I love this time of year. The weather is FINALLY getting nicer and you have a whole summer of endless possibilities in front of you.

But then mid-August rolls around and you find yourself wondering where all that time went. By the time you go back to school and teachers are asking how you spent your summer, you don’t have a single answer, apart from playing Fortnite or watching 2000 hours of TikTok videos. 

Sound familiar? 

Here are  6 tips to make the most of your summer.

1. Take Advantage of Free

One of the best things about summertime is the multitude of free, fun events. Use Google to search for free events in your area. Check out the calendar on your city’s government website. Or go old (ish) school and check Facebook events (after making an account). This is how I usually find out about free festivals, carnivals, live music, and other cool stuff in my area. The Kent District Library constantly has cool events for teens so take a look at their calendar. 

If transportation is an issue, stick to things you can walk to. Walk to a friend’s house, a gram-worthy photo location, or just take a walk to the park. See how long it takes you to get there and set a challenge to shave a few minutes off your time each time you go. (This brings us to our next point).

2. Set a Goal

Summer is the perfect time to set a goal to accomplish something you’ve been wanting to do or learn for a while. Make it challenging but realistic. Run 3 miles, try a different recipe every week, read a book or series (depending on the length of the book). You can also improve on skills you already have by setting aside time to practice each day. Having something to strive for gives you purpose and motivates you to get off the couch and do something.

Even if you are working in the summer, you can set a goal for how much money you are hoping to make or save by August. Start thinking about what you want to do or buy with that money. Write it down or save a picture to remind you.

 If you don’t have a job, find a way to make money- offer to mow lawns, baby-sit, walk dogs or anything else that you can do to make money. Or make something you can sell.

3. Do Something for Someone Else

Helping others is a great way to make an impact on the people around you. It also provides you with a sense of accomplishment and builds confidence. If your school requires volunteer hours, summer is the perfect time to  look around and see what groups might need your help. Churches, parks, and non-profit organizations are often looking for volunteers for summer events. 

However, helping others doesn’t have to be formal. It can be as simple as bringing in groceries for an elderly neighbor, leaving a kind note for a stranger, or offering to help a friend clean their room. Keep a list of each “good deed” you choose to do, and see how many “random acts of kindness” you can complete by the end of the summer. (No, you may not count watching your younger siblings, doing chores, or anything else an adult has asked you to do).

4. Practice Self-Care

The school year can be a LOT and summer is a great time to work on building healthy habits and taking care of yourself. A few suggestions: learn new strategies for handling stress; make it a priority to drink enough water; find ways to keep your body active and moving. Be sure to get a healthy amount of sleep and fight the urge to stay up all night and sleep all day. Most importantly, do one good thing that brings you joy every day. Create a piece of art, listen to your favorite song, cuddle with a pet, or just watch the sunset. 

5. Keep your brain fresh

Don’t let your brain turn to mush over the summer. Make it a point to actively use your brain each day by reading, researching a topic, completing a puzzle, or listening to a podcast. Make sure to share the things you learn to help them stick in your mind.

6. Summer Bucket List

Regardless of where you spend your summer or what responsibilities you have, having a list a things you’d like to do over the summer can make you mindful of how you spend your time. It is also extremely satisfying to check things off the list! Start with the very basics and include things that are easy to accomplish: eat an ice cream cone; watch fireworks; have a picnic. Then include some things that may take more work or planning: a trip to Lake Michigan; a ride on a roller coaster; a visit to an out-of-town friend. You don’t have to accomplish everything on the list but at the end of summer, you will have a nice record of the things that you did. And don’t forget to include the goal that you set earlier- it’s going to feel so good to check that off your list!