Hello, everyone! Summer may have just started for most people, but in Georgia, summer starts in May. So I’ve been on summer break for a month already. Even so, I thought now was a good time to write this post. Last year, I wrote a post on how to have a productive Spring Break, so I decided to write a summer vacation edition. I hope you enjoy.
Related – How To Have A Productive Spring Break
//Get A Job
You have all this time on your hands, so you should make the most of it. I bet there are many restaurants and retail stores hiring students for the summer. It’s good to have a regular schedule during the summer. The spending money is also a plus. Try to save the bulk of the money you make because it can help with your expenses once school starts. If you’re like me, you’ll probably spend some of the money you saved on a trip.
//Apply For An Internship
I had two internships in high school in the profession I was interested in. I’ll eventually write a series of posts about those experiences, but the biggest thing I learned was that jobs come more from networking than resumes. You’ll see that when you go through the process of applying for internships. The people you meet during your summer internships will most likely be the people who connect you to jobs. They’ll probably be the ones to recommend you. After you graduate college, your grades shouldn’t be the only thing you have going for you. When potential employers see that you have worked or interned at similar companies, they are more likely to hire you. Your summer internships can set you apart from other applicants.
//Start Working Out Consistently
I’ve preached the benefits of exercise since I discovered work out classes two years ago, but I have trouble going to the gym consistently during breaks. During the school year, I have a regular weekly schedule that I adhere to, but my days during the school breaks are so unpredictable that I don’t make time to go to the gym.
After skipping workouts during the winter and spring break of my Freshman year, I decided that I was going to exercise 4-5 times per week that summer. I created a summer workout routine and stuck to it for all three months. I felt great and going to the gym really gave a lot of structure to my days.
If you don’t know where to start when it comes to working out in college, here’s a practical guide explaining how I got into it after never going to the gym before.
Related – A Practical Guide To Working Out Regularly In College
//Save An Emergency Fund
I’m moving into my first apartment this fall, so you can bet that I’m saving up money for emergencies. I’ve already saved enough money for six months of living expenses, which is ideal. If you don’t have an emergency fund, take time this summer to start one. Use that summer job you got to save money for unexpected difficulties like losing your job or getting a ticket for passing a school bus you didn’t see (that is the only ticket I have ever gotten).
Related – 13 Things I DON’T Do To Save Money In College
//Start A Blog
I started my blog the summer before college and it was the best thing I could’ve done with my summer. Instead of wasting my time binge-watching Netflix, I spent my time writing, editing, and designing this blog. That first month of work helped me reach 15,000 Pageviews in my second month of blogging and my views have steadily grown since. Blogging is such a productive hobby and if you work hard, you can start making good money from it. It’s a fun but time-sucking side hustle to have, but I think it’s worth it. If you are even remotely interested in starting a blog, you should try.
Related – How I Reached 15,000 Pageviews In My Second Month Of Blogging
//Pay Off Some Of Your Student Loans
I am lucky enough not to have student loans, but if I did, I would pay some of them off during the summer. One of my cousins did that and was able to graduate without any debt. Student loans don’t accumulate interest until six months after you graduate, so it would be smart to pay as much as you can off while you are in school. You’ll save more money in the long run.
//Go On A Vacation
Traveling refreshes me in the best way. There is something about getting out of my regular environment that energizes me. I absolutely love it and definitely consider it a productive use of my college breaks. Whether it’s buying a plane ticket to another country or taking a cross-country road trip, take advantage of the long breaks you have because after graduating, you’ll have to fit your travels into two weeks.
Related – Travel Bucket List
//Spend Time With Your Friends And Family
Enjoy everyone’s company while you and your high school friends are home for the summer. It’s harder to make plans to meet up during the school year, so plan a few get-togethers. It’s also nice to be present while spending time with family during the summer. Enjoy the social time with the people you love.
//Declutter Your Closet
The summer before college, I decluttered my closet completely. It was quite a daunting task, but I’m glad I did it. I plan on doing that again this summer before I move out. I’m not much of a shopper, so I haven’t accumulated as many clothes, but I know that there are plenty more things that I can get rid of. Summer break is the perfect time to do that.
Related – The Complete Guide To Decluttering Before College
//Create A LinkedIn Profile
I am sad to admit that I don’t have a Linked In profile. I really need to get one for future networking opportunities but have put it off for years. I definitely plan on making one this summer.
//Update Your Resume
I updated my resume earlier this year and I really wished that I had been updating it regularly since high school. I hadn’t needed to update my resume, so I just let it sit on my Google Drive. Since you have time this summer, consider updating yours. Your future self will thank you.
//Read 10 Books
You can’t use the “I’m busy with school” excuse during the summer. You have time to read, it’s just hard to prioritize it. Make it a goal to finish ten books this summer. My goal for this summer is twenty, but that number may seem daunting for most people. If ten seems too high, lower the number to five. Make sure your reading goal is doable before going about it. My advice is to decide which ten books you are going to read well in advance and cross them off as you finish them. This will motivate you to continue reading and you won’t have to wonder aimlessly about what book to read next because you’ll already have a list.
Related – Books That Made Me Love To Read
//Go To The Doctor’s Office
Get all your check-ups and teeth cleaning done during the summer so that you won’t have to worry about those appointments during the school year.
//Study For The GRE
My dad gave me this idea last week. Since I have time this summer, I plan on doing some studying. My dad gave me this huge GRE book for me to go through, so I have no excuses to avoid studying for it. For those of you who don’t know, the GRE is the standardized test you have to take to get into grad school. I’m not sure if I’m going to go straight out of college, but it’s good to take the test while I still have my basic math knowledge.
//Learn A New Skill
This could be any skill you want. You can take a piano class or learn a language on Duolingo. I was planning on getting started on getting my advanced certification in American Sign Language this summer, but something came up (I’ll explain in my next blog post. I most likely won’t be able to start until Fall. Oh well. It’s the thought that counts. I’ll try to find another skill to learn in the next few months.
Related – 13 Morning Habits Worth Starting In College
Those were 15 productive things to do this summer. I hope this gave you ideas to make the most of your break. Can you guys belive it’s already June? This year is going by fast!
Did I miss anything? What productive things are you doing this summer? Are you going on any cool trips?
I’m currently in my second month of my summer break and it drives me crazy since I basically don’t do anything (I apply for internship but it’s only started in the third month of my summer break).
Thanks for the advice! And, oh, I think it will be nice to put applying for online class into your list. I applied for Introduction to Social Psychology class using edX app a few days ago and it’s really interesting (I’m originally Japanese Studies student).