You may disagree with me on this, but summer is the greatest time of the year. In Canada, it means you’ve once again made it through the long gruelling winter, and are free to enjoy yourself! Temperatures are high, the sun is shining, and school’s out. There’s not much more you can ask for as a student. It’s time to relax and rejuvenate in preparation for whatever may lie ahead in the fall.
Now though summer can be a very exciting time, for many of us, summer slips away without us realizing. We have all said countless times, “Where did the time go? Summer vacation flew by and I feel like I didn’t do anything.” But worry no more friends, I’m here to tell you that your summer doesn’t have to be this way. Below are some helpful tips on making the absolute most of your summer without exhausting yourself.
Seek self-Improvement
Typically, self-improvement is something people only focus on at the start of a new year. “New year, new me”, as many would say. In my opinion, however, summer is the perfect time to be focusing on self-improvement. Rather than in the midst of winter when you’ve got enough school work to be focusing on, summer is when you’ve got nothing but time. Whether it’s getting into shape, getting a job, or learning a new skill, there’s no better season for it than the summer, since schedules are lighter, the weather’s great, and you’re likely in an overall better mood. So I highly suggest taking some time for self-care and to self-reflect and determine what you can work on improving about yourself this summer.
Learn something new
Learning something new goes hand in hand with self-improvement. Investing your time and energy into learning something new and exciting is the greatest way to beat boredom. Taking on something new will keep your brain active and may allow you to meet some new people along the way. Some fun and very useful skills you can choose to learn include cooking, a new language, a new sport or even coding.
Unplug and enjoy the outdoors
I’m well aware how cliche it sounds, but in this modern day and age we really don’t appreciate outdoor activities as much as we should. So be mindful of this, and take some time in your summer to forget about updating your social media, and just enjoy nature. Whether you do this by taking a trip up to a national park or a cottage, or if you just take regular walks to your neighbourhood park, make the most out of the warm weather. I can assure that you’ll feel re-energized and surprisingly refreshed.
Volunteer
Volunteering is a fantastic way to spend your free time. Volunteering can help you feel connected to your community, and it makes you feel good about helping those in need. Volunteering also allows you to put many of your struggles in to perspective, and may make them seem not so significant. Thus, I highly suggest finding a cause you truly care for and have some sort of connection to, whether it’s working with refugees, raising money for a specific illness, or spending time at a long-term care home, and get involved. I promise your time spent will be worthwhile.
Enjoy your summer!