At the end of the school year, I was skeptical to go back home because of the fast-paced Tallahassee life that I had gotten accustomed to. I was scared that the slow and long summer would drag on, I would see my friends less, and ultimately that I wouldn't be as happy. Although it was great to be in my home with my family again, my initial first week back felt confusing because there was nothing for me to do.

Having to worry about classes and assignments was over, going out for Slurpees with friends at three in the morning wasn't on my schedule, and the sporadic events and decisions that had surrounded my college life weren't occurring anymore.

I felt that it was hard enough to adjust to college life and when I finally got used to it, I had to move back home, but after getting back into a normal lifestyle, I realized that I needed to adjust my mindset instead of my schedule.

I began to look at the long summer as a much-needed break from college life and started being thankful for my downtime. All the free time I had on my hands gave me more time to think about all that I had, which left me feeling thankful every morning, influencing me to become more creative with my hours and days.

I've created a bullet journal, painted, gotten more into fashion, and ultimately started picking up hobbies I've always wanted to try. Everything that I have been doing this summer has been for myself, which is something that was lacking during my hectic school year; this idea that I should be doing more to please my mind and spirit has opened me up to a more lively and conscious perspective. This burst of creativity and fun is allowing me to be happy during the summer without the constant fast-paced days and nights that Tallahassee provided me with.

My state of mind is at peace more than it ever was and I am able to still live my best life away from FSU, too. It is always hard going back and forth between two drastically different lifestyles but in order to continue to prosper mentally, it is important to work with your environment instead of complaining and sulk over it.

If you're struggling to adapt to being home again, make sure you take a couple of days to reflect on what you are thankful for in order to look at your summer life with happiness and productivity instead of sadness. This first month of summer has taught me to adapt, be creative, and reflect on the things that make me happy, which has led me to be a calmer and more opportunistic individual.