The school year is winding down, and summer vacation is just around the corner. While a vacation stretching from early May all the way to September can seem amazing – almost too good to be true – it’s easy to become unmotivated and unproductive with such a monotonous schedule. Here are a few tips to make the most of your summer:

Get a job

By far the first thing you should do when you get home, if you don’t already have one, is get a job. Not only will having a job keep you busy, but you’ll also have a source of income –part of which you can use during the summer, and part of which you can put away for the school year. If nothing else, a job will actually make you appreciate the days you have off and is also a great way to meet new people and acquire more skills.

Organize a trip

A big trip that takes a lot of time and planning isn’t necessary, but if you can you should try organizing a smaller trip with some friends. Trips to places such as Six Flags, Boston and even overnight stays at a campground are just a few ways to keep the summer interesting and make memories. If you happen to be working, any of these places should be easily affordable.

Go to the gym

Another way to combat lazy summer habits is to get a gym membership and start going on a regular basis. Not only will the gym get you looking good for the summer months, but more importantly it will make you feel better, too. Nothing eliminates the sluggishness of a hot summer day than hitting the gym, getting in a solid workout and staying hydrated.

Take an online class

While online courses can be expensive, you should take one if you can, especially if it’s a class that counts as a requirement. Last summer, I took a class an online class about the Iraq War that counted as a requirement, freeing up more space for the following school year and also ensuring that my brain didn’t completely shut down. I learned a lot taking that class, and also had something to do during the days that I wasn’t working. There are a lot of courses on interesting topics during the summer, and it’s definitely something to take advantage of.

Take up a hobby

As a student in the midst of his or her college years, the leisure time available during the summer is one that shouldn’t be taken for granted. Once you graduate, you will most likely never have the amount of time off that you do between the fall and spring semesters. The summer is a great time to do things you’ve always wanted to do but don’t have time to during the school year. Read that book you’ve wanted to read, take up jogging, learn a language or learn how to cook or whatever else your heart desires. Four months is plenty of time to completely engross you in a new hobby, and hopefully develop some life-changing skills in the process.

Steven Gillard is a Collegian columnist and can be reached at [email protected].