Summer. As students, we look forward to the season all year long. But when it gets here, it often seems our summer realities fall short of our expectations of summer romance, outdoor adventures with friends and beautiful days spent lounging on donut-shaped rafts in a blue lagoon. If you find yourself at a loss for something to do this summer and falling into the haze of the heat and boredom of the dog days, here are some helpful ways to make the most of what the summer has to offer.

1. Find a summer job.

What better way to kill boredom than by making money and building your resume?

2. Find a new hobby.

Try learning something new like cooking, coding, stand-up paddle boarding, running, a new exercise class or whatever. Anything to get you out of the house and interested in something new.

3. Reconnect with old friends.

Call up those friends from high school you swore you'd catch up with over spring break. Maybe you'll have discovered separate interests or maybe you'll rekindle an old friendship. But you'll never know unless you get out there and do it.

4. Take a road trip.

Whether it's a day trip to a nearby state park or beach, or a cross country trip with friends, get out of the house and discover some place new. Keep a journal or photo diary of the places you go and you'll have something cool to look back on at the end of the summer and when the winter months roll in.

5. Visit friends from university.

Whether they live 40 minutes or five hours away, make an effort to visit your friends from college. Chances are, they're just as bored as you are and just as eager for you to make a visit and vice versa. You're probably missing them terribly by now anyway, and I bet they're missing you too.

6. Start a blog.

Start writing for a publication like Odyssey or start your own! Even if you don't have anything exciting to blog about, a blog is a good way to keep your writing skills sharp and your social media savvy strong. It's also a fun way to kill time and find others with similar interests to yours.

7. Get outside!

Go for a walk several times a week or just sit outside to read a book. Go for a hike or lounge by the pool—whatever you do, get out there! This weather won't be here for long. Enjoy it before we're all complaining about the snow again.

8. Spend time with your family.

They may drive you crazy, but they miss you while you're at school, and you probably miss them too whether you'll admit it or not. Take one day out of the week to have dinner with your family and catch up with one another, or do a fun outdoors activity to get everyone outside and moving.

9. Have a movie marathon.

For when the summer rain ruins your mojo for the day. Grab some snacks, a fan and some friends or just your own company, and have a movie day to yourself.

10. Go on a shopping spree.

Use the money you've saved up from that summer job in number one and treat yourself to a day out of retail therapy, maybe for new school clothes or something you've been eyeing for a while online.

Have a safe and happy summer break, everyone!