After months and months of overwhelming homework, tests and projects, you finally have time to take a breather and enjoy a long break. Whatever your personal goals and ambitions, summer vacation is the perfect time to pursue interests you don’t have time for during the school year. That’s not to say parts of your summer shouldn’t be spent lounging by the pool, traveling, and being with friends and family. Summer burnout is common and difficult to avoid. By implementing a few simple habits into your daily routine, you can easily maximize the free time you have and accomplish all the tasks you set for yourself.
1. Use a planner
Managing and tracking all your commitments is not an easy task. More importantly, finding the time to fulfill your many responsibilities is even more difficult. But planners can help. Taking the time to organize your day gives you a sense of control, reducing worry, anxiety or stress. Using a planner can also encourage you to work more efficiently as you set and understand your goals and objectives for any given day.
2. Limit social media use
If you’re a teenager who scrolls through your phone minutes after waking up, maybe it’s time for a change. Bombarding you with notifications first thing in the morning can distract you from your goals for the day. While it’s unreasonable to completely cut social media out of your daily routine, cutting back on social media use in the morning will help keep you on track.
Instead of turning to social media first thing in the morning, starting your day off right with tasks like making your bed will set you up for success.
3. Make time to exercise
Although it’s a small task, practicing can give you a sense of accomplishment. Finding the time to exercise doesn’t have to be complicated. You can incorporate exercise into your routine by getting up a little earlier or enjoying a little break in your day. Going to the gym or having access to expensive equipment is not necessary for a successful workout. Even following a quick twenty-minute workout video on YouTube can improve your mental and physical well-being.
4. Review your goals
Setting goals, while important, is not always enough. It is crucial to constantly remind yourself of the goals you hope to achieve. It will remind you Why you pursue your goals and will encourage you to stay focused.
Additionally, reviewing your goals will allow you to understand if you need to pivot. It’s not very often that our initial ideas go as planned. That’s why reflecting on your goals and your progress is essential to success.
5. Remember to take breaks
When you’re working towards your goals, taking breaks can feel like a waste of time. But taking time for yourself is just as important as your ambitions. Taking breaks can even inspire you to spend your time more efficiently. Let’s say you’re working on a difficult task for which you have little motivation. Knowing that you have a break soon can inspire you to finish the task at hand in a timely manner.
6. Prioritize Consistency
Consistency is key to staying organized. Creating a consistent bedtime schedule, for example, will allow you to fit more activities into your day and, therefore, get more done. But, it’s easy for a consistent routine to become repetitive. Activities like working out, spending time with friends, or cooking don’t necessarily need to be planned. Structuring certain parts of your day is all you need to maximize your productivity. For example, your consistent routine might include waking up at 9:00 a.m., working from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m., and then enjoying the rest of your day. Planning your day while having room for spontaneous activities will make your routine enjoyable and flexible.
Above all else, it is important to maintain a balance between work and relaxation this summer. You don’t have to choose between productivity and a balanced routine. You don’t have to sacrifice time for yourself and your well-being to be productive. Although it takes time, achieving balance is possible.
