Summer break can either make you or break you. For some people, summer is a time to clean up their life and get ahead. They re-organize everything from their room to their fall schedule for when they go back to school. They have a job or an internship related to their major and seem to be way ahead of the game. Then there are the others. Unfortunately, I fall into the second category.
This group of people tend to waste their summer break. This includes days spent laying in bed watching your favorite Netflix show, lounging by the pool for hours getting incredibly sunburned and therefore not being able to move for three days, or just sleeping for all hours of the day. However, do not fret my fellow lazy people, I am here to rescue you from the dreaded summer break black hole. Without further ado, here are 14 ways to not waste summer 2016.
1. Make plans with friends you haven't seen all year.
This one may seem obvious, but after spending your whole year away at school and spending time with the same people, it's nice to branch back out and connect with your high school friends. Meet for a cup of coffee at the local favorite place, meet up at the pool or just hang out at your house.
2. Deep clean your house/room/apartment.
This one may not seem as fun, but trust me, afterward you will feel so much better and organized. You can decide to clean the whole house or maybe even your room, just tackle it head on. Remember to not work yourself to death, though!
3. Volunteer.
Most people don't think of volunteering as something to do during the summer, but it is a very rewarding task that helps out your community. Also, this is the sure-fire way to be able to spend hours at the local animal shelter petting and helping out with the dogs and cats!
4. Start a blog.
If you love to write, or are maybe going on a fun trip this summer and want to document it, a blog is a great way to accomplish this! There's nothing better than writing a fun article to share your feelings and/or adventures.
5. Join a gym.
This one may be the hardest to do for the lazy summer people like myself. Getting some exercise in this summer and maybe dropping a pant size can make you feel accomplished and motivated to do some more things on this list, too!
6. Help your parents around the house.
This can go hand in hand with the cleaning of the house. Try to offer to cook dinner one night, and let mom rest after a day of work. Help dad with cleaning up the yard one Saturday. They will appreciate it more than you would think.
7. Job shadow someone whose work relates to your major.
There is no better way to get ahead in your field of study than to actually go to a job site and see what's it all about. This gains you experience, and (hopefully) reassures you that you're on track with what you want to do with the rest of your life.
8. Plan a trip.
The best summer breaks are full of trips to exciting new places. You can easily plan a short trip with some close friends, all while not breaking the bank. A great go-to place is the beach!
9. Go to summer camp.
You'll make great memories with new friends and have the time of your life at camp. As an added bonus: most camps are at the lake!
10. Get a small part-time job.
Anything from babysitting, being a nanny or getting a desk job at your parent's workplace is the perfect way to make a little money and be productive with your summer.
11. Don't sleep in until noon.
I am so guilty of this, but it really sets your whole day back. You never realize how productive you feel when you get up early and get the day started.
12. Go on a mini-mission trip.
Without planning you can't go to a place like Nicaragua or Guatemala, but a mini trip is easy to do. Take a drive down to the next town over to help out at a shelter or soup kitchen by donating clothes and food. You'll feel so humbled and meet some great people.
13. Take some summer classes.
You can never go wrong with getting ahead in school by taking that fine art class at the local community college. Nowadays, they even offer most classes online, so you're good to go!
14. Relax!
This is summer break, after all, so don't work yourself to death. Let's all strive to not be lazy, but always take some time to rewind, chill out, and have some fun!
