Free Summer Activities that Burn Time

source: www.northjersey.com

If you’re like me, while I was in school I couldn’t wait to get out. Now that summer’s finally here, I find myself lying on my bed 24/7 and thinking, now what?

1. Read Comics. The one great thing about summer: you’ve got time. After reading books without pictures for a year, it’s time to switch to reading books made up of pictures. Not only will the visuals be a nice change of pace, but you’ll be inspired by the timeless plots, too. You could read all the original Batman series, then watch the movies and complain about how inaccurate they are (alternatively, you could borrow from the library). Or explore the vast world of manga. You’re sure to burn a few hours if you find the right series to get hooked on.

2. Check Tumblr and reddit, Watch Youtube. Repeat. Possibly one of the healthiest cycles for Internet addicts. If you’ve never been on any of these sites before, now is the perfect time. No worries about that 10-page essay due tomorrow that you haven’t started on, no worries about waking up early in the morning, and no stressing over finals. Who cares about world news when you’ve got gifs and videos of dancing cats? The Internet’s one heck of an amazing place, and the best time to indulge is now.

3. Take a Stab at Writing. Okay, maybe you’ve read all the latest comics and you’re most Internet culture savvy person out of all your friends. Why not put all that knowledge to use? You could write about anything, and the best part is that no one will give you a grade for what you’ve written. E. L. James has shown us that any sort of hobby can be made into a million dollar idea. Hollywood’s always welcoming new talent.

4. Find a Job or Volunteer. It’s free to give others your employment. Either way, you’re going to get paid in one form or another. Think about all the cash you’ll be missing out on if you just lay on your bed all day: time is money. Want a perfect summer body? Lead the kids at camp. Help paint houses. Mow the neighbor’s lawn for free (optional). When you’ve got nothing else to do… well, beggars can’t be choosers.

5. Go Outside. No, really. When was the last time you went on a jog, rode your bike or tried yoga? Exercise is a costless activity that’s pretty underrated. Though it may be tempting to stay up til the sun rises, nocturnal sleeping patterns often lead to depression. You want to avoid this sort of conversation when fall semester starts: “Hey! How was your summer?” “It was depressing.” (That was the last time you ever talked to your crush.) Keep your body strong and your mind alert, so when the opportunities arise you won’t hesitate to take them.

Try that one video game or movie you think will be horrible. Or contact that one person you’ve known for a while but never really got to talk to. Dip fries into your milkshake, then dip the milkshake into your fries. Life is unpredictable, and so should you.

Sometimes the hardest part of breaking a routine is to stop following it. Why should you sit around and do nothing when you can do so much more?