I would like to think of summer as an endless free time where I can sit by the beach and read books but dare I say, sometimes it does feel good to make the most of my time for the upcoming Fall semester.

There comes a point when I am about a month through Summer break that I realize I need to do something productive with my life. While I have a summer job since every college student needs to make some money during their time off, I have learned a thing or two about filling the remaining space with ways to make the most of my summer months before coming back to school in the Fall. I thought, what better way to impart some wisdom to the masses of Barnumbia students than sharing my ideas on how to make the most of your summer, in addition to your job. Because who really wants a boring summer when you aren’t on the clock: not me. 

For setting ground rules, I would say the first thing for making the most of your summer is to have a tentative schedule for the time you know you are going to have consistently off. Is it always going to be the late evenings of the week, Saturdays and Sundays, or most mornings? This is essential and quite literally will allow you to fill your time accordingly, but also if you aren’t as Type A as me, see where the wind takes you when you have time off. Just please don’t let it blow you away and make you miss your shift. 

When I look back at the ways I spent my time I would like to say I grouped into three categories: personal, communal, and intellectual (because of course a Barnumbia student has to do something intellectual over the summer). 

In making the most of your summer, you do have to do you—this is why the first category is personal. Personal time over the summer is so good, not only for our mental health but also for connecting back with ourselves outside of school. When I think of personal things, I think of finding the things that not only make you happy but also don’t waste your time. It’s productive in the sense that it brings you joy to do this thing. You want your time away from your desk to feel restful, rejuvenating, and sunny.

For me, making the most of my summer in the personal category is taking myself to a museum and wandering around with music, sitting in the park, making a meal that I want, or curating a new Spotify playlist. It is seeking out the parts of my hometown I never visit on long drives or actually taking the time to do the crossword puzzle. It is baking on an afternoon because you can, or finding yourself calling your grandma for an extended period. I would like you to take these hours, to tap into the things you always say “you never have time for” because now you do have time. Pull back the layers and don’t worry about the fact that your passions may be weird. It’s summer, and the best thing about summer is getting to enjoy your own company

The next category, communal, is always what I like to think of when I am craving extroversion. After spending enough time staring at your laptop or sitting at a desk, it can be nice to get a break and be with the people who bring sunshine into your life. I find that when you do communal things over the summer you are making the most of spending time with those you care about, as well as with those you may have not seen in a while.

To get the most out of the communal category, I have some things in mind to add to your summer. Going on a road trip with close friends (does not even have to be far), spending time on a walk with your mom, hosting a dinner party with friends you have not seen in a while, giving back to your community in any way you choose (being part of a beach cleanup, car wash or clothing sale), volunteering for a cause that is close to your heart, or spending time with the kids at the local schools/camps. Any one of these activities can open you up to others at a time when the summer can also get kinda lonely and isolating. Even if someone isn’t available, seek out community by just placing yourself around other people—coffee shops, libraries, beaches—the possibilities are endless. 

Finally—because I could not go through one of my Bwog posts without talking about books—we have reached my favorite part: when I get to talk about them. When I look at being intellectual this summer, I say that term loosely. I am not asking you to pick up a new language or start karate, but I am saying summer does provide you with a window of opportunity outside of your job to carve out space for keeping your brain alive—an essential skill before returning to campus. However, reminding yourself you are free from the pressures of grades and harsh professors is important; you are learning for fun, in 80-degree weather, and most likely outside. I fear it can not get any better than this.

Some ideas include but are not limited to giving yourself 30 minutes before bed to read, creating a goal to practice one skill during the day that you’ve been wanting to try like piano, spending time researching something in the world you are passionate about, listening to podcasts on topics that pique your interest, or even striking up conversations with your friends about things you have always wanted to ask them—please don’t make it heated though ;). Summer allows you the freedom and space to learn for fun, to reclaim the joy in trying new things, and to make sure your brain does not completely burn in the rays. 

As the semester wraps up and we squeeze the last bits of juice from our brains, allow this upcoming summer to be both a summer of growth in your career or studies as well as a summer of learning and trying new things. I think you will realize how lovely the months are and how much you will get out of your summer when you create these little pockets of space for the things, ideas, and thoughts that make you happy and give you a break from the full-time commitments of life. Because as Oprah says—Summer has a flavor like no other: always fresh and simmered in sunshine.

Sunny day via Bwarchives