Blistering heat with a side of sweet treats and fun activities—what is summer without its nostalgia? The break from school and freedom to do whatever you want—with transportation and free time, of course—makes summer unforgettable for many teens and young adults.

I always have these big plans to be productive and hangout with my friends, yet I find summer passes all too quickly for my liking. Then, I end up missing summer and what I wanted to do. Nostalgia at its finest, right?

To solve this, here's my starter kit to make the best memories out of your summer! Hopefully nostalgia won't hit you too hard during the school year!

Accomplish What's Been on Your "To Be Done" in a Healthy Manner

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That huge project? Those volunteering opportunities? Your TBR? Accomplish what you've been waiting to do.

This is an especially huge thing for me. I didn't have enough time during semester two to do projects that were for myself, so I pushed them off until summer. Right now is the time to get things done.

I'm still working on my "to be done"—some days I feel so productive, and other days, I feel like wallowing in my house—but I have to remember it's okay to take my time. Whether it's taking a break from a research paper, allowing yourself to relax free minded, or bingeing TV shows and movies, you deserve to always say, "I don't need to do this right now." Accomplishing what I want doesn't need to include the expectation of overloading myself.

Do what you've been waiting to do, but remember to pace yourself. Your goals won't disappear in the blink of an eye or a long break. In the end, you'll thank yourself when you think back and realize, "Wow, I accomplished all of that in the summer, and I was able to relax."

Take the Quiz: What Fun Activity Should You Do Over The Summer?

Looking for a fun activity to do over the summer? Then take this quiz!

Take Photos, Lots of Photos

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Photos are one of my favorite ways to capture memories and fun, and I highly suggest you do the same.

I always see Insta stories with polaroids, cute selfies, or food pictures shared with friends, and I feel the happiness looking at them (even if I wasn't there). So far, I have photos of a picnic I did with my friends, summer outfits, and fireworks! Tell me, do those not sound so nostalgic?

So capture those memories! They'll probably live longer on your phone than in your mind anyway! Don't dive into the perfect, social-media-worthy mindset: not everything you capture has to be aesthetically pleasing or made for the eyes of others.

Take pictures however and of whatever you want. It's the thought of looking back at what you captured that makes taking photos—stealing a point in time—so special.

Listen to New Music

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KATSEYE, Sabrina Carpenter, Laufey, Lorde, etc.—so many artists are releasing new music this summer! Which album or song will be the anthem of summer 2025? Who knows! Leave your thoughts down in the comments!

With so many releasing albums and EPs, you've got to pre-save your favorite artists! And with that, listen to something new. That one artist that keeps popping up on your page but you're too nervous to listen to (for me that was sombr a few weeks ago), a genre you haven't listened to, even songs in other languages—experiment with your music taste!

Summer is a phase for growth for most teens due to its freedom, so let your music taste experience something new! Are you "Gnarly" or "Gabriela"?

Dive into Creative Hobbies

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Summer is also an amazing time to dive into creative hobbies. Whether new or the one you didn't have enough time for during the school year, this is your chance!

I'm diving into writing and photography this summer, and I'm so glad I did. Writing and capturing what I want unleashes my creativity, and I feel proud of what I do. For me, I think about how much my creativity has evolved and how my style has changed.

The comparison and growth is crazy. You should be seriously proud of yourself too! I get nostalgic looking back at my writing from even a year or two ago, and with that, my photography too.

Additionally, trying a new hobby can blossom into something passionate; and if not, experimenting is still beneficial and worthwhile! Trust me, diving into creative hobbies will not be a mistake!

Make Plans with Friends

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A picnic, presentation night, or even a movie marathon—hangout with your friends! Some of the best memories of my summer are doing various things with my friends.

Planning silly, eventful nights with your friends is a great way to have fun while still enjoying the summer. Here are some examples of what my friends and I have done so far this summer: presentation night, photoshoots, fireworks and dinner, picnic in a park, game night, and more!

I know it's cliché, but making memories with your friends will make your summer unforgettable! You'll be reminiscing about the late night convos and hilarious moments—nostalgia at its peak.

Attend Events

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Whether it's a concert, volunteering, or a local activity in your area, branch out in your community!

Summer has tons of events going on, even in smaller cities. You don't have to spend a lot of money to make summer memories: attend events that are cheap or free with friends or family! This is basically adjacent to making plans with friends, but I wanted this idea to be separated because it's important to go out and have fun in your community too (with or without your friends).

End Thoughts

After reading what I've done (and hope to do) this summer, my fingers are crossed in hopes you'll make this summer even more memorable. Don't blink, otherwise it'll be gone before you (and me) know it!