Summer is just around the corner, and a lot of us have probably forgotten or given up on our New Year’s Resolutions by this point. Whoops. It’s alright, though; the new season (and end of a school year) provides us with a blank slate to get started all over again. Here are some ways that you could consider doing if you’re on a quest for self-betterment by September 1^st.

1. Exercise more

You’ll be happier the more you’re moving, and luckily summer offers a lot of time to do these things: you’re more likely to go to the beach and swim (remember sunblock), more likely to be outside hiking or camping (remember bugspray), and more likely to be running around with your friends. Summer also provides a reason for working out in that a lot of people want to have their perfect beach body. This shouldn’t be the only reason, but it doesn’t hurt to have a visual goal in sight for how you want to improve by August.

2. Pick up a new hobby

You might be working over the summer, but that’s no reason not to spend the additional free time you do have on learning how to do something new. Try scrapbooking or learn how to cook. You don’t always even have to take a class if you want to start something; YouTube has a lot of videos about literally everything, and you can take those tutorials in addition to what WikiHow tells you to do. It might turn out you could be really great at something, but you won’t know until you try it and freedom from schoolwork gives you the time to test it out.

3. Take the opportunity to start fresh with your eating habits

There are a lot more fresh fruits and vegetables available starting in the summer and running through fall. Since this might be the time when more farmer’s markets start opening up around you, it could be the perfect time to go organic, buy local, and start eating healthier. Plus, there’s nothing better than fresh strawberries at a cookout.

4. Watch the evening (or morning) news

It doesn’t have to cost anything to be informed about the world around you, and when you know what’s going on, you know what you can do to make change. Maybe new information just came out about how our sleeping habits are killing us, or maybe there have been major changes in politics that might affect how you should vote come November. Being aware of current events is just as much an act of self-improvement as anything else.

5. Enjoy nature

Admittedly, it might be hard to enjoy nature with all of the bugs that come out during the summer (I’m prone to mosquito bites myself), but it’s worth it. There’s nothing that man has made that can compare to a mountain, and it’s worth going outside when everything is nice and warm. You’ll feel better if you’re able to connect with the planet.

6. Get a job (if you don’t have one already)

This isn’t so much a self-improvement tip as it is a “make sure you’re capable of surviving” one. Being able to pay your bills is important, and there’s a sense of satisfaction when you can do it without having to ask your parents for money, but it’s also fun to be able to go out to dinner with your friends and pay for yourself. Jobs also teach us a lot of skills that we might need in the future, so I guess there’s that, too. Learn endless patience by getting a retail job.

7. Spend time with your friends IRL

We don’t always get to see our friends very often, but the fact of the matter is that people are social creatures, and we feel better when we’re able to hang out with the people we care about. If you’re feeling like you’ve been a recluse since finals started appearing on the horizon, or that you just haven’t been a very great friend lately, maybe it’s time for you to plan a barbeque and invite everyone over.

8. Volunteer

If you’ve got the free time, summer would be a good moment to get involved with a community outreach program. Volunteering is like self-improvement for the soul: You’re providing a helping hand where it’s needed, and what you get back is the satisfaction that you were able to give aid to someone in need. If you can’t volunteer on a regular basis, consider donating time, goods, or blood.