Where did the summer go? I cannot be the only one with that question. I especially cannot be the only college student with that question. It feels as if I got home only a month ago, yet in just two short weeks I will be beginning the process of packing for school, and just two weeks after that I will be at school. I promised myself that I would accomplish so much this summer, but nothing that I set out to do has been completed. How many of you have ever run into that problem?

For those of you who are like me, you most likely wrote a list of all your summer goals and even started out your summer being productive. Unfortunately, one lazy day turned into two, then three, and before you knew it, the lazy days far outnumbered the days of productivity. Add in the fact that you spend eight hours a day at work, and boom! There is no time for anything "fun" that you want to do. While we still have time left to make the most of summer, here are a few suggestions of how to give yourself the best chance of accomplishing your summer to-do list!

1. Multitask

So, basically all of these suggestions involve multitasking in one way or another, but I should probably start out by saying that multitasking is essential, especially when time is running out. There are many activities to multitask and many ways to go about the multitasking.

2. Turn TV time into task-termination time.

Instead of sitting in front of the TV all evening with your eyes glued to the screen, take your TV time and turn it into something productive. Keep the TV on, but maybe work out during the commercials or even during the show. Do five sit-ups every time your favorite character talks. Dedicate your Wednesday evening TV time to finishing up that sweater you've been knitting for three years. TV, while distracting for some, can serve as good background noise for those who cannot concentrate in silence. There are so many other things that you can do while watching TV. Be creative! Do whatever it takes to suite your needs.

3. Sideline the social media.

I know, much easier said than done. I admit that I spend way too much of my time on social media for reasons I can't even explain. It really is an addiction. But, I feel that it is important to limit the amount of time spent on social media. Don't cut it all out at once, that may be too hard. Instead, try reducing the time spent on social media by a little bit each day. It may not seem like much, but if you concentrate on spending your social media time on other tasks such as reading that best-seller you've been dying to read since last September. The few extra minutes you get each day will add up, and by next summer, you won't feel the drive to spend your summer logged onto Facebook for seven hours at a time.

4. Take time for yourself.

It may sound silly, but personal time is important. If you spend all your time around other people, you don't have the opportunity to really discover what you need or what you really want to do. Taking a half hour every day to focus on yourself is not only beneficial for your mental health, but it will give you a chance to spend some time doing what you want to do. Who knows. You may find a way to convince your family to spend a day doing an activity you wanted to do. It's great family bonding time and it's another task checked off your list!

5. Stay organized.

Before you jump to conclusions, hear me out. Some people are messy, some are clean, some are in the middle. If you make an effort to be organized, then you may have more control over other factors in your life that hinder your ability to have fun doing what you want to over the summer. Keep in mind that this does not work for everyone, but it does for me. I have found that if my house is organized, I have more time to spend knitting or writing. If it is a mess, I will use my free time to wash dishes or fold laundry, or vacuum. As I said, this may not be for you, but it could help.

6. Spice it up with spontaneity.

I'm not a very spontaneous person. I like to plan far in advanced, so that I don't stress about the little details. That being said, adventure usually doesn't hurt and can be a good thing. It can push you out of your comfort zone. Try taking a hike (a short one if you've never done it before). That is a perfect way to touch nature and remove yourself from the daily grind of being home. Instead of working out in the evening, try going in the morning for a week. Take showers before dinner instead of when you wake up. Take a road trip to see your favorite band play! The adventure can be big or small, just make sure it is different, and don't plan it in too much detail. Even if you think about a mini road trip now, you may decide to go in three weeks, but not plan our where your final destination is. You only plan how long you'll be gone for. Be spontaneous! Just remember your limits and comfort zone, and remember not to push yourself too hard.

These are only a few of the many ways that you can make the most of the rest of the summer. Of course, some of these are easier than others simply because of the time constraint. Even if you can't finish all of your summer tasks this summer, keep these in mind for winter break or even for during the semester when you're feeling burnt out and exhausted from all of the work you have. Summer has certainly flown by for me for a variety of reasons. I know that when I looked back, I'll say I enjoyed my summer but I know I will have a little regret for not fulfilling my wish list of summer adventures. I have a month left, so I'm going to try to make it count! Promise me you'll do the same!