Summers are no longer the carefree vacation months that they used to be in grade school. From summer classes to internships, many university students are under tremendous pressure to use their summer months wisely to catch up on credits or build their resumes. However, aside from working and attending summer classes, you will probably have more leisure time than you did during the school year. Here are several things you can accomplish over summer break that are more productive than staying in bed all day watching Netflix, though there's nothing wrong with that either.
1. Read for leisure
No one likes doing readings for school, so often the last thing we want to do is to pick up a book when we aren't required to. However, you'd be surprised at how relaxing it is to wind down by immersing yourself in a novel without the worry of writing a paper afterward. Take time to peruse your local bookstore and find both classics and new bestsellers to read.
2. Meet up with friends
Do you ever say to a friend, "We should meet up over the summer!" and it never happens? Break this cycle of making promises that you won't keep and make time for old friends and new acquaintances! Go to a nice restaurant that you've been wanting to try or enjoy the nice summer weather by having a picnic in a park. Nothing beats spending time with a friend over great food and great conversation.
3. Explore the city
Often during the school year, we are too busy to enjoy our surroundings because we always have somewhere to be or something to do. Take a walk in the city and take in the warm weather and variety of summer activities that are available. Or if it is too hot to be outside, step into one of the city's best museums.
4. Take up a hobby
Summer break is the best time to learn something new that is not related to your classes. Take a cooking class with your friends or attend an art class and refine your painting skills!
5. Create a healthy lifestyle
If you are like most college students, you do not have much time to be super health-conscious during the school year. From midnight fast food runs to pizza at the dining hall, college students usually do not have the most ideal eating habits. Take advantage of the extra time to educate yourself on clean eating and head to the gym to shed off that freshman fifteen.
6. Travel the world
Traveling is possibly one of the best ways to spend your time during the summer months. Take a road trip with your friends to another state or take a plane to a different country and experience a new culture! You will most likely not have three months of vacation time over the summer after you graduate from university, so take advantage of the extra time!
7. Volunteer
When you are not busy interning or working, volunteering is always an option. Places like homeless shelters and libraries always need volunteers to help out. Volunteering is a great way to learn new skills and meet new people while making a difference!
8. Add to your skills on your resume
While learning to cook is a valuable life lesson, you can't really put it on your resume. Learn skills that will look attractive to potential employers. Take a Photoshop class or learn a new language online. You can go at your own pace because they will not be formal lecture classes like the ones at university, and it will be fun to learn a skill without the pressure of exams or grades.
9. Start a journal or a blog
The best way to keep track of an eventful summer is to journal or to blog. Pick up a video camera and make video blogs ("vlogs") to watch later or buy a nice journal to write in. You can also blog about themed material. For instance, if you are interested in fashion you can start a daily online fashion blog, or if you are interested in food you can blog about the things you cook or the foods you eat at unique restaurants.
