I know how it goes. You get out of school, and suddenly you don’t have classes to go to, homework to attend to, projects to pour over. You’ve spent nine months with this as your entire life, and suddenly, you don’t have it anymore. Slipping into a slump is easy, but following are five tips to make sure that you don’t end up wasting your summer and you get the most out of your time off.

1. I know it sounds boring, but research.

I know it just sounds like more homework, but finding something you are passionate about and then researching it is one of the best ways to beat boredom. I personally love to do this, but I am an awful history nerd, so I can easily accumulate a collection of information on something when I set my mind to it. There’s that old saying that if you love what you are doing, you will never have to work a day in your life. To me, the same goes for research. If you are passionate about it, then it won’t feel like homework. Extra brownie points if the thing you research is local.

2. Volunteer.

There are so many places in the community to volunteer, and it absolutely helps everyone. You give back to the community, they get extra hands, and you get a piece that will look awesome on a resume or job applications, and you never know, you could meet your next best friend while volunteering together.

3. Throw a party.

I’m not promoting underage drinking parties here that look like they belong in a Tina Fey movie. I’m talking about getting on Pinterest and finding the tips and ideas and tricks to throwing a themed afternoon or evening party. I personally aim to do a Gatsby-themed tea time party sometime this summer, just for fun. Who invites friends over to tea anymore? I will. Challenge yourself, get your grandma in on it and ask her how she would have thrown a party in her day, go out with your girlfriends to find your outfit, and have a ball.

4. Make a list of classic movies to watch.

(Breakfast at Tiffany's, 1961)

Reach out on Facebook to your family and friends to collect a list of classic movies they love and make it your personal mission to see all of them this summer! If you need somewhere to start, you can start with this list of movie musicals that Buzzfeed put together, which is the list that I am working off of this summer.

5. Take day trips.

Is your summer too busy to take a vacation, or you just honestly don’t have the money to go on one? Day trips are the bomb for those kinds of summers. Try to find the coolest locations in your state and take a day trip with your significant other or a friend. This list of awesome day trips is organized by outside some of the largest cities in the U.S.

Have fun and be sure to tweet me to let me know what happens with your awesome summer!