Summer Holiday

I finished exams this week, marking the official end of my year abroad, even though I’m planning on hanging around here for a couple of weeks to make the most of the sunshine! I’ve spent the last two days lazing around, catching up on all the reading, TV programmes and sleep that I missed out on while I was studying away. Unfortunately, with four months of holiday ahead of me, I don’t see this lasting long before the boredom (and nagging from my parents) starts. So, this week I’ve decided to focus on some slightly more productive ways of spending the long summer months in the hope of motivating myself and all of you as well!

• Work experience/a part time job

A lot of students get a part time job over the summer to keep themselves busy and to earn a little money to boost what’s left of their student loans. Most summers, I resume my old waitressing gig in my hometown of Warwick, the hours suck but the pay makes it worth it. However, this year I want to do something that focuses a bit more on my future. As an aspiring journalist, I’ve been filling in applications and sending out CVs to every paper in the area that I can think of and hassling friends and family in case they have contacts that I don’t know about. So far, I’ve had no luck but there’s still time left to find something. Work experience is a great way to bulk up your CV and allows you to take the time to see if the path you’re considering is right for you!

• Set a goal

Use the summer to do something that you’ve been putting off all year, from learning to drive to taking up jogging. Your goal can honestly be anything but, once you’ve decided, set aside time each week to dedicate to it and make sure you get it done. My goal for the summer is to exercise more, even if that’s just by walking the dogs as often as the weather allows!

• Destress

After a hectic year and the stress of exams, the summer is perhaps the only time that students get to fully relax and switch off from the pressure of looming deadlines. It’s important to use this time to reset and relax. In the midst of working and achieving your goals, make sure you set some time aside to focus on yourself whether this is by scheduling in some lazy Netflix days or by catching up with friends and loved ones and just having some carefree fun!

• Get ready for next year

September might seem a long way off, but it’ll arrive eventually and when it does, it’ll be straight back on the grind. After my year abroad, I’m worried that four months at home, just speaking English, will undo some of the progress that I’ve made this year with my languages. As next year is my final year of studies and counts for a whopping 80% of my grade all told, I can’t risk this being the case. Therefore, it’s important that you don’t completely forget about university over the summer and at least glance at your textbooks a couple of times so you’re prepared for when the new academic year arrives. I’ve promised myself that this is the summer I start to tackle the bookcase full of French and Spanish fiction that I’ve either bought or been gifted with the best of intentions, never to actually be read. Looking at you, Le Hobbit.

So, there you have it, a few ideas on how to make the most out of your summer. Let me know what your summer goals are and enjoy your well-earned break!