We’ve been waiting all year for summer break. Sure, Spring Break is fun but it’s really just a precursor to the awesome that is June, July, and August. Now that summer is here, the days of tweeting “2 more exams till summer!! #summer2012″ are long gone leaving us with the nagging question “what am I actually going to do this summer?”
Yes we pin “10 Summer Must-Do’s” and “Get Bikini Ready with 4 Easy Moves,” but how many of us actually do them? They’re all great ideas in theory but hello! most of us work hard for the mon-ayy in the summer, am I right? I can’t just flit off on some weekend road trip with all my besties in a convertible. For starters, a lot of my friends from college live out of state making it rather difficult (and expensive) to visit them. And I’d love to catch up with my hometown high school friends, but it’s not like we all went to college together. I mean they have their own lives and new friends too, and it can be hard to work around everyone’s work schedules.
Sorry if this all sounds very depressing and lonely. It isn’t meant to be. I mean it’s summertime! Nothing bad can happen. For whatever reason everything just seems more easygoing and relaxed. Don’t worry if you haven’t seen your friend from high school since last August. Call her/him up! Get some ice cream! It doesn’t have to be anything special. The great thing about summer is there is always some festival or concert going on with a chill atmosphere so you and whoever else you bring along don’t feel awkward. There are more activity options available this time of year so you don’t have to stress about putting something together.
If you live on the coast then you really have it easy. Text a few people to meet up on the beach one night. It doesn’t have to be an elaborate set-up with a fire pit and s’mores. Just bring some drinks and chill! For those of us locked on land, however, head to the park, have a cookout, go to a music festival, or just see the sights of your hometown. Lakes are great too if you know someone with a lake house and who doesn’t care if 10 young adults crash there for a weekend (which is not very likely.)
It can be sort of hard to adjust to life back home after being so independent for 8 months. It’s frustrating to no longer be a 5 minute walk from all your friends and the nearest restaurant. In that regard, yes, summer takes a little more effort to have fun, but is it really even that much effort? Think about how little you needed to have fun in college and start there.
Summer is really what you make of it. Sitting on your computer pinning till your heart’s content is fine if that’s all you want out of this break. Making the choice to actually get up and do the things on your “Summer!!! <3″ Pinterest board is a choice you will never regret. If nothing else, it makes for a good story.
A few ideas to get you started:
Try as many ice cream/froyo/popsicle places as you can throughout the summer.
Paint your nails. Many times
READ! It really isn’t as boring as you think.
Go shopping
Have a picnic
Go to a drive-in movie
Cookout with friends
Make a dessert (and dinner)
Clean/organize your stuff
Try at least 2 things you’ve pinned
Girls night in (with wine)
Get a new ‘do
Go to a flea market
Visit that new restaurant or clothing store you’ve been eyeing
Go canoeing
Take lots of pictures
Play (or learn to play) frisbee or any other outdoor sport
And the very cliche, get in shape!
By: Molly S., University of Tennessee


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