Summer: a time for sunscreen, pools, and avoiding anything school related. Doing nothing and wasting time binge-watching TV shows sounds great at first, but after a week or two it gets boring. That’s why I’ve compiled a list of ten productive things to do this summer that won’t take up your entire vacation.
1. Read a book
It can be hard to find time for fun reading during the semester, so the summer is a great time to catch up on your reading list! Bring your book to the pool or the beach with you. Sit outside in the sun and read while you work on your tan. Or just enjoy the air conditioning.Â
2. Work on a project
Summer is the perfect time to work on that project you abandoned or begin the project that you haven’t started yet. You can finally knit that blanket, write that novel, or finish that crafty painting.Â
3. Learn to cook
This could mean taking a cooking class or learning from your relatives. For me, this means trying out random Pinterest recipes. You have to eat, so why not try a new recipe while you have the time.
4. Start saving money
You don’t have to avoid spending money all summer, but you could definitely start putting some of it away. You’ll need it for loans or rent or an emergency fund. Once you get into the habit of saving, it’ll be easy later on.
5. Start paying off student loans
Along with saving money, you could start paying back your student loan debt. The earlier you start, the less you’ll eventually have to pay back in interest.
6. Workout
The summer is a great time to incorporate working out into your routine. With more free time, you have more time to go to the gym or do yoga in the basement or swim laps in the pool.Â
7. Travel
This doesn’t have to be a massive vacation backpacking across Europe. You could drive a few hours and go to a big city or to the country. It’s nice to get a change of scenery and to explore places you might not have been before.Â
8. Polish your resume
At the end of every school year, your resume will need to be updated. Summer is the perfect time to go through and replace the clubs from high school with more relevant and recent information. It’s a great time to adjust the formatting and change the word choices. Yeah, resume writing is boring, but it’s necessary. You’ll be happier later when the semester starts and your resume is already ready to go for graduation.Â
9. Look for internships
May is a little too late to start looking for internships that start in June, but if you start looking and preparing cover letters for internships a year in advance, you’ll be ready when the applications open up and the interviews begin. Creating an Excel sheet is an easy way to keep track of the internships you want to apply for, what you’ve already applied for, who you’ve heard back from, and all of the information about those specific internships such as how much they pay and where they are located.Â
10. Spend time with family and friends
Just because you’re relaxing doesn’t mean you’re being unproductive. Connecting and maintaining these relationships are really important, especially if you go to school in a different city.  Whether you’re a freshman or a senior graduating in December, graduation will be here fast, so take the extra time to spend with the people you care about. Â