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St. John's | Life > Experiences

How to Make the Most out of the Final Days of Summer

Stephanie Trunk Student Contributor, St. John's University
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at St. John's chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

For the majority of college students, summer is the time of year where we can relax without worrying about exams or essays. During these three months, it gives us a chance to explore hobbies, see hometown friends or have time to ourselves. I’m speaking for myself when I say that having too much down time can be a detriment to how I spend my day. With that being said, if you have summer lulls like I do, hopefully this How-To Guide will steer us in the right direction to take advantage of this unique time in our lives. 

A brain dump is a technique I use often for school, and in my personal life. Set a timer for 2-5 minutes, and write down what comes to mind. It doesn’t have to be grammatically correct or sound perfect, and that’s the point! You can write about potential summer activities, hobbies and goals you would like to accomplish before the first week of school rolls around. After writing, go back and read what you wrote. If there is a goal, or an activity mentioned that you want to experience before the summer ends, write it down on another page. It’s important to narrow down your brain dump into the important tasks you want done. 

After narrowing down your brain dump into the important tasks, activities and goals, make a to-do list! This could be done on your phone, laptop or a piece of paper. Personally, I prefer to write to-do lists on a note pad. Place a box next to the items on your list, so that as the summer comes to an end, you can check off what you accomplished. Then, place the to-do list where you frequent the most. This could be at the vanity in your bedroom, or a folder on your device that  you’re on the most.

It’s important to stay consistent with the to-do list, because it will shape your summer routine! The list is a guide that is meant to keep you on track and disciplined. I have done this myself, and it has kept me accountable for the appointments and activities I want to experience before September. For instance, I wrote down “strength train 4 times a week” because I want to be active. So far, that goal has been executed 4 times a week! It can be hard to stay on track with your goals on your to-do list, and I have trouble as well. But I like to envision the future version of myself after I’ve taken care of the items on my list, and it keeps me motivated. 

I hope my guide points you in the right direction on how to spend the rest of your summer! 

Stephanie Trunk

St. John's '27

Stephanie Trunk is a rising Senior at St. John's University. Majoring in Advertising Communications and Public Relations, Stephanie hopes to have a career in fashion or in the entertainment industry. Her passion for writing has had her work published in the Center for Liberatory Practice & Poetry as well as Nassau Community College's literary magazine, LUNA. Additionally, she is an editorial board member for Intersections, a literary magazine for first-year students at St. John's University.