You did it! You finally made it to summer vacation. Hours of tedious homework and studying are over. For many people, summer means picking up more hours of work, but when you're not at work, make the most of these months off you are given. Live it up; it's summertime, baby.
1. Sleep
Catch up on those precious Zzzz's. I know that during the school year I do not get nearly enough sleep as I should be getting. Those minimum eight hours are completely thrown out the window. Take naps during the day! Don't be afraid to go to bed at 6 p.m.. You shouldn’t have FOMO (fear of missing out) because you have the entire summer to do fun, extravagant things. Give your body the love and rest it needs now while you have the time. It will thank you!
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2. Exercise
Summer gives you the freedom to work on your own schedule, not on your school schedule. Join a gym this summer. Try classes like yoga, kickboxing and zumba. Exercise can do incredible things for your mind, soul and body. No workout is worthless, and why not spend extra free time exercising. Who knows, all those workouts will have your ex boyfriend/girlfriend staring you down at school wondering why they let you go. Now get those endorphins flowing!!
3. Volunteer
Time to give back and get involved in your community. Rather than laying around, help those around you. There are so many ways to volunteer. Reach out to your local soup kitchen, food pantry or an organization that interests you. Even if you only volunteer a couple times a month, your time and service will go a long way. Volunteering should be about others, but if you are a believer in karma, “What goes around comes around.” Volunteering has helped shape me into a person I am very proud to be.
4. Clean out your closet
Summer vacation is the perfect time to go through all of your old clothes that you no longer wear. Take a day or two to take everything out of your drawers and closet and ask yourself, “Do I really need this?” I usually end up getting rid of at least half of my clothes. This gives you an excuse to go shopping and revamp your wardrobe. Donate your old clothes or give them to a younger sibling or friend. They will thank you. After all, old is new right now.
5. Try a new hairstyle
Summer is for new experiences, so try a new hairstyle. Trying a hairstyle in the summer allows you to experiment without having to walk into class the next day with botched hair. Who knows, you may end up loving it! If you don't love it, you have the rest of the summer to grow those locks out, getting them to their original form.
6. Start a new television series
Since you don’t have to worry about late night studying and work, start a new television series. TV is a great way to fill time, and everyone's guilty pleasure. I personally love all of HBO’s series, old and new. They have everything from Girls, Sex and the City, Entourage, Veep and Vinyl. HBO has something for everyone, and I promise you will be hooked. If HBO isn't your thing, you can always watch Netflix. Netflix has everything under the sun, and if you’re looking for suggestions, I recommend It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. For my fellow Philadelphians, this show gives you a little hometown pride. Invite over your summer romance and “Netflix and Chill” away.
7. Rekindle past friendships
Summer vacation is the perfect time to reach out to the people you lost touch with during the school year. Call up those old friends and sit down for brunch or go on a new adventure. Reminisce on old memories, create new ones, and update your BFF's on your life. Old friends are the best because you can share anything; they're not your new school friends.
8. Travel
Take this time off to travel to new places. You don't necessarily have to go far or spend a ton of money, because it's the experiences that count. Check out places that make your hometown unique. Travel to the nearest major city. Go to the beach. A change of surroundings is always important. Take in as much as you can.
9. Set new goals
Use the summer to set new goals for yourself. These can be goals for the upcoming school year or for the summer. Make it a goal to have a positive mindset and to not use the summertime to hold back. Make it a goal to read or exercise. Try something new and positive!
10. Cook
Take advantage of the kitchen you have you have at home. In the summer I love trying out new recipes. Try making an old family recipe or looking up something new. I love making recipes I find in those 30 second videos on Facebook. Honest to God, they usually taste good as they look. Who knows, you might take on a new love for cooking.
11. Discover new music and artists
Summer is prime time for discovering new artists and music. During a lot of my free time I look at and listen to upcoming artists and new album releases. I love finding new artists in the summer because more often than not, they have a fall tour that I can get tickets to and see them play live. There's nothing better than live music.
