School is almost over, and the thought of unlimited free time is almost daunting. Whether or not you've landed a summer job or internship, or are taking summer classes, or are traveling the world, or have plans for nothing in particular, here's a list of things you can do make your summer more fulfilling and productive.
1. Open an online shop, like Etsy, Redbubble, or Depop
Depending on your skill level, you can open an Etsy, Redbubble, Depop or another shop to make money and sell your craft! Etsy is ideal for crafty people but isn't restricted to artists: you can learn how to make jewelry, paint, screenprint shirts, knit, or sculpt and hopefully, you'll get some sales! On Redbubble and similar websites, one can post designs and sell them at no cost to you, though with lower profits. Depop and similar sites allow you to sell clothes and other things, like jewelry or books.
2. Make a reading, listening, or watching list
The school year can be stressful, so it can be hard to find times to enjoy things like books you want to read, movies you want to watch, and albums you want to listen to. Make lists of all the things you've been wanting to indulge in and check them off one-by-one before the summer ends! This could also apply to foods you've been wanting to try, or if you're lucky, places you've been wanting to visit.
3. Create!
Fulfilling hobbies like writing, drawing, and painting can also fall to the wayside during the school year. Summer can be a great time to put one's free time into creating art. If writing, one can look into getting published. If creating art, one can look into selling your creations online, or send submissions to competitions.
4. Take up a new habit
What have you been meaning to do but have been too distracted to start? Summer can be your time to do things like learning to cook, eating better, working out, studying a language, meditating, reconnecting with your religion, reading, limiting social media, spending more time with family, gardening, playing a sport, spending more time in nature, and the list goes on and on.
5. Volunteer or engage with your community
Lastly, try to use some of your free time volunteering and spending time with your community. This may mean working at your local animal shelter, soup kitchen, or women's shelter. You could spend time tutoring or mentoring kids in need, perhaps at a summer camp. Check and see if your local area is holding an election sometime soon, and you can work the polls for some money. You could also reconnect with your ethnic, national, or religious community through a house of worship or community center. There are plenty of options to give back!
