Ah, what a bittersweet time of year -- summer. You’re saying goodbye to your friends, goodbye to your freedom of not living under mom and dads roof and goodbye to partying on the weekends. Yet now you can say hello to home cooked meals, sleeping in late and taking beach trips with your friends to bask in the sun and enjoy the ocean water.
It is a great time to focus on yourself, get back into the groove of being independent and make memories with the people you care about. Here are seven things you can do to have the perfect summer.
1. Cross something off of your bucket list.
When is the last time you did something for the first time? Always wanted to go sky diving? Ever wondered what it would be like to go white water rafting or go on a road trip with your friends? Go on an adventure. Set goals to do some of these things, because at the end of the day, there is no better time to be free and have fun then during the summer. This is your time to yourself, and you should try doing something fun that you've always wanted to do. You have time to plan, and nothing to lose.
2. Work out and eat healthy.
Now this may seem like classic advice, but how many people actually do this in college? Among studying for exams and late night cravings, we eat what is greasy, yummy, and quick to make. Bored and don’t want to make food? Simple pop an Easy Mac in the microwave. All of that alcohol and pizza isn’t doing you any good either. In addition, its a lot easier to sit on the couch and binge watch Netflix then to actually put on your sneakers and hit the gym. Spend this summer going on run's or getting a gym membership. Start consuming fresh and yummy fruits that will quench that summer thirst, and drink water-your body deserves lit.
3. Buy tickets for at least one concert.
As Nietzsche once said, “Without music, life would be a mistake.” If you’ve ever been to a concert, you know that euphoric feeling of completely being in the moment, completely immersed in the music and the positive vibes. While concerts are often expensive, its important to find at least one concert during the summer that you can look forward to.They make unforgettable memories.
4. Make some money.
Either you can refer to yourself by the classic term of being a "broke college student" or you know someone that can. Money is tight during the school months, especially when you have student loan debt piling on year after year and are balling on a budget. Using the summer to replenish your bank account is the best thing you can do. You don't have to worry about studying or attending group projects- and you can set your hours up for as long as you'd like. You can save that money for the upcoming school year, and, of course, for those concert tickets!!
5. Catch up with high school friends.
How many times have you or someone you know used the phrase, "We HAVE to hang out soon!" Or, "Let's grab lunch next time we are both home!" Unfortunately, it is either said then done, with everyone running on their own schedule, it can be hard to find a time that works for everyone. Luckily, summer days are long, and you don't have to spend the weekends coming back from college just to hang out with your high school friends. Take time to see what's new with those friends you haven't seen face to face in a while. (Or perhaps even an old flame.)
6. Spend time with your family.
I can't stress this one enough. Ladies and gents, your mom does NOT call you every single day at college because she is simply bored and has nothing better to do. Believe it or not, our parents miss us a lot. They went from raising us, feeding us, housing us, and being with us constantly, to barely seeing us or getting a call when things get busy at school. Summer is here, and being home means that are a lot closer to our parents then usual, even our pain in the butt siblings, or cousins we don't get to see much but love spending time with. Take time to do things with the people you love.
7. Catch up on sleep, but don't waste your days away.
Whenever I get home from summer and winter break, the first thing I want to do is SLEEP! After one too many all nighters and cramming for exams, or one too many days partying and waking up to go to class the next day, we all put sleep on the back burner sometimes, even though it is important for our health and brings us happiness. Start getting six, seven or eight hours of consistent sleep per week, depending on what works best for you, and start seeing how much better you feel.
However, make sure you don't waste your days. When you need to relax, relax, and when you need to have fun, go have fun! When you need to make money, go make money, and when you need to sleep, go catch up on those Z's.
No matter what, use all of this free time to do the 7 steps above, and watch how much you grow as a person, and how perfect your summer becomes.
