Summer is a great time to get out and connect with all your friends, old and new. Yet sometimes rounding up companions for the day's adventure can be a bit of a hardship. Summer is the time everyone is doing something completely different than the other. You may call up your best friend, but then you remember she's at her fancy internship all day. Then you may try your friend from high school, but he's taking summer classes. You even call grandma to see if she wants company, but your call conveniently goes to voicemail. It seems like everyone (in that specific moment) is doing something, but you.

So, fellow people of this earth, I say screw making plans and go have a good time. By yourself. Here are sixteen things to do this summer by yourself (that you could only probably do with other people):

1. Take yourself out for lunch

I love taking myself out to lunch. I don't know why, but there is something really tranquil about choosing what restaurant you want to eat at (no going back and forth on choices). You can order whatever you want without fear of judgement and then enjoy your meal in silence. It's a nice break from trying to hold a conversation with your mouth full.

2. Watch the movie "White Chicks," twice in one day

Not that I've done this recently...

3. Take a nap in a (safe) public place

Don't fall asleep on a bench in the sketchy part of your city, but a nice patch of grass under some shade would be lovely. Take a nice nap and don't set a timer for yourself. Enjoy all the sleep you need to make up after a year of school or work.

4. Go see a new movie

Choose where you want to sit and enjoy the show. You don't need someone to talk to during a movie (usually) so go enjoy a new film on your own!

5. Make pancakes, then eat them all

Pancakes are so good, but other breakfast foods work as well. You can make waffles, muffins, omelets, french toast, bacon, really any of those would be just fine. Then be the proud person you are and eat it all because it's summer and you can do whatever you want.

6. Hop on a bus and see where it takes you

I always suggest it, but I have yet to do it. In my defense, I do plan on doing this sometime, it might be hard to get loss in my own city, but the summer is young and who knows what will happen. So maybe we will run into each other on the bus sometime soon.

7. Plan out next summer's backpacking trip

I love planning out big trips, it's so exciting. Right now, I have a few Europe/backpacking/mega trips in the works. By in the works I mean, I have a Pinterest board dedicated to it and no money for it. That doesn't mean a girl or guy can't dream right?

8. Read a good book (and finish it)

I am always an advocate for a good book. Ask the sales associate at the local bookstore or go online and sift through the reviews to find a really good book to read this summer. You can read it all on one sitting or every time you are alone you can read chapter or two. Finishing a book is always really satisfying, trust me.

May I suggest this book by Kristin Newman? Side note: for those who follow my articles regularly, more on that specific book to come later... *mystery*

9. Write a letter to your best friend who is studying abroad in Rome (or any other really cool city)

So I actually have a best friend who is studying abroad in Rome right now (yes, Hannah, you). As I am sure that most of the college students reading this article right now do as well and if not Rome, somewhere else fabulous and if not a best friend, at least someone you are friends with on Facebook. You get the point. So get the address of where they are staying and send them a letter. Handwriting is always a good pass time and this way you can make your friend not feel like they are so far away from home and maybe you will get a response back with some cool stories in it.

10. Call your favorite cousin and remind them how much you love them

Or any other family member really. Young adult life is a time of learning balance and something that always grounds me and gives me a little more balance is talking on the phone with a family member that I miss.

11. Go shopping

I will never fail to suggest shopping.

12. Draw/paint/photograph something beautiful...or something ugly (art is art)

Everyone has some sort of art form they love to do. Whether it is your side hobby or your passion a lot of things can get in the way of pursuing these so actually make the time this summer for yourself to really focus on something you love.

13. Read this article over and over

You're at Starbucks sipping on a latte by yourself or your snuggled up in your bed refusing to leave the warmth of your duvet, take your time where you are to read this (and any other article of mine) as much as you want. Hit like, give me a share and let me know what you're thinking in the comment section.

14. Self-reflect on the past year

Cringe at the bad times and smile in honor of the good ones. Don't work yourself up over past mistakes and never disregard all the important things you did this past year. If it was really bad, overall you would say this year was 0/10 would NOT recommend and for some reason all you can think of were the really bad parts. I ask you to look towards the next year, leave this one past one behind and make something of the time you have.

15. Talk to yourself

No one around? Now is a great time to ask yourself how you are doing. Narrate your journey to the grocery store or just have a casual conversation in the bathroom mirror. No one will think you're crazy if they don't see you.

16. Appreciate your time alone

So a lot of these things on this list are indeed things you could probably do with someone else, except for talk to yourself, of course. But just taking the time to you have alone to do something for yourself is important. We have to learn to be okay on our own, so when our friends finally get off of work, are done with school for the day or fly back from Rome we appreciate the time we have with them even more.