Classes are out for the summer, and you can finally breathe
a huge sigh of relief. After those first few days of freedom, though, if you
aren't enrolled in summer school and you haven't been able to nail down a
summer job, boredom can take over as quickly as your school workload
disappeared.
Here are eight ways to keep your mind active and avoid
summer boredom.
1.
Join a book
club.
During the school year, there's
usually just no time for recreational reading - not that you'd even want
to spend another waking minute of the semester with your face in a book. But in
the summer, when all your required reading is behind you, you can catch up on
your personal reading. Becoming a member of a book club will encourage you to meet
your reading deadlines and open your eyes to books you may never have chosen
for yourself.
2.
Start a
blog.
Use any one of the many free
blogging sites around, like WordPress, Blogger, or Tumblr.
Then write about anything, and post from anywhere you have an Internet
connection. You can even get paid for your blog posts when you sign up with
paid blogging service hubs like PayPerPost.
3.
Learn a new
skill.
Whether you've always wanted to
learn how to fight kung fu, fix a leaky faucet, do sign language, or build a
website, summer break provides you with plenty of free time to dive in. You can
dedicate your time to teaching yourself, or you can check with local stores and
studios to see if they offer free summer seminars or inexpensive classes and
workshops.
4.
Take a fun
class.
Sign up for a non-credit course in
a subject you've always wanted to learn about - astronomy, photography,
wood working, creative writing - but never had the time for. Non-credit
courses are often less expensive and less time-intensive than traditional
summer school classes, and since you don't have to worry about grades, you can
spend your time enjoying what you're learning instead of stressing over how
well you're doing.
5.
Catch up on
the classics.
Make a list of all the movies
you've always wanted to see but never had the time to go back and watch. Add
those titles to your Netflix list, check them out at the library, or find them
at your local movie rental store. If you want to make it really interesting,
think about starting a film club or a discussion group for the summer.
6.
Plant a
seed.
House plants can help clean up the
air in your home, flowers can add a fresh scent both inside and outside your
house, and homegrown herbs can be a cost-effective way to spice up your
home-cooked meals. Find plants that are particularly well-suited to summer
sunlight and rain to set them up for near-perfect growing conditions.
7.
Lend a hand.
Volunteering doesn't have to feel
like a chore - look for a charity or organization that meets your
interests. Help kids learn how to read, walk dogs at an animal shelter, serve
food at a soup kitchen, or teach computers at a community center. You may even
be able to turn one of these volunteering opportunities into an ongoing
position that you can put on your résumé.
8.
Act like a
kid.
Get a group of friends together,
pick up some of your favorite games, toys, TV shows, movies, and books from
your childhood, and spend some time reminiscing on how simple having fun used
to be.