Every year when summer rolls around, I have incredibly high goals for what I want to accomplish during these hard-earned days of freedom. I make a list of what I want to accomplish at the beginning of the summer, and by the end, I end up only crossing off one or two items on my list. So this summer, I'm determined to succeed in completing more goals than not. Here are some tricks I'm going to use to keep me on track that can be adopted by anyone else wanting to take advantage of their summer:

1. Wake up early

Sleeping late is the greatest predictor of procrastination for me while waking up early is an early indicator of productivity. When I don't have to wake up early for school, sleeping in can be all too easy, and half the day can be gone by the time I open my eyes. Not only does this throw off my sleep schedule, forcing me to fall asleep later and repeat the whole cycle all over again, but it wastes so much time. Alternatively, waking up early puts me in a good mood and gifts me valuable, uninterrupted hours to work on whatever goals I've set.

2. Break it down

Rather than stating "write a novel" (like I have the last few years), make it a goal to write at least a thousand words each day. This way, you can hold yourself accountable for a specific, tangible goal in a way you can't when it's vague.

3. Tie your goals into your summer plans.

I'm traveling abroad this summer, and so one of my goals is to make a travel video to remember this experience, along with an art journal or scrapbook. By having goals that tie into your already predetermined summer plans, you're a lot more likely to complete them than if you have to etch out time and space for a goal all on its own.

4. Create accountability

A couple more of my goals are to study for the GRE and learn to code. But again, these goals are somewhat vague and not truly enforceable on a day to day basis. To create accountability, I'm considering signing up for a GRE prep course and attending a coding meet up each week. This way, I'll be able to measure my progress and be held accountable for doing the work by instructors and fellow students.

5. Make time for fun.

Of course, summer is all about a bit of relaxation from the stress of school, so don't put more stress on yourself if you can help it! If you're overly anxious about your productivity, then you won't be able to be productive at all. Whatever your goals, make time for pure fun in your summer schedule, whether it's hanging with friends or attending a movie.

With its unscheduled hours and liberation from homework, summer holds limitless possibilities for what you can accomplish. Just make sure to set realistic, clearly definable goals and pair your pursuits with some pleasure, and you'll be on your way to achieving your goals faster than you can say "back-to-school season"!