By Emily Salvatori, Assistant Editor
During summer break, it can become easy to fall into the trap of wasting away days and becoming less productive. After a busy semester of studying, spending summer days napping and watching Netflix can seem appealing. However, if you want to spend time on something more rewarding, here are some ways to make your break more productive, while still being enjoyable.
- Reading
Leisure reading is usually one of the first things that college students with busy schedules stop doing. Summer is the perfect time to catch up on all those books you have not had the time to read. If you are not sure what to read, here are some suggestions. There are many benefits to reading and there are plenty of options out there that anyone could enjoy. All you need to reap the rewards is to pick up a book and start reading.
- Learning
Just because class is out of session does not mean that learning has to stop. You can learn another language, how to play an instrument or learn another skill. You can take a summer class to get credit, or maybe you’d like to take a class that is simply for entertainment that does not have anything to do with what you are studying.
- Cooking
Cooking or baking shows can be fun to watch, but instead of just enjoying these shows, the summer might be a good time to try your hand at some dishes. On sites such as Pinterest there are an abundance of recipes at our fingertips, so why not try a few of them out? There are also plenty of international recipes you could try to get a taste of other cultures without leaving your home.
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Gardening
Gardening is a good way to improve both your physical and mental health. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) says, “Gardening can be a great way to enjoy the outdoors, get physical activity, beautify the community, and grow nutritious fruits and vegetables.” Even if you do not want to plant an entire garden, taking care of a few plants still has benefits. You can even plant a garden with bee-friendly flowers. The Honey Bee Conservancy has tips available to help you start your own bee garden. These gardens will not only look nice, but they will be helping the bees as well.
Other suggestions include getting a summer job or internship, starting a project, exercising or getting prepared for the upcoming semester. These are only a few tips to being more productive, or having a fun summer break, but if you want to spend your summer break napping and watching Netflix, nobody can stop you either.
Photo credit: Emily Salvatori
