This past summer break, I completed two internships at the same time. While one was an in-person internship, the other was a remote international internship. These experiences were both very valuable, but they were only made possible through careful planning. How do you tackle two internships in one summer while also completing other goals and having time to wind down?
- Be Realistic
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It is important to recognize what you are capable of when it comes to planning your summer break. You must take into account your vacation time as well as the other goals or projects that you wish to accomplish, whether they be related to your career development or not. For example, do you need to make money over the summer? Do you have items on your bucket list that you would like to cross off? Do you need to take some time to reevaluate your career goals?
In addition, you shouldn’t neglect time needed with your friends and your loved ones, as well as time needed for yourself. After all, this is your summer break! That being said, you should also aim to push yourself a little bit. You don’t want to overestimate the time that you will be taking for yourself during your break. You might be able to handle more than you think, and it’s good to try to do so. Just be realistic with yourself and understand what you can and can’t do in one summer.
- Plan Your Schedule
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Prior to the start of my summer break, and prior to accepting and solidifying my internship positions, I planned my summer schedule. I created a table, and I blocked out when I would spend time on different aspects of my summer, including my internships, my part-time job, and my time for myself and loved ones. I did this for each day of the week, and my ideal schedule looked something like this…
My in-person internship would take place for five hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the late mornings and early afternoons while my remote international internship would take place in the mornings on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for five hours (leaving me time to work in the afternoons on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday as well as during the weekends although I only worked about three to four shifts a week). This left me with some time to myself as well, specifically on the days when I did not work shifts.
- Find Flexibility
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In addition to planning my summer before accepting my internship positions, I considered how many hours would be expected of me. It is important to note that both of my positions were unpaid. For me, this meant that one did not require a certain amount of hours while the other did for college credit. That being said, I made it clear that I would require flexibility when it came to my positions, and my employers understood. This isn’t something to ask for during the initial application process, but something to mention during interviews and meetings once the environment of the position is understood. I was able to work whenever I wanted within my remote position, and the employers of my in-person position were willing to accommodate to my needs. However, I made sure to stay focused and eager during my time with each of my internships, even with flexibility. It was very important to me to leave a good impression on my employers, and I made sure to do so.
- Maintain a good attitude
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While my internships were taking place, it was sometimes hard for me to find the motivation to be so productive over my summer break. Setting the right tone in my environment really helped. I kept my room clean, and I would play study ambiances on my TV as I worked. I also worked in blocks, meaning that I set aside specific hours to sit down and work. This helped me to stay away from my phone and other distractions. Apart from setting the right tone, keeping a positive mindset is always helpful as well as romanticizing the work by remembering why it is so important. You can think of yourself as the main character as you work, recalling how far your productivity will take you.
Furthermore, remember to take time for yourself as well. Try new, exciting, and fun things in your free time so that you don’t feel as though you are always stuck in your home or at your workplace. The exciting things will stand out in your mind and motivate you. Maybe you can even reward yourself for your work with those fun things.
You may be getting to that age when breaks from school don’t always feel like breaks, whether they be during the summer or the winter. In college, you are encouraged to be as productive as possible during your breaks. However, with the right planning and mindset, your next break doesn’t need to be a chore, and you can build your resume while you have some fun.