Summer is upon us and the door remains wide open with possibilities. Now that finals are over and graduation ceremonies are coming to a close, our imaginations are running wild with potential summer activities that end up looking a lot like this:
I bet you're thinking "Wow! Look at all that fun in the sun!" or, "I would also like to achieve perfect tans with my racially diverse friend group!" But let's be honest. Right now, most of our friends are busy with internships or working their summer jobs; things we would be doing too if we were responsible adults. Instead, we're stuck on our couches binge watching Game of Thrones and envying our bestie's Instagram, flaunting her scenic trip to Cancun with the constant hashtag, 'no filter.'
The truth is, unless your parents have already planned your vacation to Hawai'i, not having an internship or a job over the summer can leave a broke college student very, very bored. Since "boring" is the last word we'd like to use to describe our vacation, here are a few ideas to keep your schedule booked and your Instagram feed happy:
1. Grow your own plants.
If you can manage to keep a few living things alive, then maybe you're ready for responsibility after all! The warmer season gives us a chance to plant okra, tomatoes and a huge variety of other fruits, flowers and vegetables. The great thing is that it doesn't cost much to purchase seeds. You can keep your new babies in traditional clay pots or get crafty with these outdoor box planter ideas.
2. Try out this new trend called "micro-travel."
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Also known as a "staycation," micro-travel is a way to discover new places, located right in your own town. Whether you plan on being by yourself or recruiting a group of people, this is an awesome way to find a new "hole-in-the-wall" or two that you may have missed before. The best thing is that this can be done as a day trip and you actually won't need more than you can fit in a backpack. Here are a few tips on how to get the most out of your travels.
3. Make it rain $$$.
Hopefully you're not the only one who didn't leave town this summer. If that's the case, gather your friends (if you happen to have some) and find a way to make some cold hard cash. You could either start a lemonade stand or easily pitch in for a permit to have a garage sale with all of the crap you collected over the school year. If you can't seem to agree on those ideas, here are a few more.
4. Finally try (insert activity here).
We're all a little nervous to try new things. But isn't that what summer break is for? All the reckless, adventurous behavior we need to get out of our system before the school year starts? Maybe it's time to finally cross off whatever fun activity it is you've had on your bucket list for the past few summers. Whether it's LARP, a game of ultimate Frisbee or learning a new skill, it's easy to find a group through websites like Meetup.
5. Give back to the community.
If Barney Stinson can be volunteer of the year, you have no excuse. This summer, try to set aside some free time for volunteer work. (Haha, free time. Isn't that why you're reading this article?) Not only will you have something to do, but you get to do it for a good cause. Gather up whoever else is still in town and support a local nonprofit.
Flying out to a different part of the world isn't a requirement to enjoy your vacation. Along with this list, there are many other activities that can make these next few months fun and memorable. Since you have the time, get creative and stay productive (if Netflix doesn't take over your life first). Yes, you should definitely apply for a job or an internship next year. (Hopefully by then you are a responsible member of society.) But for now, sleep late, have fun, and enjoy the summer!
