With easy access to technology and almost everything within our reach, it's easier to be lazy than to spend your time doing something that requires any kind of energy or effort.
That's completely fine, of course. The summer holidays are meant to be spent relaxing, especially if you've just had any big exams. The summer holidays are a nice, long break between the end of a school year, and the start of another. Summers are supposed to be resets, fresh starts.
Sleeping as much as you want or finally having free time off school work. But maybe, just maybe, you've had enough of rotting around at home all day or enough of saying “I'll make the most of my summer next year” every single year.
Or maybe you haven't found anything worthwhile, but here's a list of things that I think, could make your summer feel meaningful, and not go to waste another year in a row. Whether you already have your summer planned out, plan to study the whole break, or relax and take things slow, try at least one new meaningful thing that could make your summer a little more memorable.
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Apply NowDocument a short film or montage of your summer
For all the coming-of-age, summer-loving, indie film fans, this is a perfect way to encapsulate your summer memories in a memorable way that you'll definitely look back on fondly years down the road. You can just use your phone, or if you really want to feel like the main character in a summer film - go to your local thrift or second-hand store to see if you can get ahold of a second-hand camcorder or handheld digital camera.
If you want to do this, but have no interesting plans for the summer, use this as motivation! Funny moments with friends, videos of a new place you're visiting, beach visits, late night swims, summer camps, clips of you speaking about your summer so far, volunteering, internships… imagine how those would look compiled in a fun video recap of the summer!
At the end of the summer, you can either compile them in chronological order for a sort of digital video scrapbook, or you could edit the clips, put filters over them, and cut the videos to really give it that indie summer feel. Whether you keep it for yourself, share it with friends, or enjoy the vlogging life and upload it online, the memories will last for life.
To get into the mood or to obtain some motivation, search “summer vlog montage” or “summer camcorder” on YouTube. There are lots of people online with different styles, different summer experiences, and just overall different vibes. Hopefully, you'll find someone who has the exact kind of summer recorded that you want to have this year, and it'll be the perfect motivation for you to pick up a camera and film your summer.
I haven't tried this app yet, but the app “1 Second Everyday” allows you to take a second-long video every day and turn it into a montage. If you don't want to buy a camera or think your videos will get lost in your phone's camera roll, download this app and give it a go!
Another similar idea would be to start a podcast - if you like talking but not videoing, this is perfect for you. This could be related to your summer, or anything else! Sports, hobbies, pop culture, books, anything!
Image credit: Aline Viana Prado from Pexels
Plan a surprise party for someone
Maybe one of your friends or family member's birthday is coming up. Even if not, a surprise party is a meaningful way to celebrate someone. It's fun to plan and come with a surprise, and fulfilling to watch your person get surprised with their party.
When you're 100% sure that they're the kind of person who would appreciate a party (because not everyone enjoys such social events), you can start to plan. Gather other friends or family members, and choose what kind of party you'll host and what the theme will be.
Here are some ideas: Pool/beach party, themed night (e.g. neon, murder mystery, book/movie/TV show themed, etc.), an outdoor movie night, board game night, karaoke, or an escape room. Set a location in which the party will take place, but verify that it is suitable for the type of party you are hosting.
Set a date that you'll know everyone will be around, because if it's the summer people may already have plans to travel. Make sure to check dates and ask everyone in advance. Additionally, make a guest list so you know how many people will arrive.
Send out the invitations once you have decided on a date, theme, and guests. You can discreetly send them out by message, or even by mail. But ensure that the person you're planning for does not find out!
Choose your decor, and ensure it matches the theme. Glow sticks for a neon party, disco balls for a dance party, etc. If you want, you can also add props for a photo booth or disposable cameras so everyone can make fun memories from the party.
On the day of the party or the day before, get someone to distract the person the party is for, while everyone secretly sets up the area. When everyone is lined up with the plan, get them to somehow go to the party without feeling suspicious. In whatever way you choose, surprise them when they arrive!
Don't choose a boring, “Hey, surprise, we planned this for you”. Throw some confetti, or blast a song! But a reminder, don't give them a heart attack.
Image credit: Matthew LeJune from Unsplash
Create a scrapbook or journal of your summer
Sentimental, craft-loving, memory-keeping teens, this is for you. Pictures on a phone or camera are great, and captions of your latest social media post are cool too. But perhaps you're more of a physical keepsake type of person, or you want to try something new.
Possibly you may want to pass this on to your future family. Maybe you're even fearing all technology going out, and not having any memories to keep other than a few Polaroid pictures from years ago.
Keeping track of everything that happened throughout the summer can be tedious, especially if you're writing it all down by hand, on a physical scrapbook (yes, I know, I'm getting too used to writing everything online too). My personal motivation is just looking at pictures on Pinterest, flipping through travel/summer journals online, and thinking back at my other journals and how happy I am that I didn't get lazy while deciding whether to journal.
If this is something you've never considered, please do try it out at least one summer. Your future self will thank you for the memories you kept all those years ago. It may sound boring, so take a look on Pinterest for some very pretty and creative inspirational photos. Look up some flip-through videos on YouTube or other social media as well, because there are tons of amazing, creative content creators out there.
Image credit: Charan Sai from Pexels
Nighttime campfire sessions
If you're fortunate enough to have friends or family who share the same interests as you, consider hosting a campfire session for something you all love. Perhaps it's writing poetry, or singing nostalgic songs while someone strums the guitar… or maybe you don't all have hobbies in common, you just like to tell scary stories in the dark and dance around the fire (not in a cult-ish way, of course). You could even host a little outdoor movie night if the location is ideal!
Whether you do this with someone or by yourself, setting up a neat little fire makes for a perfect summer night. I've never personally done this before with friends, only two or three times on school trips, but they were still some of the most memorable conversations and times I've ever had.
Small town, mountain, farm, backyard, beach, forest… you can do this nearly everywhere. Sadly it's not the most ideal in the city, but depending on what city you're in, you might be able to make it work.
Image credit: TuÄźba AkdaÄź from Pexels
Attend a summer camp or retreat
Summer camps and retreats can have so many benefits, such as trying something you've never done before, exploring a new place, making new friends, taking a mental health break, and most of all, making the best memories to last a lifetime.
For summer camps, there are three main routes you can go down. Camps for something you already enjoy, a camp for something you've never tried, and leisure/travel/exploration camps.
I suggest going for a retreat if you need a mental break. There are so many to choose from - at the beach, mountains, forest, etc. There are ones where you can have peaceful workshops, or there are ones where you can lounge around in silence. It's up to what makes you feel comfortable and at peace when you're there.
Image credit: Tegan Mierle from Unsplash
Try something new for two weeks straight
Many people suggest there is a set amount of days it takes to learn something new. Well, it's different for everyone, and everyone has to start somewhere. So why not try something you've always wanted to do, or even something you've never considered before, from scratch? Every day, at least fifteen minutes or so, but aim for more than that unless you can.
Even if it's not something new, but it's a habit or hobby you want to get into, still go for it. Want to go to the gym but you've been super inconsistent? Well, force yourself to go for two weeks!
Even if you don't feel like the habit has ingrained itself into you by the end of the two weeks, at least those two weeks happened, and you now know that you can go to the gym. Perhaps you were just unmotivated or busy before.
Ideas for new habits include journaling, fitness, cleaning, practicing a language/instrument, finishing homework, using technology less, and reading.
For new hobbies or things to do, you could try learning a new instrument or language, engage in a sport you've wanted to try, get crafty and create something this summer (jewelry, clay creations, sewing clothes), or even try a new video game.
Habits and hobbies shape who all of us are as people - if you feel like you don't have any good ones, start some. It's always harder to intentionally start good habits as opposed to continuing habits you unintentionally already have, so this can be harder, depending on what you want to do.
Image credit: Prophsee Journals from Unsplash
What are some other suggestions? Have any of you ever done these before? How did it go?
And do you plan on doing any of these? You can always adapt these ideas to fit your own preferences, and even if you're not a teenager anymore, these ideas are all still valid!
