Many of us look forward to the Summer as a opportunity for a well-needed break. It’s a time when business naturally slows down, and the kids are out of school. We have less responsibilities and more free hours. We’re right to want to take this chance to catch up on sleep, relaxation and self-care. Our bodies need time to recuperate from the hecticness of our busy schedules.
Although it’s great that we are taking time off to rest and relax, there are some things that we can do to ensure that we are continuing to grow and improve over the summer. One of my favorites is reading. It’s wise to read during the warmer months because it prevents what’s known as “the summer slide.” The summer slide occurs when some of our skills decline as we sort of “check out.”
Reading also helps increase our vocabulary, speaking and language skills. It improves our cognition and mental health as well. We delay our cognitive decline when we read more. It also lowers stress levels while allowing us to learn something new; this gives us more to talk about with others. When we read, it fosters personal enrichment and joy. Further, reading requires our constant attention, which prevents us from multitasking, and offers a break from screens.
Besides reading, there are other activities that can prevent us from wasting away the summer. They include learning a new skill, which boosts confidence, brain development, and can even lead to new opportunities. These skills can include coding, cooking, learning how to play a new instrument and more. Why not take an online course or workshop? Maybe it could be around science, technology, or anything that you want to find out more about.
Summer is also a wonderful time to work on personal projects such as journaling, blogging, or making a video. These types of passion projects build discipline and provide a sense of accomplishment. During your summer, you can set goals and self-reflect as well which will put you on the path to what you want to achieve. Another activity that you might lean into is volunteering. Why not help a cause that you care about and help the community at the same time? You’ll have fun and meet new people in the process.
Finally, summer is an ideal time to travel and explore locally. You can visit a museum, historical sites, or different neighborhoods or places that you have never been to before. This expands your world view and inspires curiosity. No matter what you do, don’t let the summer pass you by without taking advantage of this opportunity to grow while you have a bit more downtime.