If you’re a fan of fresh starts, then the beginnings of days, weeks, months, and seasons may be the most exciting times of the year for you. I find setting frequent goals much more helpful than setting one set of New Year’s resolutions because they give me many second chances to follow my goals all the way through. However, even the most optimistic goal-setter can feel discouraged after too many let-downs. Staying accountable consistently, especially during the summer months, allows you to progress in the things that are meaningful to you. Here are five actionable steps you can follow to keep your summer goals.
1. Planning
Before planning how to make this summer a productive one, make sure you are spending your time on the right things. You can evaluate your goals using the following questions:
What will you be most happy having accomplished by the end of this summer? How does this align with your long-term goals? Is this true to your own needs and not someone else’s expectations?
If you need help getting started, start by jotting down everything you want to do in life, even if they’re unrealistic or overly ambitious. From there, you can narrow your list down to things that are achievable to you today.
Another way to start planning is by thinking about all the things that would benefit you the most in the long term. Being healthier, for instance, may involve exercise, a nutritious diet, social connections, and fulfilling activities. From there, you can pinpoint the ones you believe would benefit you the most. Don’t do something for the sake of doing something, especially if it would waste your time and exhaust you for no reason.
2. Doing
There are many ways to accomplish what you want this summer, including setting schedules and using productivity apps. Certain methods may work for some people, while they may not work for others.
As for what I do, I have a Google Calendar of events and a running to-do list on Notion of everything I need to do and their deadlines. I determine when I do things by working outside non-negotiable events and how much energy I have at certain times of day. This is helpful for me because it takes numbers out of the equation, allowing me to spend more time doing without restrictions rather than overcomplicating things by painstakingly recording everything.
Additionally, it’s less effective to try to churn out a lot of productivity at once at a time when you’re more fatigued, which ends up in burnout and self-blame when you struggle to get things done without a clear head. We all have the same 24 hours each day, so you can shift the time frame and think about when you have the most energy and fewer commitments to get tough things done. If what you’re doing is draining, do it for smaller intervals and take shorter breaks. If it’s something large, then take longer intervals and longer breaks. For both, break your large goal into a smaller, recurring habit.
Different days of the week are also different from others. Some people prefer to get all of their work finished during the weekdays to keep the weekends for pure relaxation, while others decide to focus on schoolwork on the weekdays and save time on the weekends for their other goals. That allows you to avoid burdening yourself too heavily on days you’re already tired from school.
3. Recording
Celebrating milestones and keeping track of your progress are still helpful, so keeping a progress journal is also something you could do. I keep a short log of the main things I do every day by writing one word for each thing I do each day. I recommend doing this to give you perspective on what you spend your time doing and remind you of your hard work and accomplishments. Journalling boosts your creativity when you write down your ideas and relieves your stress when you unload your emotions.
While I mentioned progress journaling earlier, the reverse may also be helpful. Mistake logs can help you target weak points to make growing from them more efficient.
You can also practice daily diaries to appreciate the world around you. Even if it’s for one minute a day, you can track phrases you’ve heard that stood out to you, things you did, places you saw, and anything else you want to save.
Taking photos can also be a quicker way of capturing the sights you don’t want to forget around you. Scrapbooking takes this to the next level and actively putting parts of your life between the pages can make it even more worth looking back on.
Keeping friends and family updated on your progress can also be extremely helpful for you to learn from their advice and for motivation.
4. Being Kind to Yourself
Rewarding yourself after milestones by reflecting on your experiences and treating yourself to something you can enjoy can motivate you to keep going for the reward. It can be just a breath of fresh air after so much work.
According to a 2012 study, reflecting on past experiences and envisioning the future allows the mind to reflect on learning and work through obstacles. When you’re resting, you’re not being lazy; you’re just recovering to come back with a fresh mind. If a routine isn’t cutting out for you, it might be a sign to change gears. You can also join a Schoolhouse Study Space to keep yourself accountable with other students!
Be kind to yourself and let yourself breathe during the process too. Life happens, and some days may be slower than others. Don’t beat yourself up for not sticking to your routine perfectly. A missed day or two won’t make much of a difference in the long term.
5. Summer Activity Ideas
The list below gives you some activities you can do in the summer, or throughout the year, to get the most out of your time.
- Volunteering for a cause (Volunteer at Schoolhouse!)
- Random acts of kindness (Catch up with a friend!)
- Learn a craft (Take some art courses on YouTube! Take a class at Schoolhouse's Summer Camp!)
- Organize your living space, your bags, and your workspace
- Practice mindfulness
- Work at a job
- Start a passion project
- Participate in a summer reading challenge
- Cook a new dish
- Watch video essays and documentaries on topics you’re interested in
- See new places (Travel locally or beyond!)
- Spend time with friends and family
- Unwind (Watch a movie or show! Catch up on sleep!)
- Spend a day at the park (Play a sport! Spend time with friends and family! Enjoy the scenery!)
- Attend low-cost events like outdoor concerts and festivals
- Surprise yourself (Do something you never thought you’d do before, something completely different from your “identity”! Getting out of your comfort zone is important.)
Sources:
- https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/24/well/mind/summer-work-routine.html
- https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/14/well/filling-your-summer-calendar-slow-your-roll.html
- https://blog.prepscholar.com/summer-activities-for-high-school-students
- https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1745691612447308
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/in-depth/mindfulness-exercises/art-20046356
Thank you to Vanshika G for editing this article!