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Avoid the Dog Days of Summer

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at American chapter.

We’ve all experienced letting a long break distract us from getting anything done. What’s the problem? The dog days of summer, also known as the summer slide.

With summer comes hazy days, spontaneous beach trips and just letting time fly. Before you’ve realized it, it’s already time to pack your bags and start renting books for the fall.

A major side effect of the season? Laziness. I’m talking days spent in bed re-watching One Tree Hill and eating stale tortilla chips with questionable-looking salsa for lunch, followed by a sleeve of Oreos for dinner.

There are a few ways we can avoid sluggishness while still enjoying summer:

Didn’t get that coveted internship? Don’t swear off career goals completely. Having a company say no to you and pass on your resume can be discouraging. Don’t let rejection get you down. Set aside time once a week to do something related to your passion. If you’re a writer, pen a quick blog post. Try reading a book from an influential leader in your field for inspiration and some insider advice.

Take a risk. Cut your hair instead of just collecting ideal looks on Pinterest. That terrifying slingshot ride you see every year at the beach? Grab your best friend and get on it. Feel the adrenaline high. Then do it again. Be fearless, as the great philosopher Taylor Swift would say.

Switch up the typical friend hangout. When we’ve known people for years or even months, it’s easy to get into a routine: lunching at the same restaurant every Friday, going to see a movie every other Sunday night. Planning a different event, like kayaking or a potluck (instead of ordering pizza), with some effort will get you brainstorming with your friends. 

If all else fails, listen to this by Florence + The Machine on one of those lazy days. It’s a tune – and the inspiration behind this blog post. 

Photo Credits:

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