This topic is on my mind a lot as it is, but with the school year finished, it's hard not to get too caught up in the upcoming year and everything you hope it offers. Yet what is important to remember at all times is that we only have limited time, and so we should do what we want and not what we don't. Here is a short list of ways to avoid wasting your days away.

1. Don't make countdowns.

I use to be a big fan of making countdowns to special events, but what I realized was that it led me to virtually discard the days that stood between the present and whatever it was that I was looking forward to. We don't have enough days to wish any of them away in anticipation of something else. The event will come just as quickly whether you count down the days or not, so try not to dispose of "filler days," because those can end up being some of the most exciting days if you let them be so.

2. Love the ones you're with

This may seem like a basic practice, but I think it's especially important to remember. We're lucky enough to be alive at the same time as the people we are surrounded with, so we should make every effort to celebrate each other. At any given time, it is certainly OK to miss people, but just make sure it doesn't interfere with the company in the present.

3. Don't just be bored.

There are so many millions of places to go and even more things to do, so waiting around for a plan usually isn't the best use of time. We often spend more time waiting for things than we do actually doing them. We can never make every recipe or watch every movie, but it's important to take advantage of all of the different things to do while we are able to do them.

4. Go through all of the things in your day that you're grateful for.

So many little victories go unappreciated throughout the chaos of the day, but taking some time at night to reflect on all of the small, good things that happened during the day can help you reflect on all of the positives. Listing all of the little things that brought you happiness throughout the day is a nice way to live in the moment and have an appreciation for what it holds.

5. Set small goals.

The feeling of accomplishing something is one of the most rewarding feelings that there is. Setting small goals with either assigned or personally imposed projects can help to make days feel more successful. Manageable goals can be fun to check off a list and definitely relieve stress and promote self esteem. Rome wasn't built in a day, but they had to start somewhere.