It’s official. Summer is coming to an end. I know. I’m crying too. It’s starting to get cold at night. Parties are few. Your friends are moving in while you’re still waiting for your move-in day to arrive. What’s a girl to do? Well, I’m here to save the day (really, I’m saving your summer)! The following is the ultimate list. Five things to do to save the summer:

1. Acid. Just kidding! But if you refer to my “Why It’s OK to be Basic” article, you’ll know what I mean. Do something you have never done before. Schedule a week where you just do something spontaneous -- whatever that may mean to you -- and dedicate seven days to it. When you’re not busy at your summer job or doing research or whatever it is that is a priority right now, just go for it and you’ll surprise yourself. I think for me this will be teaching myself how to bake goods from scratch.
2. Read your favorite book. Again. Nothing beats this activity. It’s like going down memory lane. The perspective(s) you had during the last time you read the book are changed. Time has changed. You have changed. You just might find that the book is not as stimulating as you used to think. You may even discover details you never picked up on before rereading. Seriously, try this. At the very least, it shows you how much you have grown as a person.
3. Beach day. Does this need an explanation? Soak up the sun, because when it’s November and the moon is out at 6:30 pm, you will nostalgically reminisce the good old sunny days. Grab a friend or go alone. Make some sandwiches and stack up some fruits and peanuts. Throw in a huge bottle of coconut water if you’re a true island gal, and dedicate a full day to getting darker.
4. Go to a concert. This. This. This. It does not have to be one of those 12-year- old-infested-electronic-music-deafening-money-leaching concerts. Check your local newspaper’s (yes newspapers are still a thing, people) entertainment section and go listen to some new music. You would never think to do this and expect to meet interesting people, but most (if not all) of my good friends have met me at a summer concert. Even better, go listen to an artist you have never heard of before, or a genre that is out of your comfort zone.
5. Spend time with your family. Once September comes, you’ll only be seeing them again over your Thanksgiving break.Take advantage of these next few days to just chill out with dad and mom and the siblings. The best people you’ll ever have is your family, so make the time to hang out with them.

Now that you’re all set with my list, go out and seize the summer. Live for the now, for now. Don’t be afraid but most importantly, and I cannot stress this enough, do not delay.