As each spring semester comes to an end, there is often a scramble to make the most of the upcoming summer and seize the time to make it as productive as possible. Whether it’s getting a summer job, securing an early internship or having fun, summer offers an escape from the routine of campus life, a freedom to make each day your own.
Although the summer can feel exhilarating after a long semester of tough classes and a busy schedule, it can be easy to feel lonely, bored or uninspired after the first couple of weeks. Without the structure of school or another pursuit such as work or active socializing, summer can feel like a long, exhausting wait until school reopens in the fall. On top of all this, because of social media, we see how much our friends or peers are enjoying summer, from thrilling vacations to exciting professional journeys. This naturally causes social comparison, which can be harmful to young adults’ mental health, who are particularly vulnerable to its effects.
Whether we’re scrolling through Instagram Reels featuring the most glamorous locations or coming across the highest-achieving peers on LinkedIn, it can be easy to feel somewhat behind, bored or not productive enough.
However, summer does not have to be either all work or all leisure. Summer can be simple without being dull, relaxing without being boring and solitary without being lonely. Summer is a great opportunity to pursue professional goals, and each summer comes with its own responsibilities. But finding time to appreciate the smaller, quieter moments of summer is absolutely beneficial to our well-being.
Summer can be a great time to explore hobbies or activities that are difficult to start during a busy semester and to enjoy calming, relaxing activities that sustain health and well-being.
A good start for a peaceful summer is reading, which can be anything from fiction to nonfiction. While finding time to read during busy summer schedules can be challenging, it is absolutely rewarding. Reading for as little as six minutes a day can decrease stress by 68%. Reading is also shown to exercise our brains, build memory and improve cognitive abilities.
Exercise is also beneficial and can be a healthy summer activity to relieve stress. Whether simple or complex, exercise can enhance mood, boost energy and even improve our sleep. Even simple exercise such as walking can improve mood, reduce stress and anxiety and build endurance.
Summer can also be a great time to start a passion project, a project that interests you or builds up a professional portfolio. While self-guided, a passion project can provide a great sense of creative confidence for future endeavors, building confidence for academic, professional or extracurricular pursuits.
Finding the quiet of summer can also be seen in the little things, such as waking up to enjoy the sunrise, having a nice cup of coffee or spending time outside one day instead of staying inside all day.
While college summers can be loud, exciting and adventurous, they can also be peaceful, quiet or restorative, while still being meaningful. Being able to find moments to slow down can allow us not only to enjoy our summers more, but also to appreciate each summer for what it’s worth.
David Asamoah is a rising sophomore studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note the opinions expressed in this column do not represent those of The Post. Want to talk to David about his column? Email him at da602024@ohio.edu.
