Summer's arrival brings many familiar comebacks: bright assortments of seasonal items at every corner, annual family gatherings, and some much-needed down time. While some prefer to spend the entirety of the summer outdoors, others steer clear of the heat and opt for a relaxing day of reading or Netflix. No matter the way you spend your summer, there are a few highlights and low points of the season that almost all can relate to.
1. A bucket list
Summer is halfway over, and whether you’ve only made it through a few fun summer activities, or you gave up on the "Fun Things I'm Going To Do This Summer" list completely and told yourself you’ll do it next summer, it’s never too late to do everything you originally planned on.
2. New Scents
“Tropical Coconut,” “Malibu Sunrise,” and several other (much more obscure) scent names are being made into candles, body spray, and even sunscreen. While some scents may just be a little too fruity, warmer weather can always guarantee the opportunity to bask in brand new summer-themed smells.
3. New Music
Along with new scents comes new music, and it’s almost as if every pop artist has been hoarding away their songs about summer love, car rides with the windows down, and endless weekends all year and releases them instantaneously once June comes around.
4. Netflix
Regardless of a full time job or summer classes, once school’s out there’s always time for a new show (or five) on Netflix. Whether this is a good thing or bad thing is really up to you.
5. Free things to do
Good weather and more spare time are the perfect combination for endless free activities. Road trips, camping, picnics, and cookouts are all easy, fun, and a great way to get some vitamin D. And the best part? Most of them are completely free!
6. Losing track of time
Dates start to lose meaning and every day runs together when they consist of a monotonous cycle of work, school, or Netflix-binging. You’ve lost track of what day of the week it is and probably don’t care all that much, unless it’s Friday, of course.
7. Recycled Clothing
Typically, the thought of living in tank tops and shorts is an appealing idea and part of the reason many look forward to summer. But sometimes that same t-shirt and jean shorts combo can get a little old.
8. Tan (or Sunburn) Lines
The awkwardness of tan lines, or those little streaks in-between your sunburn are a well-known phenomenon of frustration and awkwardness.
9. Lingering Chlorine or Sand
While the best part about going to the beach or pool is (obviously) swimming, it comes with a price to pay. Crunchy hair or sand in every imaginable place on your body is an unavoidable consequence.
10. Longer Days
During the summer, the sun doesn’t go down until much later in the evening, leaving you more time to take advantage of the outdoors, or simply watch the sunset from behind your laptop screen.
11. Vacations
If you’re the one going on vacation, this is undoubtedly the best part about summer. However, on the other hand, watching all of your friends post about their amazing vacations on social media while you’re sitting around at home or work is a different story.
