Some summers are void of internships or jobs and there’s nothing wrong with that. Despite not having a place you have to go to on a daily basis, you can still be a productive member of society. Nothing is worse than falling into that summer void where you spend days in pajamas being so bored that you end up watching YouTube tutorials for how to make cakes shaped like hamburgers and spaghetti…or is that just me?
Anyway, your summer doesn’t have to be a garbage shoot of nonproductive actives. There are a million things to do this summer that are definitely more productive than staring at a television/laptop screen or complaining about boredom. P.S. I’ve got productive ideas for every season (sort of), here’s Productive Things to do Over Winter Break.
1. Volunteer.
Try your local library or animal shelter. Honestly, finding somewhere to volunteer can be almost as difficult as finding an internship sometimes, so you might have to funnel a lot of energy into this. Volunteering is a nice little resume booster and it’s just a good thing in general.
2. Do a color run (or some sort of run).
Color runs are really fun (I’ve got tips for surviving one if you’ve decided to partake). I did Run or Dye and an Autism U color run a few years back and had a blast. You don’t need to be a runner to do these. I literally had “Walk or Dye” shirts for me and my friends and we walked or briskly jogged the entire time and so did a lot of others. Trust me, I’m the furthest thing from an athlete and I still had a good time. Plus, you’re getting exercise and helping a cause. There are black-light runs, color runs and all sorts of fun ones if you want to spice it up.
2. Unpack your things from college and go through them.
If you just moved back from college like I did, you definitely have a ton of crap that doesn’t have a home. Unpacking and sorting all of these things is a great way to kill time, mostly because it’s incredibly time consuming. If you’re not a college student nor have you recently been one, try cleaning out your garage or attic or some other major area of your abode that you’ve been avoiding.
3. Catch up with hometown friends and family.
Summer is generally a time of less obligation (sort of) and thus schedules tend to be a little bit freer. Catch up with anyone you haven’t spoken to in a while whether it be grabbing coffee in the morning or inviting them along to do a color run with you. It’s easy to lose touch with people you care about during a busy year, so use your summer to strengthen old bonds.
4. Organize your wardrobe.
I just did this and ended up donating three garbage bagfuls of clothing. Get rid of the things you won’t wear or haven’t worn in a long time and if they’re in decent condition, donate them! You’ll have more space and you’ll feel much lighter. If you’re also a packrat who has a really difficult time with this, I’ve got some Hoarder’s Guide to Getting Rid of Stuff.
5. Clean up and strengthen your social media presence.
Social media is so major in most job searches. Depending on your field, most employers seek someone who’s very well-versed in social media. Update your social media photos, delete some Tweets and posts you kind of regret and maybe even join new social networks. This becomes unproductive if you spend this time scrolling through Facebook and somehow ending up on your best friend from elementary school’s brother’s girlfriend’s profile. Yeah, don’t get sucked into the creeping void. Also, go onto the social medias with a goal, don’t loiter on them.
6. Prepare for the next academic session.
If it’s your first year of college, I have a whole in depth guide for preparing for that here. If it’s your junior year or even your senior year of high school or any year in general this includes things like buying school supplies and sorting through supplies you already own. This also might include your summer reading, which should NOT be saved until last minute. If you’ve graduated and there’s no next academic session, prepare for the workforce or whatever endeavors you have coming up in the fall.
7. Find a healthy recipe or restaurant you love.
For me, chickpeas have become a new staple in my life. They’re DELICIOUS. Don’t be afraid to try new food or food that scares you. I also found a healthy ’50s themed eatery near my college that serves the most delicious healthy chocolate milkshakes, such a win.
Finding a healthy snack/food/restaurant is an easy way to start on a path to a healthier life. It’s also an excuse to be on Pinterest, BUT, if you go on Pinterest you must leave with a recipe you actually plan to make and will follow through on. Don’t get sucked into the void that is Pinterest.
8. Take a class.
If you can’t take a summer class from your college, try taking one at a local college or even at a place that’s of interest to you. Michael’s craft store offers cake decorating classes and some hair salons might even offer hair styling classes. Learning something new and going to a class is a good way to expand your mind while also forcing yourself to get dressed and do something during summer.
Hopefully these things will help you avoid your summer becoming an endless void and laziness and unproductiveness. Then again, there’s nothing wrong with occasionally staying in your pajamas all day and eating snacks.
