With all the free time we’ve gained from being in quarantine, many women’s goals are focused on weight loss and fitness. Every summer, especially this year, women work and work towards getting a “beach body.” However, I think that we should be focusing on things other than size. So, this summer, here are my goals that have nothing to do with what I look like or what my size is:
- Clean out my closet
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After moving out of the Hill early due to COVID-19, I have officially moved all my clothes back into my childhood bedroom, and it’s getting a little cramped. The fact that I haven’t purged my closet since I stopped growing is becoming alarmingly obvious. A lot of my clothes aren’t my style anymore and my drawers and closet are barely holding it all in. My closet is long overdue for a major cleanout, especially since I know that, even though we are living life virtually, I will probably still participate in back-to-school shopping. Goal #1 for this summer is to clean out my closet, Marie Kondo style, getting rid of anything that doesn’t spark joy.
- Ace my summer online class
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At a whopping $360/unit, summer classes at UCLA are not cheap. As such, shelling out the big bucks means that those units are all the more important. The nine weeks of class are going to occur with me still staying at home, there is no time better than this to master the coursework and get that A.
- Read a book (or three)
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When I was in high school and even before high school, I would read 10-15 books per week. This is not an exaggeration, and I remember my mother even forbidding me from reading until I finished my homework. But, ever since I started college, I don’t even read 10-15 books per year. Although I may not spend as much time in class as I did in high school, I have a lot more on my plate to juggle. Now, with the safer-at-home orders, we have been essentially gifted extra time. Time spent previously on walking to and from campus and Westwood and other travel time in general has been eliminated as all calendar items were moved online, so I will definitely be looking to steal a few of those moments to read a good book.
- Maintain long-distance friendships
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I’ll be the first to admit that losing those “forced” connections (classes, extracurriculars, meals) with friends has been tough. Oftentimes, so many people coming in and out of our lives and so many events and commitments sneaking up on us means that things slip from our minds. Being away from people I used to see on the daily means I need to put in more effort to those friendships. Especially with graduation coming up and potentially not seeing my senior friends again, strengthening those connections now is even more important. From hundreds to thousands of miles away, connecting with friends and bonding during these tough times remains a priority for me.
- Learn a new skill
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With so much time on my hands and so many online resources offering free or discounted courses, my final goal this summer is to spend some time on Coursera or Skillshare to learn a new skill. From coding to Adobe, there are tons of courses out there that will help broaden your horizons and make you a better candidate in this increasingly challenging job market. Hopefully you can join me and spend some of your time this summer learning something new.
I know that during this difficult time as we head into yet another month of quarantine, everyone has different goals and priorities. But, I hope that each and every one of you takes a moment to think about what is important to you and make the time to continue doing all the things you truly love. As the days get longer and warmer, stay motivated and work towards your goals!