It’s summer, and if there’s one thing that means, it’s distance from your college routine. No more having to worry about making it to class on time, meeting days for your extracurricular, or spending time on studies and assignments. Many students readily embrace the break from that kind of living. But not all. It takes time getting used to that routine, and some might end up less eager to part with it than others. We’ve touched on this before in the “Schooltime Anxieties Following You Into Summer” blog, but that was admittedly brief. For those who could use a little bit more help in adjusting to their chaotic summer living, we offer some more in-depth advice on how to regain some of that familiarity as you make it through the coming months.
Scheduling for your Summer
Undeniably, the ultimate source of structure for you in your ordinary college weekday would have to be your schedule. Your selection of courses goes a long way in shaping how you spend your precious time. From when you get up, to when you eat, to what you do around the dorm, this adds a sense of consistency. But of course, when there’s no classes, there’s no motivator for maintaining that consistent timeline. That absence could end up throwing off your whole lifestyle. Maybe, you’re waking up later than you’d like, or spending time on hygiene is slipping your mind more often than you’d be happy to admit. So, what’s the best way to fix this? You may not have the classes anymore, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still have the schedule. Plan out when you should be waking up, showering, getting dressed, doing chores, eating, etc. The “Habits” feature on the Prosper App can be a great help regarding this, by giving you small interactive reminders of important things for you to check off each day.
Occupying All That Free Time
What’s a schedule without things to do in it? Part of the trouble of losing a college routine is that you suddenly end up with a lot of free time and no real idea of how to spend it. On one hand, you’re free to do whatever you like. On the other, you might end up feeling indecisive on how best you should be using your time, and could end up blowing it all on something that wasn’t as productive as you had thought it’d be. So, the logical solution to this conundrum is to give yourself something to commit to. Take the opportunity to pursue a hobby or two. It could be heading out to the gym, reading a
book, or something else. Also, be on the lookout for how you could do to switch it up occasionally. If there’s a movie you’d like to see in a few days, or a local event coming up, add that to the schedule so you have something to look forward to.
Trade the School Life for a Work Life
The structure of the college routine comes from the need to schedule around attending class or completing assignments. Thus, what better way to fill the void left in the absence of that work than to find new work to schedule around? After all, the college lifestyle is intended as preparation for a working lifestyle later on. If you are feeling the need to return to that kind of living, then you should strongly consider applying for a summer job. Preferably, one with work hours that could comfortably fit within the makeshift summer schedule you’ve made for yourself and vice-versa. In the event that your application is accepted, you’ll quickly find yourself back to the feeling of structure and consistency you once had during the school year. In a way, you’ll have ended up bringing it with you off-campus.
Some might question why you would give yourself work and rigidity on purpose during what’s supposed to be your vacation, but ultimately how one best spends their vacation is a matter of personal needs and desires. If your head is in the right space during your summer, it’s a summer well-spent. Even if it’s spent with a routine similar to a school day.
