After the post school year depression ends, the only thing you'd ever want to do is think about how much fun you'll have in the fall, go tanning, and try to reinvent yourself a little bit. Here are five things you can do over summer break that will make that awkward three and a half month gap a little more entertaining.
1. Pick up a hobby.
It's always fun having that one thing to do when you're bored. Whether it be reading, painting, journaling, or crafting, everyone can find at least one thing that they enjoy and are good at. And hey, who says you can't start a career out of your favorite hobby?
Which leads to my next point.
2. Start a portfolio/build a resume.
It's never too early to start thinking about where the rest of your life will lead you. Look around the web and apply to jobs and internships that interest you and motivate you, and choose a perfect career path. Consider looking into jobs that require the knowledge/skills of your hobby! How fun does it sound to work at a place where all you do is what you love? I can't think of an easier and more fun way to make a living! And, imagine starting the new semester off with a fuller resume and a guide in the right direction!
3. Explore your hometown.
I cannot stress enough how important it is to know exactly where you come from. After spending a year at school in Syracuse, New York, when asked about where I was from, I would gush for hours about how much I love my home city, Chicago. When summer came around, and friends started visiting, all I ever did was take them around to all of the tourist attractions and landmarks. While giving my friends tours, I realized how fortunate I am to live in a city where there are so many beautiful attractions. I'm not sure why I haven't explored it for all of its worth when I've lived here all my life, but this summer I'm gonna start!
4. Go on adventures!
"Think of the thing you cannot do, and then do it." The amount of time I've spent on the couch watching Netflix is unsettling. Get up and make something of your day! Take risks and learn about yourself. If you're scared of roller coasters, grab a friend and buy tickets to the nearest amusement park. Drive to the beach at midnight and watch the stars. Take advantage of the local events your town has, they could be fun! Right now, were at that age where we can be spontaneous and do crazy and outrageous things. Take advantage of being young and make memories you can tell your grandkids about.
5. Read a good book.
Before now, I could never honestly say that I read all the time. I would read when I absolutely had to, which was for school and work. After visiting my favorite blogs, I've read so many posts with so many interesting quotes that I've started to collect in hope to find the books they belong to. I've started reading every morning and it's more relaxing than I would have imagined it is. Search online for a topic or genre that interests you, then take a tiny leap of faith and read it! If you don't like it, give another novel a try! Books are the one thing that will always be reliable and stable throughout our entire lives, so what's better than reading a few in our free time?
