As the semester starts to become busier and more chaotic, many of us can start to feel down about how we are spending our time in school compared to the carefree days of summer that are now behind us. Keep reading to find out 6 awesome ways on how to keep the summer alive throughout the whole semester and stay positive instead of stressed!
1. Reading for Pleasure
Having time to read books for pleasure, rather than dull and unstimulating textbooks, is one of the highlights of summer. There is nothing better than diving into a good read and getting lost in a different world for a few hours while sitting in the sun. This seems impossibile during the semester with so much assigned reading to do, papers to write, and group projects to conquer. However, there are ways to make time for pleasure reading. You can carry your book or kindle with you so when you are between classes, waiting for appointments, or eating lunch, you can read a chapter or two of your book. Another good habit to get into is reading a few chapters before bed. Instead of looking through social media mindlessly, try to start reading when you’re feeling tired and relaxing in bed. This is not only a good chance to read, but reading also helps you to fall asleep quicker and easier. Reading can help calm your mind after a long and stressful day. Although reading for pleasure may not seem like a priority, it’s important for your mind to have a mental escape and a way out of worrying about every detail of your life. Reading is a great way to stay calm throughout the semester, plus it’s a great conversation starter and a way to connect with other people!
2. Being Outside
There is no doubt this is one of the most fun parts of summer. There’s nothing like spending hours in the sun at the beach, at parks, bike riding, and BBQ-ing. There is no reason why spending time outside and getting some extra Vitamin D during the semester shouldn’t be feasible. If you find yourself spending too much time doing homework at your desk, in the library, or inside coffee shops, try doing some homework and reading outside. Even sitting in the shade is pleasurable and relaxing. Another way to get outside more is to walk or bike ride to class. Even if that means leaving 15 minutes earlier, the reward of calming your mind, releasing endorphins, and catching some sun, is worth it! A third way to be outside more is to have one meal a week with your roommates in your backyard. Even if you don’t have outdoor furniture, you can turn this into a picnic, or even just sit in the grass and eat some ice cream together. Spending time outside also has a way of calming us and recharging our minds.
3. Good Food
Good food is not only awesome in the summer, it’s awesome all the time! Why should your taste buds and body suffer from a stereotypical college student diet all the time when you have the opportunity to eat delicious food? Even if you’re on a budget, you can cook healthy and delicious recipes and save money to go out to one nice meal every so often. Eating great food not only tastes good, but it also makes us feel good and helps our bodies to stay nourished. This is so important while in school because if our bodies are not correctly nourished or hydrated, our learning can be negatively affected. If you want what’s best for your mind, body, and soul, treat yourself to good food, snacks, and drinks!
4. Spontaneity
I think one thing that makes summer so special is the freedom to go with the flow. Summer tends to be carefree with plenty of free time for fun activities. This is not always easy to prioritize during the semester, as school work and other commitments take up much of our time. However, incorporating spontaneity into our lives more often can be a relief and keep us living in the present moment! It is important to value work, but it is also essential to value time for play. There are only so many hours in the day that our mind can focus, study, read, contemplate, criticize, and analyze. We need to give our mind a break, just like we give our bodies breaks. One way to do this is to do something spontaneous and don’t be afraid to say yes when interesting things come your way. This could be as simple as getting ice cream with a friend on Tuesday night before a big exam Wednesday morning, or going to watch the sunset on a random Sunday evening. It could be going out to dinner with someone you just met, or signing up for a new club. Whatever is spontaneous for you, get out there and do it! It’s a chance to meet new people and create lasting memories.
5. Relaxing and Being Present
No matter what you do over the summer, there is always time to relax. This is something so valuable that we take for granted during the long days of summer. During the semester, relaxing is not always an option. There is always more reading to do, more time to spend at the gym, more meetings to go to, and it’s a nonstop cycle. When we get into this routine of constant motion, we forget to be in the present moment. We tend to focus on the future; we do assignments in advance, we work out to see results later on, and we plan events for the weeks to come. This constant motion can leave us feeling unsatisfied and unfulfilled with our lives because we are not appreciating the present. We need to make time every day to relax and be mellow. This helps our minds and bodies recharge, as well as allows us to reflect and appreciate the current moment or day. There is a zen proverb that goes like this: “You should sit in meditation for twenty minutes a day. Unless you are too busy. Then you should sit for an hour.” I am not saying that everyone should meditate, but the message can be the same for doing whatever it is you do to relax. Whatever you do, whether that is going for a walk with a friend, taking a long shower, eating a piece of chocolate, or going to the gym, prioritize making time to relax on the days where you feel like you have the least time, and you will be greatly rewarded.
6. Staying in Touch
One of the best parts of summer, and being a human being in general, is the relationships we form with other people. During the summer, we have more time to spend with friends, which makes us feel fulfilled. We also might go home for the summer, or work in a different place, that allows us to interact and bond with people we don’t see everyday of the year. However, as schedules get busy and other commitments take up our time, it is easy to spend less time with friends and lose touch with friends who are no longer in our immediate vicinity. I cannot emphasize the importance of friendships enough. It is so essential for our wellbeing and sanity; friends help give meaning to our lives. It is important to make time for friends, even if it is for one hour one day a week. Some ideas of how to spend time with friends, even if you’re busy are as follows: do homework together, take a study break together to go for a walk or get coffee, go to the gym together, cook dinner together, go to the super market together, and watch a movie together. The options are limitless. For friends who are far away, you can shoot them a text to let them know you are thinking of them, or take 30 minutes to Facetime with them once a month. You can send them a surprise package or letter, or post something funny on their Facebook wall. Just as it’s important to make time for yourself, it’s important to make time for your friends near and far. Never be afraid to let someone know you appreciate and love them!