Ah, sweet summertime!
Lazy days by the pool, trying out new Pinterest recipes and exploring the world with all of the extra free time you have, right?
Wrong.
For many individuals in high school and college, summer is the time to make bank. I’m talking serious overtime hours, multiple jobs, building a resume, volunteering and when we do get free time… there is a thing called sleep we must catch up on.
Despite how busy the summer can get, there are several ways to slow down and enjoy the beautiful months of June, July and August. If you are a busy worker bee during the summer, I challenge you to try these three ways to slow down and enjoy the three months of summer.
1. Wake Up Earlier
I know, I know, this probably does not sound appealing, especially for the summer, but trust me, waking up earlier than you need to can be very rewarding. If you are anything like me, I have always struggled waking up early, which usually results in a rush of getting ready for my day with only a few minutes to spare. However, I started waking up earlier than needed and it has truly changed my life. An easy way to adjust to waking up early is to make it a slow transition. Start with waking up five minutes earlier than normal and then increase that time in small increments. Sooner than later, you will be able to wake up a whole hour (or more) earlier than you need to. This extra time can be spent any way you like. Taking some time to be productive right when you wake up will leave you feeling accomplished and proud before you even start your day.
2. Enjoy Stoplights
When working in the summer, one thing you cannot avoid is the actual process of getting to work, regardless of how you get there. Whether you’re walking, driving or even using public transportation, there will always be a stoplight. Enjoy those stoplights! Use the time spent at a stoplight to take a breath and observe your surroundings. This is a great time to clear your mind of any worries, fears or anxieties about the day that lies ahead. If you use the time spent at a stoplight to be mindful, your mood will increase and you will be able to truly appreciate the summer weather, the bright sunshine and the environment in which you are in. When you are excessively busy, a stoplight is one place you literally have to stop. So instead of being impatient, stop and appreciate the chance to slow down, even if for just a few brief seconds of your busy day.
3. Be Grateful
When days get long, and work shifts consume most of your time, one important thing to do is to reflect on something positive that happened during the day. One way to do this is to get creative. For the months of June, July and August, challenge yourself to reflect on each day with positivity. Write down your biggest take away, something you learned, or a positive experience that happened on slip of paper and make sure to include the date. Then, fold up the paper and place it into a box, jar or any container you want. You can even place it in an old shoebox depending on your level of creativity. Ending your day with a positive reflection will help you enjoy the summer, despite being so busy. Also, when you’re having a rough day, all you have to do is reach in, grab a slip of paper and reflect on the many positives you have experienced throughout the summer!
If you follow these three tips you will be able to survive the extra shifts and long days that can sometimes seem to consume your summer. Take the challenge and make the best of June, July and August, because they will be gone before you know it!
