A big part of summer for teenagers and young adults in a summer job. It could be anything from a paid internship to a volunteer camp counselor. But what if you cannot find a job? What can you do to kill time during the day? I have a few activities that may help.

1. Take standardized test prep courses

You are never too young to start preparing for the SAT, GRE, ACT, LSAT, etc.. The earlier you start preparing for these tests, the less stressed you will be during your senior year. If you take any of these tests early and score well, they are good for five years. So, if you take a standardized test 1-5 years before you apply to college or graduate school, you will not have to worry about them when you apply. Standardized prep courses can be offered online or in-person, so there is no concern about transportation or time. They are also a great way to spend your summer because they not only help you prepare for the test but also they refresh fundamental Math and Reading concepts for high school or college.

2. Finish a Video Game That Frustrated You

Do not forget to have some fun during the summer. However, fun does not have to mean something unproductive. We all have that video game that we could not finish and abandoned as a kid. Now that you are older try finishing the game because the feeling is immensely satisfying. Older you has better hand-eye coordination and better patience to finish the game. You may end up loving the game, and most importantly your frustration will be gone.

3. Read an Interesting Book

An interesting book will always kill time during the summer because you are too invested in the story to be interrupted. Keep in mind that an interesting book can come from anywhere, including your summer reading list. Pick up a classic such as Jane Eyre,Pride and Prejudice, or Animal Farm. While they may sound boring, all three are amazing stories with profound messages about social norms and ideologies. If you become bored with TV and movies, pick up a book instead.

4. Go on a Trip

A summer job may not allow you to take a trip somewhere, but since you do not have one a trip can definitely be on the agenda. A trip does not have to be to somewhere far away such as Europe; you can take a road trip around your state. A road trip around your state can be just as informative and eye-opening as an international trip because you can still learn about your state’s history and visit important monuments. A summer trip does not have to be expensive or far away to be fun; a domestic one will be just fine.

5. Discover a New Show

If you do not feel like leaving the house, you can still discover a great show on either Netflix or Amazon Prime. Binge-watching is not just for winter time because discovering a great show can happen any time. Enjoy the show.

Not having a summer job does not condemn you to a boring summer. There are still fun things you can do to occupy yourself this summer that are not job-related. Do not be sad about not having a summer job because it is not a requirement for summer vacation. No summer job, no problem.