How to design your "ideal week" this summer

For many high school students, the last couple weeks of school seem to drag on for forever. They’re burnt-out, exhausted, and definitely sleep-deprived. So when the promise of a stress-free and most importantly a school-free summer arrives, many seize this opportunity to truly unwind and relax. And while it is incredibly necessary to take the time for your physical and mental health, it can also be easy to accidentally slip into a “summer slump” or begin bed rotting every day. Especially after a highly stressful school year accompanied by a busy extracurricular schedule, the sudden freedom that opens up during the summer is all too perfect to allow yourself to simply scroll on your phone all day and not have to do anything. 

However, sometimes that empty-schedule day can eventually become tiresome. And especially to promote and support one’s emotional and physical health, it is vital to find a balance between receiving the necessary rest and encouraging yourself to be productive. There are a variety of different activities that students can engage themselves with that might provide them with additional experience in future careers or assist in making the next school year easier. And alongside with productive activities such as these, another part of boosting one’s livelihood would also be being able to spend time with friends and family. Therefore, sometimes designing an “ideal week” in the summer can be a little difficult. This is because many of the many factors that one may consider, while still having to ensure their productivity, happiness, and rest. 

The first step to designing an “ideal week” is to have a genuine conversation with yourself and figure out what you truly need in order to succeed/get the rest you need. That may be figuring out a sleep or nighttime schedule you would like to stick with, in order to ensure you’re getting at least eight hours of sleep per night. That also could be deciding the goals you want to achieve during these couple weeks, whether they be academic or something outside of school. And then it is important to make these plans realistic and achievable and follow through with the timeline created. 

Start looking for different activities to engage yourself with over the summer. For many students, that might mean looking for a professional job, applying to academic programs, participating in internships, or volunteering for local organizations. These activities will take up a good chunk of the time during your week and also provide you with good additional experience.

Spend time doing more research for colleges and preparing for this big chapter of your life. This applies more for rising seniors, and it’s vital during this summer and beginning of the school year to wrap up SAT/ACT testing, finalizing college lists, starting Common App applications, going on college tours, applying for scholarships, and more. 

Finally, one of the most important things is prioritizing yourself and your happiness. Take yourself out on solo trips doing the activities that you love or use this additional time to try out new hobbies and visit new locations. It’s necessary to balance your productive activities with ensuring your own happiness in order to prevent further burnout and build-up of stress.