Bettering Yourself
Set clear goals for this summer. This is the easiest way to make sure you’re getting the most out of your summer vacation. Your goals can be as lofty as learning a new skill or as simple as finishing that new Netflix series. Your list is entirely up to you, but it’s an easy way to keep yourself on track!
Read a novel. Your school probably requires you to read a lot of books that aren’t necessarily at the top of your list. Take some time during the summer to read a novel that wasn’t assigned this past year! Maybe it’s a new bestseller or an old, obscure sci-fi novel. Head to your local library and check out their endcaps for some good summer recommendations.
Keep a journal. Keep track of any fun memories, songs, movies, books, or TV shows you experienced over the summer. It will be a blast rereading it during the school year and remembering the carefree times of summer vacation! If you’re more digitally inclined, check out some of these journaling apps: One Day Journey Penzu Diaro Momento
Take classes. While more schoolwork might be the last thing on your mind during summer vacation, taking a class online or in-person through your local community college can pay dividends later on! You could learn a new hobby, catch up on a subject you struggled with this past year, or try to get college credit for the future. Be sure to do some research before signing up for anything; there are a ton of online class opportunities. A few popular options include: Coursera edX Khan Academy Duolingo Udacity
Have a yard sale. Try cleaning out your closet or basement. You probably have way more toys and clothes from your childhood that you’ll never use again. Pick a weekend and be sure to advertise it with posters around town. If it all goes right, hopefully you’ll have some extra cash for fun summer activities!
Get a job that excites you. You’ll probably have way more free time during the summer than the school year. Why not get a job somewhere fun so you can have some spare cash for other fun summer activities? You might enjoy being a summer camp counselor or lifeguarding if being outdoors is your thing.
Getting Active
Sign up for a sport. Summer is usually the best (and easiest) time to work up a sweat. Trying filling up some of those summer hours by signing up for a sport. Check with your local community center for any youth sports available during the summer. If you’re not into the traditional options, like baseball or soccer, you may be surprised by their other choices!
Go swimming. Grab a pass to your community pool or hit up a friend who has one in their backyard. Chances are your local pool is only available from Memorial Day to Labor Day, so take advantage of it while you can! Don’t forget to bring a few extra bucks to spend at the snack bar.
Get a group of friends together for a game of some kind. Hit up some of your friends, bring the necessary equipment, and head to your local park. If the traditional summer sports (baseball, soccer, football) aren’t your cup of tea, try inventing a whole new game! And if all else fails, there’s no shame in resorting to a game of tag.
Join a gym. Check out your community center or a chain gym nearby. Getting yourself out of the house to lift weights or run is way easier when it’s warm and you aren’t all tuckered out from a long day of school.
Getting Social
Sign up for a summer camp. You might have to save up a little bit of money or ask your parents for help, but summer camp is a great way to meet people from other neighborhoods! These days there are camps for just about any kind of interest you can imagine, including: Music camps Creative writing camps Zoology camps Filmmaking camps Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) camps
Volunteer for a local charity. There are endless volunteer opportunities available to teens during the summer. Whether it’s working at a summer camp or a soup kitchen, find something that fits your personality. Chances are you’ll meet some cool people in the process! Colleges love seeing volunteer work as an added bonus. Check out your community center or ask friends for some ideas on how to get involved.
Go to a concert. Get a few friends together to hit up a concert this summer. No matter what kind of music you’re into, be sure to snag some tickets to a show early in the season. If a friend asks you to go see a band you’ve never heard of, it can’t hurt to give it a try. You may end up finding a new favorite artist. It’s even better if it’s an outdoor show!
Have a beach day. You don’t need to live on the coast to have a solid beach day! Heading to a lake in your area can have the same effect. Grab some friends, a towel, a beach ball, and plenty of sunscreen and get ready to enjoy the weather. Don’t be afraid to mingle with the other teens at the beach too; you could end up making some new friends!
Relaxing and Enjoying Down Time
Go outside and enjoy the weather. Depending on where you live, summer may be the only time of year with warm weather. Don’t waste it! Even if you’re more of a homebody, try to get outside and catch some fresh air at least a few times this summer. You don’t need to go for a run or play a sport. Sometimes just sitting outside or taking a short walk can do wonders!
Eat a frozen treat. Nothing beats an ice cream cone or popsicle on a hot summer day. Try to end a busy summer day with a nice cold confection. Whether it’s chasing down the ice cream truck or hitting up your local smoothie shop, you can’t go wrong with a little sweet treat.
Sleep outside. Grab a sleeping bag and some bug spray and fall asleep under the stars! You don’t need to plan a whole camping trip; sometimes even just sleeping in your own backyard is a great change of pace.
Go to the movies. Summer is one of the few times of the year you’ll be able to spend an afternoon at the movie theater. It’s also usually when movie studios release some of their biggest hits. Get a group of friends together or even try going alone to a big summer blockbuster. If you go during the day, chances are they’ll have special matinee pricing as well!
Don’t fret about not being active enough. First and foremost, summer vacation is a time for relaxation. If going to the pool isn’t your thing, don’t be afraid to take some days to yourself just hanging out at home.
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