Summer has finally come! It took forever but it came. There are so many things to do and people to see. Slow down and plan just a little bit so that you can relax without being worried about the possibility of missing out on anything. School will be back before you know it so here are some things to keep you going through the summer.
1. See your high school friends
By now you should be running to your high school friends. They have been here for you through some of the roughest times and it has been way too long! Spend time with them all summer because its not going to be any easier to say goodbye in the fall than it was last fall. Go on adventures with them, have sleepovers, binge-watch Netflix with them, do everything you can to take advantage of the time you have with them now.
2. Spend all the time you can with your family
As much as you hate to admit it, you have missed your family more than anything. Make sure to make time for them this summer. They have missed you, too. Make sure to make it home for family dinners, game nights, and movies. Go on adventures with them, too. They are the ones that will be here no matter what, so don’t take them for granted.
3. Watch the sunrise and sunset
Watching the sun rise and set is a humbling experience. It reminds you that the world is such a big place and that without this big burning star in the sky we wouldn’t even exist. Take in the warmth and the beautiful colors that it creates. Watch it alone. Watch it with your boyfriend or girlfriend. Watch it with family, watch it with friends. Just watch it. Don’t take a picture. Don’t feel the need to show off that you watched it. Just do it. Trust me.
4. Don’t sleep in
I know … how could I say such a thing? I hate waking up too, but this is an important one. Make sure to wake up every day and use every minute you can. Summer is shorter than you think and it will fly by faster than the school year went. On a more medical level, you shouldn’t let your sleep cycle get so messed up. You will regret waking up at noon every day when those 8 AMs come back around.
5. Sit by the fire
The fire is just happiness. Even with all the bugs, nobody can resist a good fire. Bring out the s’mores and guitar. Invite some friends over and just relax around the fire. It can be a very relaxing time and you can do just about anything by the fire. Bring out a good book and let the crackling of the wood set a great mood for reading or turn up some music and relax.
6. Go to the beach
The beach is the most amazing place on the planet. Put on some sunscreen and go relax. You can relax on the beach any time, other than high tide I mean. Even at night, you can you set out your blanket and watch the stars. Bring a book during the day and get a nice tan while getting your summer reading list done. Leave your phone at home for this one, too. Wouldn’t want high tide to sneak up on you.
7. Binge-watch Netflix
Netflix was made for endless days of nothing else to do. So find some new TV shows and watch them through the summer. Get it out of your system so that next year you don’t get at least as distracted as you got this year. It’s okay we all did it, don’t lie and say you didn’t.
8. Go on a vacation
I'm not saying you need to go all out and go to the Bahamas for the whole summer. But take a week and just go somewhere new. Try to get the family or friends in on it and make it a big deal. You don’t get to leave the brick buildings of school too often so take advantage of having this time and go somewhere you have always wanted to go.
9. Find an excuse to dress up
Everybody likes to dress up every once in a while. Try not to live in summer lounging clothes. Find an event and get all dressed up because it can be great to get all dressed up at least once. If you can’t find a reason to dress up, make one. Put on a dinner and have guests dress up. Just for fun.
10. Get healthy
Take this time to get rid of that freshman fifteen. Join a gym and start going for runs when you wake up. I find it easier to work out before your brain knows what's going on and it will be motivation to get up before noon, otherwise it will be too hot to run. You’ll want to get good habits started and work off all of that school food before classes start up again.
11. Learn to love yourself
Learn who you are and who you want to be. Take anything and everything that happens this summer and learn from it. Make yourself someone who you love. Forget about the perfect beach body and thigh gap. Love every part of your body. Big or small, you are perfect just the way you are. Remember this as the summer season is the easiest time to forget how perfect you are.
12. Save up your money
We are all broke and everyone knows it. Save up your money this summer so that you don’t have to work so hard during the school year. Try saving a certain amount out of each pay check or ten dollars a week to put away for spending money next year. It will not seem like much and when you look at it all at the end of summer you can be proud of it.
13. Be happy
Just be happy. Be excited for every adventure and new day. Summer is the happiest season around. Let the season take you away and just let the happiness enfold you. Don’t let anything stop you from being happy. Have an amazing summer and don’t worry about all the bad things in life. They can disappear for a bit so you can have some happy times.
