Fighting the Summer Slump

With summer break upon us, it’s easy to fall into a routine of laziness, junk food, and little productivity. But, it’s important to fight temptation and try to maintain the momentum from the school year. Summer does not need to be a three month period of little accomplishment, it can be a great time to achieve things that are difficult to do so during the school year.

Summer is the perfect time for fun, but it's easy to lose all sense of productivity.

First and foremost, summer is the perfect time to find an internship regardless of class standing. It’s more challenging for freshmen and sophomores to find positions because many companies and organizations require their interns to have taken more classes or have more experience in their field. But, don’t let that stop you from applying. Because if you’re eager enough, an employer will most likely find that to be a favorable characteristic. Additionally, there is no loss in simply applying. Even if you don’t get the internship, you will have successfully put your name out there on the market and your resume will be kept on file.

If an internship doesn’t work out, finding a job that pays is always beneficial. Most internships tend to be unpaid, so finding a job at the local diner or at the mall can really help out a college student’s bank account. At times, working throughout the school year can be difficult to balance because of schoolwork and extra curricular activities. But during the summer, there is nothing but time, so why not utilize it?

If a paid job is also a challenge to find, volunteering is always a great option. The local animal shelter, hospital, homeless shelter, etc. can always use the extra hand. It’s a really great way to spend your time, it’s productive, and volunteering also serves a great addition to any resume.

Apart from interning, working, and volunteering, summer is the perfect time to spend on personal goals. Work out, create a reading list, catch up on films and television, do anything that you have missed out on during the school year. So, don’t let summer become an excuse for laziness, instead use the time wisely. And by the time the school year rolls around, you will be glad you did.