After two semesters full of early mornings and late nights, packed schedules, endless reading, and make-or-break exams, it’s about damn time for a break, and a well-earned one at that.
With the sun starting to come out and Laramie buzzing with excitement as summer approaches, it might seem challenging to determine how to spend the 101 days of summer vacation in order to maximize each precious second of summer bliss.
According to CampusGroups, an engagement platform for higher education institutions across the nation, it’s important for college students to spend their summers both having fun and staying productive.
Stephanie Chandra, a writer for CampusGroups, compiled a list of 50 ways for college students to spend their time in productive and entertaining ways.
Alongside adding new skills to a résumé, Chandra recommends internships and studying abroad due to the practical experience and independence that comes with either opportunity.
Related to internships and studying abroad, networking is another valuable way to spend your summer. Whether you’re emailing professors or going to conferences, creating connections with professionals will help you after you’ve earned a degree.
While summer break provides a wonderful opportunity to gain valuable work experience, it’s equally a fantastic time to enjoy life. Chandra recommends catching up on summer reading, exploring your city, or opting to spend time outdoors (plus, who doesn’t love a good tan).
Exposing yourself to various forms of culture, and the culture of others is also a wonderful way to spend the summer, according to Chandra. Traveling, going to museums, trying new foods, going on spontaneous adventures, and learning a new language, all expose you to different ways of living and thinking.
Starting personal projects often becomes overwhelming and rarely takes priority over schoolwork, but summer break presents the perfect opportunity to begin a project.
Selling or donating items you no longer need, polishing up your LinkedIn, cleaning up your social media, or creating a budget are all time-consuming side projects during the school year, but ones that can be accomplished over the course of a summer break.
The start of summer break also offers a chance to establish new healthy habits. Joining a summer sports league, trying a new workout regimen, and creating a budget are healthy habits to develop over the summer and bring into the new school year.
Above all else, Chandra recommends that students take a break over the summer. College semesters are intense and stressful, so it’s important to use the time away from academia to destress and re-energize for the next semester.
“Balance is key, so plan your summer vacation with a mix of enriching activities, productive endeavors and, perhaps most importantly, free play!”
