Summer or as I’d like to call it the “Netflix binge-watching season” is right around the corner. With the school year coming to end, it’s the perfect opportunity to step back, relax and pat yourself on the back for finishing this year!
Alongside chilling, it’s also a great opportunity to develop some habits that might help you in the long run. Future you will most definitely thank you. Here are 5 ways to make your summer more productive:
1. Start reading!
Studies compared the effects of reading and walking on stress levels and concluded that reading decreases stress levels by 68 percent while the latter by 42 percent. This highlights the huge impact reading can have on our mental health. While some of you might find reading boring and pointless, I promise you it can be really rewarding. Reading also enhances writing as well as concentration skills.
Try picking up a book or magazine of your choice, or even check out my other blogs and try reading more. Reading a lot equals learning a lot equals a happier you!
2. Learn a new language
Learning languages is one of the most useful skills that will help you career-wise, and future you will be grateful for that.
A way to learn a language that I have come across recently is the Pareto Language Learning or the 80/20 Rule and which means that 20% of the things you learn contribute 80% of your total improvement. So, learning the frequent words and common phrases used in a language can help you learn faster and better. Here’s a list of things to start with:
· 50 common regular and irregular verbs
· Pronouns
· 25 most common expressions (wow etc)
· Question words (who, when, etc)
· Present, past, and future tenses (simple)
· 100 most common words used (boy, chair, etc,)
3. Clean out those shelves and drawers!
Organizing and cleaning is a habit that I picked up not so long ago and let me tell you, it made my life a whole lot better! I didn’t understand the importance of staying organized but it truly does change your perspective on things. Habits start from home so start with your drawers and shelves and slowly find ways to implement this habit in work and other aspects of your life and you will not have to run right before deadlines anymore!
4. Learn a skill
Whether it is coding, photography, writing and the list goes on, acquiring a new skill can improve problem-solving as well as cure your boredom. It’s like killing two birds with one stone. Whether it’s for work or fun, you can always reap the benefits of mastering a skill. To help you kickstart your learning journey, here are some sites that offer a wide variety of free courses:
5. Start your fitness journey!
This is no shocker as exercise is proven to release dopamine and endorphins (which are happy hormones in case you were wondering). Most of us, associate a fitness journey with weight loss but it’s more than that. A healthy fitness journey can aim for a longer and fuller life, better mobility, build self-esteem and confidence, increase flexibility, and reduce anxiety and stress levels. Look around for ways to incorporate physical activity curated to meet your desired needs.
Some ways are:
Walking around your neighborhood
Sign up for a gym membership (always check for student discounts or promotions)
Swimming (especially for students, use your college swimming pool and gym)
Go cycling
Follow at-home workouts (My current favorite is Daisy Keech’s workouts. And oh, they burn bad!)
Always remember, try to have a broader sense of fitness as not just a plan but a lifestyle!
Wrapping up,
From learning a skill to a whole new language, incorporating some of these habits today can shape you for tomorrow so use these 3 months wisely, and don’t forget to enjoy the time you have with friends and family and go make some memories!
Thank you for reading and comment below some Netflix show/movie recommendations😊
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