Keep Your Brain and Body Active During Summer

If you weren’t able to snag an internship or don’t have the time and money to spend travelling abroad or taking summer classes, there’s no excuse to lounge about at home wondering what to do! Here’s some ways to stay mentally and physically active over the summer!

1. The Great Outdoors: Summer is all about catching up on your Vitamin D, so toss those video games to the side
   

   Photo from Flickr.com by ilovegreenland

   and grab your sunscreen! Buy some marshmallows and graham crackers for a camping trip up in the mountains or go whitewater rafting with some friends. If you’re not close to some good hiking in the Rockies, or if you’re just not an outdoorsy person, at least spend an hour or so a week outside soaking up some summer sun!

2. Summer Reading: I can hear you groaning already! Summer is a great time to relax and wind down after a long academic year. Why not treat yourself to some non-textbook reading? Whether you’ve been dying to read A Game of Thrones or are itching to catch up on some classics like The Great Gatsby,  go ahead and grab a book or ten and indulge in some leisure reading.
3. Work Out: Whether you’re looking to reverse the Freshman 15, or to simply feel good through exercising, working out will snap your body and mind into shape. If you’re missing the fitness center at your school, there’s no need to get a gym membership for those couple months at home. Lace up those sneakers and grab your favorite tunes for a quick jog around the block or do some yoga to get those endorphins going!
4. Play a Game: And I don’t mean a video game. Blow the dust off of that old chess board and challenge a sibling or friend to a battle of logic. Shuffle a deck of cards and play some poker with the family. Either way, you’re socializing with friends and family while also keeping those wits sharpened.
5.  Try Something New: You don’t have to spend money on a class to learn a new skill. Flip through a beginner’s cookbook and try your hand at a recipe or two to impress your family members. Maybe you want to start or continue learning a foreign language – head to your neighborhood library and check out a couple books on “German for Dummies.” Or perhaps you’d like to pick up a fancy new instrument. The possibilities are endless!
6. Be an artist: If you’ve ever told yourself, “I’ll draw when I have time,” there’s no better time than summertime to let your inner artist flourish. Pick up that pen and write a chapter a day, or wet your brushes and create a painting a week. Challenge your creative spirit!

Boost your brainpower and power-power with these tips for your summer in between terms! Just make sure to put on some sunscreen, drink water, and most importantly, enjoy your free time.