Summer is finally here! Finals are over, you're ready to go home and it's time to actually have some fun! Summer is a bittersweet feeling every year. You're excited to be home, see your friends and have some fun, but you're also upset to be leaving school and being separated from the people you see every single day. Its easy to to get into a routine of working and relaxing, but it is important to remember to enjoy yourself and have as much fun as you can. It's a time to make new memories, and have new experiences! Here are a few things to remember to do this summer in order to ensure a great four months!
1. Take pictures of everything.
Most people will tell you how annoying it is when someone is out and won’t put their phone away, but if it’s to take pictures — I say the longer, the better! Document everything. I’m not saying Instagram every single thing you do, or make a 600 second Snapchat story every time you leave the house, but take pictures of everything and document your memories. Being a picture hoarder myself, nothing makes me happier than having hundreds of pictures to make scrapbooks, collages and simply just to have to look through whenever I want. I am the type of person that never wants to forget moments that make me happy, as I assume most people would be. Some of the best memories and craziest experiences happen in the summer, so take pictures and have those moments with you forever.
2. Stay in contact.
It’s easy to get home for the summer and isolate yourself in your room with Netflix for four months, but it is so important to stay in contact with your friends who you aren’t going to be seeing everyday anymore. Especially for college students, going home for the summer is the most bittersweet feeling. It’s great to be home and have some time to yourself, but try not to forget about the friends you haven’t seen in a while. Send a text, call and ask them about their day, FaceTime every now and then and even plan a trip to go visit each other. Once graduation comes and everybody starts their “real world” lives, it is going to be even harder to keep in touch, so do everything you can this summer to make an effort to see them!
3. Work hard, but play harder.
Summer is a great time to work and save up as much money as possible, in order to fuel your shopping habits and pay back the credit card debt you accumulated over the course of the school year. However, it is important to remember that it's summer, and fun has to be incorporated into your life. Go out! Nothing is better than boardwalk bars or summer nights on the beach with your friends. You'll never regret spending $20 on a few drinks while you're out, but you will always regret not spending time and making memories with the people that you love.
4. Try to stay organized.
Organized can refer to anything from your room and your clothes, but it can also refer to your life entirely. If you're anything like I am, you tend to be way too relaxed about everything over the summer. My usually neat room becomes a tornado aftermath, and my motivation tends to slowly dwindle down from where it is during the school year. Although it's important to relax and be less stressed during the summer, it is also important to remember all of the things you want to accomplish during the rest of the year. Keep working towards your goals throughout the summer, and also maybe clean your room once in a while.
5. Go outside.
It’s so easy to stay inside and watch your 30th episode of "The Office," or watch the "Keeping Up with The Kardashians" marathon for five consecutive hours, but try to resist as much as you can. Summer is the perfect time to go outside and have some fun. Grab your friends and go to the beach, go hiking — go somewhere! Nothing worth remembering is going to happen by yourself on your couch all day.
6. Spend time with your family.
Now that you’re home for the summer and free from the stress of school, remember how much your family has missed you. While you’re away at school having tons of fun, your family is home missing you like crazy. Summer is a great time for movie nights, lunch dates and beach days. Enjoy some quality time with your family, and make up for the time that you’ve been away.
7. Travel.
Whether you travel overseas, to a different state or just to a town you’ve never been to before, travel as much as you can this summer. Take the beautiful weather as an excuse to take the weekend trip that you’ve been wanting to do for months now, and experience places you've never been to before. Summer is four months of relaxation and debriefing from the stress of school, and trips are perfect for that. Pack a bag, and have some fun in a place that can offer you new experiences and new memories.
