Looking ahead, 1-2 years in the future is a little scary once your life hits college. The reality sets in that summer vacation is not going to last. Once freedom emerged and you and your friends start taking road trips and planning fantasy vacations, summer vacation is soon to be over forever. Pretty soon our summer months are filled with summer school, internships, and jobs. Real, adult life is on the horizon. Maybe some of you are experiencing this now with tight schedules and packed, busy lives. But, there is a way to maximize your summer vacation so that you can get the most out of the few 3 month hiatuses you have left. Here's some tips and tricks:

Set your alarm for a reasonable, early time every morning.

It's so easy to sleep in till noon or 1 every day in the summer since we don't have any strict responsibilities. Oversleeping can get away from us. But, towards August, this is the biggest regret. A few beautiful hours of day is missed every morning. I personally have trouble getting up if I don't have any immediate plans, so schedule a yummy breakfast for yourself or make exciting plans for the morning so you have a reason to get up.

Plan a fantasy adventure.

Stop drooling over Instagram accounts and actually plan a trip for yourself, you and your friends, or one with your family. Do what you have always dreamed of doing. The summer is almost a time of reinvention. Without school soaking up your time, you have loads of time. The challenge is deciding what to do with it. Make it useful and really live large for yourself. Go on those spontaneous road trips, find a way to get yourself on that island oasis, work on a farm, or shop in Beverly Hills. Anything that sparks your fancy, go for it. Every adventure is a learning process, so don't be scared of making any wrong choices.

Make a goal.

Living day by day can be dangerous. Without a goal in mind, our lives can get away from us. We can form bad habits and go down rough paths. For a successful, full summer we need to create a goal in mind to make each day at it's best. Think of what you want to accomplish with your time, what have you always wanted to look into or do? This takes a lot of self-reflection. Cut out some time away just to daydream about your ideal summer.

Summer is a time of self-exploration and adventure. Odds are this is one of the last times you will have a free 3 month vacation to do whatever you wish with your time. Use your time wisely by planning big and making it last. Thinking ahead is your biggest savior.