Expectation Vs. Reality Of Summer Goals

1. Getting healthy

Expectation

A lot of people start off the summer with thoughts that may or may not include: "I'm going to get so healthy this summer! I'm going to start eating right and working out every single day after I get off of work. It'll be super easy because I have a set schedule and won't have any excuses. This is the summer I'm going to get back into shape and really start taking care of my body, I just know it!"

Reality

About three days in you realize that all you want to do after a long day of work is lay on the couch and do nothing. All of a sudden it's, "I'll just go tomorrow and do two workouts, that's basically like working out two days in a row." Tomorrow never actually comes, but it's the thought that counts. It's also a lot more tempting to order food than take the time to make a healthy meal. Pizza has tomato sauce, and tomatoes are healthy, so that's okay, right? Right.

2. Being productive

Expectation

Summer seems like a time with endless possibilities to really get things done. You're going to really organize your life, and hey, maybe even your room and apartment. Summer is when you're going to get your life together.

Reality

By the end of summer, you're exactly where you started. Your room/apartment/life is still a mess, and you've accepted it. You convince yourself that living life "in the moment" is way better than trying to get it together. You worked and watched five different shows on Netflix, so that's an accomplishment, right?

3. Finally getting your sleep schedule back in order

Expectation

Now that you have an internship, job, or various other plans for the summer, you can finally fix your sleep schedule from this past semester. You plan on setting a specific bedtime for yourself each night (preferably one that allows you to have at least eight hours of sleep) and waking up at the exact same time every single day (because, you know, you're going to get up and workout, or whatever). You'll feel so rested and running off of two hours of sleep will be a thing of the past.

Reality

Going to sleep early works for maybe a day. Two days if you're lucky. You then find yourself up at midnight trying to decide which Netflix show would be the best one to start binge watching. You figure that you're body is already trained to run off of minimal hours of sleep, so is it really hurting you? Good thing naps are still a thing, am I right?

4. Missing School

Expectation

Summer is so much fun and you are never ever going to miss being at school. School just stresses you out and takes up so much time and you can't even imagine going back. You hope the summer passes by slowly, and you have a countdown until the dreaded first day of school.

Reality

You slowly realize that you're ready to be back at school, because you miss all of your friends. You find yourself counting down the days until school starts, but this time it's because you're ready to go back. Despite all of the stress, homework, lack of sleep and emotional/mental breakdowns that come along with it, we all are ready to start school when August comes back around, even if it is short-lived.