12 activities to make the most out of your summer
Summer is just around the corner so that means it’s time to start making plans for your summer break! For those of you who have not committed yourself to any activities over the summer, here are a list of ideas that you could do to make the most of your free time!
Go travelling
Cross borders not people. It is true when
they say travelling broadens the mind. Whether it is to a destination that’s
far away or just somewhere within the country, travelling can make you a
happier person by generating new experiences and memories, building your
self-confidence and breaking the routine of your everyday life. Without a
doubt, the near universal answer that holds people back from traveling is
money. But that doesn’t necessarily have to be the case. If you’re tight on the
budget, plan a trip to somewhere local that costs less. Besides, you have the
whole summer so perhaps, you could earn some money prior to the trip you’ve
planned. This brings me to my next point.
Work part-time
Taking up a part-time job during the summer is ideal for several reasons. Many employees are away on holiday during the summer months and there is more demand for staff during the warmer season due to the increase in general public activity. Not only do you get to have an extra income during the summer, but you are also able to develop and refine any skill-set which may help accelerate you towards your chosen profession.
Camping
Personally, camping is my favourite
activity. There’s a certain attraction to going back to basics for a while to
clear ourselves from the busy schedule of everyday life. Camping allows a
person to remove themselves from electronic distractions and focus on the
company they’re with and the environment surrounding them. Drawing a quote from
‘Calvin and Hobbes’, Calvin said “If people sat outside and looked at the stars
each night, I’ll bet they’d live a lot differently”.
Summer Barbecue
Summer is synonymous with barbecues, there shouldn’t be a debate on this. It’s easy to cook delicious, whole meals with the grill. Besides, there’s no better time to gather some friends and family and use the grill than summer! Some good food and great company makes a fulfilling summer.
Volunteer
If you’ve always wanted to take a gap year but haven’t been able to do so, summer months can be a great alternative to take the time and volunteer to make a difference in the world. Additionally, volunteering allows you to fill your CV with many interesting content that will be attractive to prospective employers in the future. On the subject of volunteering, there’s just so many options to choose from. Locally, you could volunteer in really interesting places like the Ouseburn Farm!
Photography
Photography is a craft that is rather
personal to me. The motivation of this article is not only to list out common
summer activities but also to inspire you to try out different hobbies.
Contrary to popular belief, photography doesn’t necessarily have to be
expensive. It has been said that the best camera that you could possibly use,
is the camera you have at that moment even if that is the camera on your
smartphone. To begin, learn the basic rules of photography such a the rule of
thirds and so on, then go outside to start snapping!
Go rock-climbing
Summer is the always the best time to stay active. Instead of heading to the gym for the usual workout, go rock-climbing instead for a full-body workout! Exercise is all about engaging your muscles and when it comes to activating and training these muscles in your body, very few exercises can rival climbing. Eldon Leisure Centre, Sports Central and The Valley Climbing Centre are some notable recommendations in the local area.
Start an online business
An online business is ideal for a student as it fills the financial gap for an individual to explore their entrepreneurship goals. These online businesses range from freelance jobs, an ecommerce business or creating content, to name a few. Websites such as Fiverr, Upwork, Freelancer and Shopify significantly reduces the barrier to entry for an individual who wishes to run a business. Regardless of whether your business endeavour becomes a long-term success, it will be an invaluable experience which may lead you to all kinds of pursuits in the future.
Spend a day at the beach
There is only a limited amount of days in a year where you get to go to the beach and enjoy the sun. Now, before we start putting on those layers of clothing again when the next season comes, make the most of these days and head to the beach! I would definitely recommend heading to Tynemouth to catch some rays.
Express yourself
Whether it’s painting, singing or any other form of self-expression, go for it. The summer break is a fantastic time to explore a new art and find new means of forming your ideas and inspirations. Having these new ways to express yourself will bring a refreshed and sometimes surprising information into our stagnant thinking patterns.
Work exposure
Engaging in a work experience in the field you are currently studying in is a great way to immerse yourself and help you understand the career path you wish to take in the future. Furthermore, having work experience listed on your CV shows that you are motivated and have the commitment in your discipline. More often than not, looking for the right behaviour is one of the factors prospective employers will be interested in.
Read
The merits of reading
cannot be emphasised enough. Reading broadens the mind and gives you knowledge.
Your ability to develop critical thinking skills improves as it deepens your
understanding about what you’re reading and as you apply the knowledge. On top
of that, it’s a great form of affordable entertainment. In so many instances
where movies have been adapted from books, people who have read the books would
most likely agree that the book is immensely better than the movie. On that
note, I rest my case.
Vlogging
Instead of the traditional way of documenting your daily activities, vlogging would be an interesting alternative. Emulate your favourite youtubers and incorporate your own personal style in the process. Video editing plays an important role in the process as well. This activity will surely broaden your creative capability and may even improve employment prospects!
