We’re finally here – the 2023-24 school year is over! If you’re anything like my kids right now, you’re feeling a mix of excitement, relief, and a little bit of fear over the boredom that comes with summer.
The good news… you don’t have to worry about homework, assignments, exams, teachers, getting up early, limited screen time, and adults telling you what to do all day. The bad news… there are a lot of hours to fill during the day and maybe not enough friends or things to do during those hours. And let’s be honest, unlimited screen time gets mind numbing after a while.
You have 68 days between the last day of school and the first day of the 2024-25 school year. That’s 68 days that you get to decide how you want to spend. Whether your family goes camping, stays home, does some traveling, works, or chills out around the house, wherever you are, you get to choose how you spend these next 68 days. How will you make this a summer to remember?
Here a few tips to create a fun summer you’ll remember:
1. Set a goal (or 2) for the summer.
How do you want to feel about your summer when you look back on it at the beginning of the new school year? Do you want to smile when you think of all the fun memories you’ve made? Do you want to feel excited that you’ve learned or built a new skill or have accomplished something big that will benefit you in the future? Do you want to feel proud that you’ve made some money of your own? Do you want the satisfaction of knowing you’ve helped people in your community?
Set a few goals for yourself and work toward something this summer!
2. Create a (loose) schedule.
Break your day up into 3 parts – morning, afternoon and evening.
What 2-3 things can you do in each of those time blocks to reach your goals? (Hint: learning to cook or eat healthy can count as one activity for breakfast, lunch, or supper!)
Consider doing “essentials” or work activities first, self-care and “fun” activities next, and leave your screen time for the smallest amount of your day. That way you’ll accomplish something first thing in the day, and you won’t have to dread doing it later!
3. Be mindful of who you’re spending your time with.
It’s important to connect with people and be social, but be mindful of who you’re allowing to share your 68 days (that’s 1632 hours, FYI). Are you choosing to spend time with people who support your goals? People who are good for you to be around? People who make positive choices? People who accept and support you? People who are happy for you when you accomplish something?
A few things to remember about your friends:
- They impact YOUR mood – positively and negatively
- They can change how you see yourself – in healthy and harmful ways
- They influence your choices
- They influence how you spend your money
- Strong-willed friends can help you develop self-control
- Positive friendships can set you up for success
4. Practice self-care.
Taking good care of yourself gives you energy to do fun things, and helps you handle stress more skillfully. It makes sense that taking care of your well being helps you feel better about yourself, and when you’re feeling better about yourself, it’s easier to get through hard things.
Self-care can include many things, so don’t forget about these important ones:
- Eating a balanced and healthy diet
- Moving your body (at least 30-60 minutes of vigorous activity every day!)
- Getting at least 8-10 hours of sleep each night
- Expressing your feels – all of them
- Setting and holding boundaries
- Setting limits on screen time and social media
- Practicing gratitude
50 IDEAS TO CREATE A “SUMMER TO REMEMBER”
Service
- Volunteer
- Do yard work for a neighbour
- Write a “Thank You” note
- Pick up litter
- Organize a fundraiser
Play
- Lego
- Do a puzzle
- Play a board game
- Create a movie or animated movie
- Basketball
Entrepreneurial
- Make & sell cookies, iced tea, or lemonade
- Babysit
- Wash windows in the neighbourhood
- Mow lawns
- Start a small business
Art
- Paint
- Draw
- Tie dye
- Friendship Bracelets
- Sidewalk chalk art
Physical (Move your body)
- Disc golf
- Beach volleyball
- Workout video on YouTube
- Skateboard
- Bike ride
Learning
- Coding
- Write a story
- Make a budget/ savings plan
- Create a game
- Listen to a podcast
Music
- Write a song
- Learn guitar
- Edit your playlist
- Make a music video
- Learn to DJ
Hot Days
- Run through the sprinkler
- Swim
- Kayak
- Water balloons
- Go to the lake
Rainy Days
- Clean your closet
- Clean the bathroom
- Organize your room
- Create a calming space
- Decorate your room
Self-Care & Calming
- Practice mindfulness/ meditation
- Journal
- Prayer
- Read a religious text
- Be bored
There are so many ways to make your summer memorable! Be active in creating your own fun and memories this summer. Remember to set some goals for yourself so you have things in mind that you want to achieve. Build yourself a loose schedule so you have some structure in your days and a way to organize the time you want to use to create a great summer. Do your essentials first, spend time outside, exercise, and have fun with friends, and leave the smallest amount of your time for chilling on screens. Invite fun, positive people to create summer memories with you. And remember to take care of yourself – eat healthy food, drink lots of water, get enough quality sleep, spend time outside, and be thankful for the beauty of your summer days. YOU get to choose how you spend your 68 days. How will you make this a summer to remember?
