This summer has been a busy one for me. Lately, I’ve needed to be intentional about taking breaks and moments to relax, even when I have a mountain of work that needs to get done over the weekend. Here are 11 things that you can also do to take a break and get some relaxation in your life this summer:

1. Sit by a body of water.

I live in Minnesota, so you can’t throw a stone without it skipping in five different lakes. On a sunny day, I like to bring a blanket and find a nice perch underneath a tree and just, be. The sounds of the water are calming and even if there are a bunch of people around, their noises are easy to turn into background sounds.

2. Read a book.

I’m lucky to live really close to at least two libraries, so I have books checked out from everywhere. It’s nice to immerse yourself in someone else’s world, even for just an hour. I'm currently reading "Me, My Hair, And I" by Elizabeth Benedict.

3. Get out and explore somewhere new.

Sometimes when you’re working all summer, you just need to get out of the rut you’ve made for yourself and change up your routine. You don’t have to go on an all-out summer vacation, but it can mean going on a day trip over the weekend or going to the next town over for a couple of days. One of the things I have done this summer is go to the Food Truck Festival in Uptown Minneapolis. I had never been before and it was a lot of fun

4. Do yoga.

Or another kind of exercise. It can be as simple as going for a walk around the block. It’s important to have a release of this kind. Make your body healthier and stronger and lower the stress that you’ve accrued over the week.

5. Visit a friend.

See the people you don’t normally get to see during the week. Take time to catch up and spend time with people who know you really well. Better yet, spend time with the new friends you're making! I recently went with my friends from work to see "Finding Dory" when it came out.

6. Watch a movie.

It’s similar to reading a book in that I can tune out my own life and focus on another person’s story for a couple hours. Netflix is a good tool for this. I've been re-watching "How I Met Your Mother" lately.

7. Step into nature.

On my campus, there is a small woods near the pond. One day I brought my hammock into the woods, tied up my hammock between two trees and laid back with my eyes shut, listening to the sounds around me. It was a very peaceful time.

8. Clean your home.

One of the weird things that has come with adulthood is that I actually kind of like cleaning and getting rid of things. It’s hard to do while balancing work and school though, so I have to set aside time for it in order to get it done. I feel like the cleaner my living space is, the more at peace I am. I am currently in the process of regaining that peace in my apartment.

9. Play a game.

Play a computer game on your own, a board game with friends or go outside and be active with people!

10. Create something.

I like to journal and lately I’ve liked coloring in my adult coloring books. It’s a way to turn off all the thoughts swirling around in my brain for a while and just focus on the markers I’m putting on paper. It’s really relaxing.

11. Listen to music.

Better yet, sing along. My favorite thing to do is to sing really loudly in the car when I’m on my own. Being loud is a release for me and singing is something that I enjoy doing, even if I’m not particularly good at it.

Summer is a good opportunity to balance things that you normally can’t during the school year. Normally work and school are my life, but now I can balance work and other things in my life. That in and of itself is a great and relaxing feeling.