What to Do This Summer

By Kailey Walters on June 6, 2017

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As someone with too much time on my hands now that the school year’s over and my summer job doesn’t start for another month, I need things to do. I know, it sounds crazy — what college student ever has free time? When I compare myself to other people my age, like that one who has an internship at [insert prestigious company] or this one who’s spending the summer studying in a foreign country, I can’t help but feel … well … a little lame.

Yet, no matter how weird it may feel at first to not have anything to do, one of the most valuable things I’ve ever learned is firstly, the importance of self-care and secondly, being productive over being busy.

After a stressful school year, taking care of yourself is paramount. Even if you’re still feeling swamped with responsibilities this summer, whatever they may be, they can’t be as important as your health and well-being. Allow yourself at least a few days to relax because you deserve it. Catch up with those friends you never got to see during the semester because you were all too busy studying.

If you’re at home, hang out with a few familiar faces you haven’t seen in a while. Spend some much needed time with your family since they probably miss you a lot. Don’t underestimate the power of spending time with people you enjoy being with, as their energy, support, and general silliness can help remind you of all the positivity and love in your life.

If you recharge your batteries by spending time alone, do that too. I often re-energize by retreating to a quiet spot with a good book, blissfully lost in someone else’s world until I tear my eyes from the pages, blinking confusedly at the clock several hours later. I also enjoy going for runs or swimming laps, as the physical activity takes my mind off of everything else and allows me to focus solely on my breathing and the repetitive movement of my arms and legs.

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If these sorts of things don’t relax you, I encourage you to indulge in something that does — something that brings you happiness and peace while you’re doing them. This could include anything from hiking in your favorite park to crocheting a sweater for your dog to simply listening to life-giving music. I would only caution that you limit social media and the Internet in general, as spending too much time mindlessly scrolling through newsfeeds or binge watching Netflix can leave you feeling more drained than before you started.

Another important thing to remember is that being productive is much more beneficial than just being busy. By busy, I mean filling your time with meaningless activity such as excessively using social media, watching movies and shows for hours on end, and even sleeping way more than is necessary. Don’t get me wrong, these things are great … in moderation.

In contrast, being productive involves doing things that are useful and beneficial to you in some way. Engage in activities that speak to your passions and goals you want to fulfill. As a writer, some of my goals for this summer include creating my own blog and finally getting started on that novel I’ve been meaning to write for several years now. I also plan to make my way through the towering stack of books that I haven’t yet read, which has been sitting next to my desk for almost the past year.

If you have other ambitions, whether it be learning to code on computers or to be a more prolific artist, don’t hesitate to make your goals a priority this summer. Buy some books on coding and learn from them, or break out that paintbrush and canvas.

Whatever you choose to do with your summer, make it count. Make it memorable. And of course, make sure you allow yourself to rest in a truly restful way.

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