Summers are always so weird for me. I work so hard during the school year. Then the last week before summer starts is always the most stressful, because not only is it finals weeks and I have exams and huge projects to finish, but I also have to pack up everything I own and move out. And then, suddenly, summer starts and my life gets so much less stressful. I know that this is nice for some people, but I feel like I’ve been running a marathon and then the road has suddenly ended right in front of me and I have no idea what to do. I feel so unproductive during the summers. Luckily, I’ve come up with some ways to feel like I am accomplishing things, and I’ve here to share them with you.

1) Work.
This is the obvious one, the one that everyone will tell you. Summers are the perfect time to add to your resume. If you can get a job or an internship in your field, that’s great. Think outside of the box on this one too. For example, if you’re studying to be a teacher, getting a job at a daycare or a summer camp will help you gain experience working with children, even though it’s not your field exactly.

Even if you can’t find a job related to your field, any kind of job will help you gain experience, and, maybe more importantly, help you pay for next semester of college. I also personally find that having a job gives me the structure that I need in my life. If you don’t have a set schedule it’s much easier to sit around all day and say that you’ll be productive in a little bit, and then never get anything done.

2) Learn a new skill.
Thanks to the vastness of the internet, any skill you want to learn is right at your fingertips, probably for free! People make videos, blog posts, tutorials, and even free classes every day to help you learn something new. All you have to do is look for them.

While you can learn about anything that interests you, I recommend focusing on something that will relate to your field. What’s a skill that will put you ahead of your classmates and help you land your dream job? If you can’t think of anything, knowing some basic coding is always a useful skill for the workforce. I spent one summer working through the HTML and CSS tutorials on Codecademy, and the skills that I have learned there have been so helpful. Learning a new language is also super beneficial, and Duolingo is great for that!

3) Work on your personal development.
The reduced stress in the summer makes it the perfect time to challenge yourself to become a better person. Take the time to set some goals, like waking up earlier or working out more, and then work to make them happen! You can start small right now, and work up to something bigger. By the time the school year rolls around, you’ll have developed some awesome new habits that will improve your life.

This summer, I have been personally working on stepping up my fitness game by including small exercises in my everyday routine. When I brush my teeth, I do calf raises, and while I wait for the shower to heat up (dorm showers are the worst!), I do squats. Little things like that are super easy and add up to make a difference.

What would you like to improve in your life? Set a goal and get working!

4) Take the time to prepare for next semester.
Get your textbooks now so that you don’t have to worry when your teacher assigns reading the first day of class. If your syllabuses are available online, take some time to familiarize yourself with them. Get yourself some school supplies to help you keep organized, like an awesome planner (if you need help picking the prefect planner, Kayla has a great guide!).

I also like to use the summer to reflect on my goals for the upcoming school year. What is my study schedule going to look like? What are my goals for clubs I’m a part of or would like to be a part of? How can I make this semester better than the last? By the time the semester starts, I have a clear list of goals and am super motivated to have a great semester!

5) Take a risk and do something out of the ordinary.
Go on an adventure. Last summer, I went on a road trip with my best friends that culminated in seeing and meeting our favorite band, Walk the Moon. It was something I don’t normally do, and the price tag almost stopped me. However, you’re only going to be young and free for so long, so it’s worth it to occasionally get yourself out of your comfort zone and spend a little bit of money to create memories that will last a lifetime. Don’t blow your whole savings account, of course, but don’t be scared to treat yourself. What kind of adventure have you dreamed about? Can you do something to make it happen?

What are you up to this summer? Let me know in the comments!