You made it through July 4th. Whether your holiday weekend consisted of fireworks, parties, copious amounts of food, or all of the above, it was probably a sun-filled, fantastic weekend. So the ominous question on everyone’s minds now is… Now what? Summer is basically halfway over, so what is there to look forward to?

Let’s just say that moping isn’t the way to go. July has just begun, and this summer there is a plethora of activities and events to look forward to, wherever you are. To start, the Olympics are taking place this summer, meaning that every person in the world with a TV will be glued to it, and will finally be taking an interest in swimming, thanks to the lovely Speedo’d men that will be featured on the television. If you think about it, after July 4th, the summer takes on a whole new meaning. It’s crunch time now; everything must be done!

Especially in Houston, the heat during July and August is nearly unbearable. It’s a perfect time for cool activities like lounging in the pool, catching up on books and movies that you don’t have time to read during the school year, or checking out art in museums. You know you’ve always wanted to read the Game of Thrones books, or binge-watch an entire season of "New Girl", so now is your time to do that! Sure, you may still have to go to work (summer internships don’t end after the 4th of July), but use your time wisely to get a lot accomplished. No reason to be down about the downhill part of summer!

Often, many people go on family vacations in July, so if that includes you, then you have a lot to look forward to. August brings school preparations and busy schedules, so if you need something to do, you always have that! Be sure to catch up with old friends you haven’t yet seen over the summer and solidify connections with your BFFs. Future you will be glad you used your summertime wisely to keep in touch.

July 4th was fun and June was great, but there is so much more to look forward to this summer. Don’t let the post-4^th blues haunt you. You’re only as bored as you allow yourself to be, so pick up a book and start reading, or grab a friend and go to the movies. There’s so much out there and summer provides the perfect opportunity for it all. Enjoy!