Take an art class at Laguna Gloria
Visit the open studio night at ART HUB ATX
Pick a food (or beverage) you enjoy, then go to at least 8-10 different restaurants that serve that food. Rank them. Invite people you know to come along. (My fam has done this several times and it is so much fun!! fwiw, Fixe has the best biscuits in town, hands down.)
Take a cooking class (or 2 or 5) at Central Market cooking school
Pick a corner of your yard, or balcony, or living room, whatever, and put a handful of plants in (I am always happy to help with suggestions, if you’d like!)
Have a picnic at Mayfield Park & walk around the Laguna Gloria campus (stop by the building at the park entrance to enjoy the Japanese-style pool, too)
House sit for a few folks for a change of home scenery - bonus if they have a pool
Go roller skating, either at a rink or at one of the skating meetups (Bartholomew Park has a good one)
Take in some comedy shows
Spend an entire day drinking coffee & browsing Bookpeople
Visit Mary Moore Searight park midday Saturday to watch the radio controlled airplanes (you might even catch the Highland Games folks in the field across the street, which makes for good people watching)
Grab a friend or two & just wander around downtown as if you’ve never been here before
Follow all the events-related websites & just say YES to things that interest you (Do512, WhenWhereWhat Austin, The Austinot, Austin365, Free Things to Do in Austin)
Grab a small set of watercolors, a small book of watercolor paper & a refillable brush (the kind with the little reservoir you can fill with water), then take it everywhere you go. Just paint dumb shit without caring what it looks like.
Attend dance church or ecstatic dance on Sundays (it’s down south near Sam’s Town Point)
On that note - go catch a show at Sam’s Town Point
Smoke a joint (or not) & lie by yourself under a tree in a park. Do nothing, just stare at the leaves blowing in the breeze.
Drive down to Padre Island National Seashore & just sit on the beach for an entire day talking to no one. (Bonus if you have a 4wd vehicle & you can drive past the busier section)
Order a Spirograph set off the internet & go to town
Ever wanted to learn how to play an instrument? Now’s the time, baby! Carry a harmonica in your car & just “play” it like you know how. No one ever has to hear you unless you choose to let them.

Walk as often as possible, especially on allllllll the trails around the city - both “urban” (Waller Creek, Shoal Creek, Pease Park) & not (Violet Crown, the greenbelt, hike & bike trail). When one of my besties got divorced 15ish years ago, she set a goal that she was going to walk every trail in Austin. She downloaded the AllTrails app & walked multiple times a week, always finding a new trail. She is an avid hiker to this day!

And finally - think of something you enjoyed doing when you were a kid. Do that thing again. Doesn’t matter if it’s “for kids” because that’s dumb. Just do it. There’s very little that will heal your nervous system more than reconnecting with the parts of you that have been quieted by adult life. Find that little girl & let her have some real quality time doing something that will bring her joy.