1. Learn an instrument.

The hardest part about learning an instrument isn't necessarily starting to play, it's sticking with it, and getting past the phase of frustration. Summer is the perfect time to allow yourself an hour a day to finish off the summer with a newfound talent on the guitar, piano, harmonica, or instrument of your choice. Not only will you impress people with your ability to play some of your favorite songs, but it is incredibly rewarding and relaxing to sit down and zone in on your own musical creation for an hour. There are so many sources online ranging from youtube to Ultimate Guitar that allow for self-taught musicians to flourish. As an avid guitarist, I can attest that guitar study breaks are a must to refocus my mind and purge some stress. Furthermore, recent studies are showing a strong correlation of increased memory, mathematical skills and confidence when people take on learning instruments.

2. Explore nature.

Obviously vacationing is great, but you'd be surprised what you can find right outside your back door. Hiking, camping, kayaking, or fishing; the sky's the limit! Summer also happens to be the most sublime and lively time to submerge yourselves in the great outdoors. While you may not live right next to Yosemite, find a local trail, river or forest and spend a whole day away from your materialistic lifestyle. Almost everyone has hometown pride that they are eager to display, outdoor adventures you previously hadn't checked out can give you even more to boast about.

3. Finally get your desired fitness.

So, you burned out on your new year's resolution. The weather was too depressing, the load of school and life left you crippled, or being a weekend warrior contributed to your acceptance of the dad bod. While you may not be able to begin the beach season with your desired summer body, the stretch of summer vacation is a perfect time to pass the hump of non-commitment most fitness goers fall victim to. For many people, it takes a good 2-3 months before you start getting complimentary comments about your body transformation. These remarks ensure that your workouts are not in vain, and is a good indicator that you will enjoy going to the gym, rather than dread it. Come the new year, you will be the one dreading all the newcomers to the gym, rather than become of the many who die out by February.

4. Read, read and read some more.

No, I'm not going to argue from the "logic" of that guy (Tai Lopez) who has the youtube ads on why reading a book a day made him rich. However, there are plenty of other reasons you should take time out of your summer to read. Firstly, mental stimulation over summer break makes the transition back into classes more seamless. Choose a book that intrigues you, exercise the mind over summer like you would any other muscle, and it won't atrophy like an untrained muscle. Additionally, books can serve as entertainment when you're not having the book forced upon you by a professor. Literally anything you have an interest in you can find a book on and spend time out by the pool or beach and soak up some useful information. Finally, reading enhances your memory, vocabulary, and overall knowledge. Knowledge is something that can never be taken from you, and you never know when learning about Machiavelli could come in handy.

5. Spend it with your family.

If you're like me, your parents provide a lot of support for you in school. Both monetarily and emotionally. Obviously it's great to see all of your friends back home, but family should always be priority. Find activities to do with your parents and siblings such as bowling or going to the movies. Not only can this be evocative, but going in with the mindset that you're looking forward to spending time with your family, rather than telling yourself you have to spend time with them, can make for enjoyable experiences. After all, the real world approaches sooner than you'd expect, so don't squander opportunities with your family while they are still present.

(Every picture I tried to find had cookie-cutter families that looked way too happy)

6. Go on a road trip.

This doesn't have to be a cross country excursion; even a one day jaunt can be jam packed. Considering I live in Sacramento, California, in one day I could drive to Santa Cruz, Lake Tahoe, or San Fransisco and spend a full day there and still make it home come nightfall. The summer is a great time to explore your state and have mini vacations each weekend. If your 5 day a week job doesn't allow for a trip to Hawaii, you can still make the best of your weekends. Locate your hometown on a map, set your radius from your house to 150 miles, and I'm sure you can find a neat location for a day trip!

7. Be creative.

With all of the free time you're bound to have, summer is the best time to capitalize on any ambitions you had, but put off due to business. This could be learning a language, starting a youtube channel, learning to cook, writing a short story, etc. Any creative idea that popped in your head in the past is achievable, and summer is the perfect time to begin working towards that goal! I know for myself, I have made it my goal to become a better golfer. If you can't think of something, then take it as a time to just try new things and see which one triggers the urge to continue and progress in that activity.