School’s out for summer, and all is right with the world. That is, until you’ve spent a week cooped up inside with your family. You’re ready for some action! On the heels of Memorial Day weekend, here are some suggestions for beating summer boredom.
• Travel. The summer following my freshman year of college, I visited my best friend from school in her hometown of Atlanta. It was the first time I’d traveled by myself, and it kept me from missing her all summer long. Bonus: staying with friends when you travel is a great way to cut costs and learn the ins and outs of a new city.
• Volunteer. Summer is a great time to explore a passion that you may not have time for during the busy school year. Do you love animals? See if you can volunteer to walk dogs at a local animal shelter. Beyond being a great way to keep busy, volunteering also looks good on a resume.
• Go outside. I might be biased, but having gone to school on the frozen tundra that is Syracuse University, I savored every last bit of sunshine in the summertime. Hike with friends, ride your bike around town, or go for a swim. Your body will thank you for the boost of Vitamin D!
• Take a lesson. Is there something you’ve always wanted to learn, or a skill you’ve always wished you had? Use your free time during the summer to indulge that curiosity. Take a cooking class, or sign up for guitar lessons. You might discover a new passion!
• Get a job. Having a summer job might sound like a snooze, but I always enjoyed mine. Make work fun by getting to know your coworkers and making some new friends. When school starts up again, you’ll thank yourself for the extra cash. More money to spend on back-to-school clothes? Yes, please.
It can be tempting to surrender yourself to 12-hour Netflix marathons in the summer, and some days may call for that. Don’t let yourself become a total couch potato, though. Get involved and have some fun—at the very least, you’ll come back to school in the fall with a few good stories!
Written by Nicole Milano. Nicole is a writer and yoga instructor from Rochester, N.Y., as well as a freelance writer for NextStepU. Read more from her at The Everyday Yogi and tweet her @nicolemariemil.
