As college students, most of us are finally blessed with the freedom of summer break. We have made it through another school year and now we are rewarded with three long stress-free months...
... or so it seems.
We get in a "relaxation mode" and spend our first few days (or maybe weeks, even) basking in the greatness of being free from school work and attempting to catch up on all of the hours of sleep that we lost during the semester. We sleep until noon, binge on Netflix and enjoy the home-cooked meals that we so easily took advantage of before.
However, there comes a point in time when you are fully rested and you've watched about all of the Netflix you can handle. You turn to social media to spend some of your free time, but even that can get repetitive. I mean, there's only so many times you can refresh Instagram and see the same people from high school that haven't changed at all.
All of this sudden new-found free time can cause us to get into a funk, A.K.A. the "lazy summer syndrome." And while it is good to spend some of your days being lazy, it is also beneficial to stay productive during the summer months because, soon enough, you're going to be back at college forced to have days that even your to-do lists can't hold all of things that you need to get done.
If you're like me, you enjoy constantly having something to do. That way, you're keeping yourself busy and you're less likely to have anxiety and dwell about little things happening in your life.
So, here are some helpful tips for you to stay productive over summer break, while also being able to have some spare time to squeeze in a good afternoon nap every now and then.
1. Create a summer bucket list.
Write a list of 50 or more things that you want to do this summer. That way, you will always have something that you want to accomplish. It could even be easy things, such as spending the day with your mom, going tubing, or even venturing out on a spontaneous road trip!
2. Find a summer job.
Whether it's babysitting your next-door neighbor or working at your local ice cream shop, any job is better than none. This way, some of your time will be spent effectively and you will be making some money, too!
3. Get outdoors.
Don't stay inside cuddled up in bed all day! Go swimming, lay out and listen to music, take your sibling to the park, go on a hike -- the list of outdoor activities in the summer is endless! And I promise you, once you get outside, you won't want to come back in. You will feel much better about yourself and your day when you venture out.
4. Start a daily routine.
When you follow a routine every day, you start to feel like your life is actually in order. A simple and effective routine could even be getting up at 9 A.M., making breakfast and then going to the gym. A routine doesn't have to take up your entire day, but it can help you stay busy for at least a few hours!
5. Volunteer.
Volunteering for your local community will not only make you feel productive, but will bring a positive energy to your life! Helping others is one of the most self-gratifying things, and it will bring so much light into your life. It will even make you feel good about the decisions you're making this summer!
These are just a few tips to help you get out there and explore what the summer of 2016 has to offer! Now you don't have any reason to stay in bed all day with all of the little things that can help you contribute to having a more productive summer.
