What to do while tanning: 15 ideas!
Last Updated June 2, 2026
For those of you trying to get a beautiful, deep and long-lasting tan, you might be spending a lot of time under the sun and wondering what to do while tanning! While there are some moments when I enjoy doing absolutely nothing except relaxing while sunbathing, there are times when I can’t stay in place without doing anything! Tanning does get a little boring sometimes. So let me share with you today my favourite things to do while tanning, other than just wasting my time scrolling on my phone!
This article contains affiliate links. If you book through my links, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting The Beach Muse!
15 things to do while sunbathing
1. Read a book
By far my favourite activity while tanning! I always carry a good novel with me when I go to the beach and relax while reading my book. Another thing I like to read if I’m travelling is a travel guide, so I use this little time to plan my night out or what I’m going to do the next day!
I’ve recently got a Kindle as a gift, and I have to say that I absolutely love using it at the beach/by the lake in Zurich! I love that it’s “hands-free” and that I don’t always have to hold it to read it. It’s also much lighter and takes up less space in my beach bag than the big books I usually carry! I have the Kindle Paperwhite.
2. Listen to music/a podcast/an audiobook
What’s better than listening to your favourite songs while soaking up some sun? Definitely one of the most relaxing activities. I also like listening to podcasts, and if audiobooks are your thing, then it’s one of the best ways to pass the time while tanning!
3. Catch up with the latest trends
Whether it is by reading one of my favourite magazines (I love Harper’s Bazaar and Condé Nast Traveller!) or scrolling through Pinterest or Instagram, I like checking the latest trends when sunbathing: bikini trends, summer clothing, new places to visit, interior design ideas… You name it!
4. Call a friend
During the summer, I often use my time while tanning to catch up with some friends! Or even if I don’t need to catch up, it always feels good to call a friend or my family. Living abroad, I spend many hours on the phone to stay close to my loved ones and I use all free time I get to call them!
5. Do crossword/arrow crossword/sudoku puzzles
This is something I have been so much into lately!! In France, we have these summer magazines with lots of puzzle games that you can buy at any kiosk. So whenever I’m in France, I usually buy one that lasts me the whole summer. My favourite puzzle games are arrow crosswords and Sudoku!
6. Do a hair mask
Whether you are at the beach or in your garden, you can easily do a hair mask while sunbathing. And I’m not talking about the chemical ones you do in the shower, no: do a natural hair mask with coconut oil. Coconut oil helps to protect your hair from the sun and will leave them super shiny! I personally always apply some coconut oil to my hair (lightly!) before heading to the beach so that the sun, the sand and the salted water don’t damage my locks, and reapply every once in a while!
7. Stretch yourself
Stretching yourself while tanning is a great way to pass the time while tanning and reactivate your body after lying down! I usually like to stretch after refreshing myself in the water, it does get quite hot otherwise.
8. Arts & crafts
If you are someone who loves crafting things, you can also do that while tanning! Making jewellery, for example (beaded bracelets…), or painting watercolour. When I do this kind of activity, I usually like to have my head and whatever I’m doing in the shadow, while the rest of my body is in the sun, tanning.
9. Paint your nails
This one is definitely not something to do while tanning at the beach but if you are sunbathing at the pool or in your garden, you can enjoy this time to give yourself a nice manicure or pedicure!
10. Eat fruits
I always like to have a snack when tanning. While I love everything that has chocolate, it definitely doesn’t work well with heat so I prefer to have fruits! Grapes, peaches, mango… Anything that I find refreshing.
11. Apply some tanning oil
To tan faster, I like to use my homemade tanning oil which I apply before and while tanning. When using some tanning oil, don’t forget to apply sunscreen! Tanning oils (except the ones mentioning an SPF) don’t protect you from the sun. I usually apply my tanning oil first at home, let it penetrate my skin, then apply some sunscreen on top, and reapply tanning oil later on while tanning.
12. Write something
Something I also enjoy when sunbathing is writing. I write about my day, things I want to do, ideas for The Beach Muse, plan the rest of my week… I always carry my journal with me (I absolutely love the ones from The Inspired Stories) even at the beach!
13. Enjoy a drink
When tanning, you have to stay hydrated. While water is the obvious solution, I like to drink something a little more fun but still healthy! So I add some cucumber, lemon slices, and sometimes fruits into my water bottle. Or have a juice! In the morning, I also enjoy having a cold espresso while at the beach.
14. Learn a new language
Do you know the app called Duolinguo? I used it to learn Italian while I was doing my Erasmus in Rome and use it from time to time to improve my skills in Greek and lately in German. Take advantage of tanning to learn a new language or improve your skills in one you already know!
15. Tan with a friend
Finally, the best thing to do is to invite a friend to the beach or to your place when you plan on spending some time in the sun, so you can enjoy each other’s company! We often meet and get a tan together with my friends and use this time to catch up, play some board games, have some drinks… Whatever you love doing with your friends!
Some games to play while tanning: I find that card games are the best to play while tanning. I love Uno, but you can also play a lot of different games with normal playing cards: President, Crazy Eights, Egyptian Ratscrew…
Something you shouldn’t do while tanning: sleep!
If you fall asleep while tanning, there is a high chance you will end up sunburnt and as red as a lobster! So my advice if you want to relax: always put an alarm on your phone to avoid sleeping in the same position for too long.
This is how to pass time while tanning! If you have any recommendations of other things to do when tanning, I’d love to hear them! Let me know in the comments below ☺️
Hi, I’m Sophie! I come from Paris but I’ve been in love with the Mediterranean for as long as I can remember. The hidden coves, the ancient villages, the flavors, the light… The Beach Muse is my way of sharing the places and people that make this corner of the world so special to me and so hard to leave.
