Summertime in college is weird. The four years you attend college are truly fantastic. You're given the keys to the adult world, but you still rest your heard on a pillow in your childhood room... without being judged.
During each semester, you take a lot of classes, procrastinate a tiny bit too much and almost drop-out during finals. But here you, you made it to June. No classes, no routine you've become accustomed to, no dorm rooms or small apartment and your annoying roommates seem like a far, distant memory.
And the weirdest part? You never thought that you would strangely find yourself missing it.
Whether you are short on cash or just looking to find something to spend your time on, there are ways to make your summer lit with experiences, Benjamins, or even better, both.
BABYSITTING - New York, NY
I can tell you the secret that no one else knows, but should know: Kids are cool; cooler than any other subset of people that currently exist (I know, marketing companies really love millennials, but I disagree).
I know you may be having flashbacks to high school, but trust me, babysitting a few times a week, taking a break from wannabe adults and offices, it's a good way to hit restart on your mind and relax.
Babysitting can also be lucrative, especially in big cities like New York. You can make $20+ an hour for babysitting on a date night, picking a child up from summer camp and making they get home ok, or even just be a Mother's Helper.
Here's What You Need To Do: Put together a babysitting resume, gathering any past references or any work experience that would allude to skills that would be attractive to parents (customer service, counselor, food service, education, CPR and First Aid). Have a stellar GPA and internship under your belt? Slap that on, parents love golden children. Text your neighbor or your neighbor's friend. Ask your friend who always babysits. Browse the Internet for babysitting ads or your school's CareerNet.
START A YOUTUBE CHANNEL - Anywhere
Have a semi-working camera? Even if you don't, you can just use your iPhone or laptop camera. Trends on YouTube vary from mukbangs, Story Time videos and daily vlogging. Also, if you get a big enough audience, you can even be paid to make videos.
Here's What You Need To Do: Do some research and decide what content you want to produce. Set up a channel and start promoting on social media. Need some inspiration? Below are some NYU students who already do it.
READ THE NEWS EVERYDAY - Anywhere
The New York Times recently published an article that started out with: "If you’re reading this article voluntarily, you’re probably not a millennial, because everyone knows millennials don’t read news." I'm honestly getting super withered with all of this millennial talk, but let's fight fire with fire (a.k.a making it lit). Pick up a subscription to a newspaper, like The New York Times or even a site like The Huffington Post. Be a mythical millennial that corporations are literally chasing after, but be one that knows what was newsworthy for the day.
Here's What You Need To Do: Confused as to what to read? Below are some staff picks:
BECOME A CHEF - Your Kitchen
This is important and could be life-changing... Maybe you can forgo all of the ramen next semester. Try those microwave hacks or scroll through the endless pages on the 'Food' section of Buzzfeed. Learn how to cook chicken versus salmon; how to perfectly poach an egg; how to bake the gooiest brownies; how to make the perfect summer smoothie. Plus, impress your friends with a dinner party. Sharing is caring, even with food (I know, it's frustrating). Also, cooking in actually saves money than eating out.
Here's What You Need To Do: The Internet is your friend. Troll through YouTube, Buzzfeed and other smaller blogs and websites. Instead of hitting 'Confirm Order' on Seamless, step foot into a grocery store for the first time in two years. And get practicing. Your taste buds will love you in the end.
BINGE-WATCH NETFLIX - Your bed
Thwart the middle-aged people who are telling us we don't read and read another article from The New York Times on a study Netflix conducted on viewers' habits: "Netflix Studied Your Binge-Watching Habit. That Didn’t Take Long."
"Subscribers who finish the first season of a show generally do so in a week, Netflix says. And those viewers are dedicating a significant amount of time to do it: They watch about two hours a day."
From shows like "Mad Men" to "Breaking Bad," apparently these shows tend to attract different types of bingers. Take a look at the list and decide how much time you have on your hands for the day and if you really want to see the outside of your room (probably not).
Here's What You Need To Do: Check out this list and decide what to press play on. Take off your pants, lay horizontally and enjoy.
TRY OUT THIS FITNESS THING - I think you need to buy a yoga mat
You have all this free time in the most beautiful three months generally across the United States. Why not enjoy the fresh air and warm sun? Take advantage of swimming pools being open, the beach is warm enough to go in past your toes, mornings are a quiet soundtrack for runs and you finally have no excuses about why you didn't join that gym.
Also, fitness clothes are cute. Here's an excuse to go buy new ones.
Here's What You Need To Do: Develop a plan. It's really fun to do 30 Day Challenges, like this one or that one. Do them with a friend and track your progress. Join a gym or use something like ClassPass to try new workouts and have fun while sweating (who knew that could be made possible?)
Still caught up in the attire: look no further.