They say it takes three weeks to form a habit; three weeks to pick something up and stick with it until it becomes ingrained into your routine. But, as many people can tell you, it’s easier said than done. If you don’t have a deadline or a general time frame to stick to, it becomes too easy to drop it and tell yourself you’ll try again in a few months. The best times to pick up new habits are at landmark events in your life like New Year’s, your birthday, Thanksgiving, etc. The list goes on. As summer vacation creeps around the corner, now is a great time to begin considering some lifestyle changes and habits that you should pick up in order to get your life in great shape for the coming break.

Here are five helpful habits you can build over summer vacation:

1. Cook Dinner for Yourself A Few Times Each Week.

Everyone’s schedule varies, so it’s hard to set an exact number of days per week. But cooking dinner for yourself will not only make you feel great about the meal you just cooked, it will also help you save money that you would have otherwise spent on delivery food.

2. Pick Up a Book.

Books are great; they open you up to new experiences, ideas, and cultures from the comfort of a chair. When you read, your brain automatically gets stimulated and teaches itself to retain more information. This can help condition yourself to increase the amount of material you remember when you study for an exam, which could make finals season way less stressful.

3. Snack on Fruits and Veggies.

It’s natural tendency to reach for the Doritos or pretzels when you’re in the mood for a snack. But just making this one tweak in your diet could really help you to cut out unwanted calories, sugars, and salts from your daily intake and contribute to flushing out your system.

4. Meditate.

Meditation is great. It takes some getting used to, but it helps to clear your mind and relax you during your stressful life. Meditating can help you get back on track in your life when you feel as though everything else is falling apart at the seams. And, for those who might find it difficult, guided meditation videos on YouTube are definitely your friend here.

5. Spend Wisely.

Be aware of your finances. It’s okay if you haven’t opened a retirement account yet, but it’s important to be conscious of all of the stuff you spend your money on. This can/will benefit you in the long run, and is one of the many first steps into becoming an ~adult~.