With the end of the semester and the commencement of summer, most students find themselves with a new abundance of free time. If you're anything like I am, you probably have a mountain of stuff that you kept pushing off until you 'had more time.' Well, now that the time is here, make sure you don't waste it.
I know it's tempting to curl up in bed with Netflix and some snacks to just live there for a few days. Think about the books you said you wanted to read. Think about the movie you wanted to make. Think about the garden you wanted to plant, the instrument you wanted to learn, and the language you want to speak; whatever it may be, it's not going to happen if you stay in bed with the latest season of "New Girl."
There are some habits you can develop to get your butt up and moving on those lazy summer days when you have absolutely no plans.
1. Make a list of your summer projects.
This isn't really a daily habit like the rest of the list, but it's an important first step. All of those things you want to accomplish this summer, write them down. If you can, add details about how to make them happen. For example, if you want to learn a new language, then maybe you would download the Duolingo app and set aside a certain amount of time every week to practice with it.
2. Don't sleep in too late.
I don't know a single person who doesn't love their snooze button. In the summer it can be a little too easy to snooze the morning away. By all means, sleep in a bit, but try not waste your whole morning. I try to be up by 9, and by 'up' I mean actually standing up and resembling a human being. It doesn't always happen, but at least it's a goal.
3. Make your bed right away.
If you're trying to have a productive day, then you have to start off on the right foot. Not only does a freshly made bed make your room just a bit cleaner, but it also discourages you from climbing back into bed. Do you really want to ruin it and have to make your bed again? I didn't think so.
4. Chug a glass of water in the morning.
Ok, well you don't exactly have to chug it, but maybe just drink it quickly. It's so easy to get dehydrated in the summer, but drinking water in the morning is a great way to rehydrate, get your metabolism going and give yourself a little jumpstart.
5. Actually wash up and get dressed, even if you aren't leaving the house.
I don't know about you, but if I'm in my pajamas I will not be getting anything done. Shower, splash some water on your face, put real human clothes on, it really makes all the difference.
6. Eat breakfast
Not everybody likes to eat breakfast, but it is super important if you want the energy boost you need to be productive all day. Even just making a smoothie or some oatmeal is enough to get you going.
7. Try not to check your phone until you're ready to start your day.
It seems only natural to roll over, turn your alarm off, and then immediately check your messages. Your phone is already in your hand at that point and all it takes is a button, so why not scroll a bit? Well, I'll tell you why. If you start scrolling you could get distracted, if you get distracted you won't get out of bed, if you don't get out of bed you won't be productive.
On an unrelated note, social media can clog up your thoughts and there is always so much going on in the world. Just take some time to wake up, get dressed, and make breakfast in peace, then you can let the world in.
8. Make yourself a schedule for the day.
If you're the kind of person who gets distracted easily, then plan out what you want to get done and when you want it done by. I like to leave some open chunks when I make this plan so that when I inevitably get distracted or lazy I still stay on track. Don't think of it as a solid plan, but rather as a guideline or set of goals to keep you on track.
Adding these habits to your summer 'down days' will definitely help you get moving on all of the projects you've procrastinated on. Remember though, the best summer days are always the spontaneous ones.
These are just meant help you avoid wasting away the summertime. If you get the choice between a productive day at home and a spontaneous summer adventure, always choose the adventure because those are the days you can never replace.
