With so much time off school and so many summer activities to engage in, how do you even know where to start? You may be exhausted from the school year and need to relax, and that’s perfectly fine, take a week or so and rest up! Mental and emotional health is very important. But, don’t waste your entire summer away binge-watching TV shows or playing video games. You need to make your summer count, and here are some ways you can do just that!
For Fun
Take a day trip with your friends. This doesn’t have to be anything crazy expensive or far away. You can simply take a trip an hour or two up the road and visit a local state park or check out the nearest major city and do some shopping. The destination and activity doesn’t matter as much as the time together and the memories made. Take lots of pictures to remember the moment, but don’t take too many that you forget to enjoy the moment as it is happening!
Go hiking. This is a cheap, simple activity that can be a whole lotta fun, especially with family and friends. Now, be careful to stay hydrated and protected from the sun. Walking for along time in the dead of summer can be dangerous if you don’t take proper precautions.
Enjoy the sunshine. Spend some time at the pool or beach with your friends, tanning, swimming, playing games, and just hanging out. Finish off the day racing each other on go karts or competing in mini golf. Grab some ice cream to finish off the perfect outdoor summer day!
Check out your local attractions. If your city has a zoo, water park, theme park, trampoline park, etc. nearby, take a day to go check it out. If you can’t think of anything fun to do in your city, ask people you know about their favorite things to do. There may be some fun hidden treasures in your city that you never knew existed.
For Finances
Get a summer job. This doesn’t have to be a bore or ruin your summer fun, you can make it fun! Try and find a job with flexible hours if possible, maybe one where you get off at noon and still have the rest of the day for fun or relaxing. You can try and find a job at an ice cream shop or water sports rental place so you can hang out on the beach! Babysitting is always a great gig, especially if the kid’s parents are okay with you taking them to parks or other fun places.
Say “yes” to odd jobs. If you aren’t interested in a steady summer job, say “yes” to those odd jobs here and there and pick up some extra cash. If your neighbor offers to pay you to cut their grass or a family friend needs a house sitter or pet sitter for the weekend, say “yes!”
Add to your savings. Spend some of your hard earned cash enjoying your summer with friends, but don’t forget to SAVE some as well. Try to find activities that don’t cost an arm and a leg. The good news is that summer is the perfect weather to hang around outside and that rarely costs money. So, plan to SAVE more than you SPEND.
For Future
Make a list of goals. The future can be scary, especially when you have NO idea what you are going to do. Take a second, maybe go outside and sit on your front porch and really think. There is no template for your goals, they are YOUR goals. Your friend’s list will look different from yours and that’s okay. It means you have shown individualism in your goal-making.
Start searching. If you’re not sure what all of your options are following high school, or you only know college or no college, do some research. Ask your guidance counselor. There are so many options and careers available that can fit your strengths and interests.
Take action. Have a long list of colleges you are interested in or maybe you don’t have a list at all, take some time this summer to visit a few college campuses, take a tour, maybe participate in a summer program if they have one to “try college on.”
Test out potential career fields. If you are undecided about your major, maybe take some time this summer to job shadow someone in a career you are interested in, or find a summer job that may relate to something within that field. You’ll learn things you like (and don’t like!) with every experience—and these learned preferences help you pinpoint your future career.
