: you can rewatch a title as many times as you want, or go to see every single new release at your local cinema. Just make sure that you purchase the right subscription if you live in central London – the pricings may vary for the bigger venues.

Join a gym

Never mind the January rush following New Year’s resolutions  – September is an equally important month to begin your fitness journey. There’s no excuse to let the weather stop you doing an exercise: gyms are open all year round and you need never put away your running shoes if you jump on the treadmill. If you find it hard to motivate yourself, find a friend to buddy up with, or simply sign up to classes like spinning or boxfit. For those with less money or time, home HIIT workout’s are quick and free and most require only access to youtube. To upgrade your regime, buy some equipment like dumbells of kettlebells.

Get into gaming

Even if you can’t explore the wider world, there are universes to be explored within your home, be it with the help of a smartphone, a games console or a good old-fashioned board game. Check out the latest mobile releases – have you heard of Lifeline and www.Slotsino.co.uk? – or if you want something more immersive, you could try out VR technology, which transports you to new dimensions from the comfort of your own living room. Some of us prefer to travel with our imaginations; if that’s your cup of tea head over to a specialised shop here you can find card games like Seven Wonders, strategy games like Codenames or cooperative games like Pandemic. It’s easy to stay social without spending too much: look up your closest boardgame cafe or start a LAN party online with the recently released World of Warcraft Classic, which marks a return to the glory days of PC gaming.

The editorial unit