How To: Reset for the Summer
By: Olivia Kittleman
With summer right around the corner, textbooks are starting to close, and classes are finally over. But before you let the entire summer season slip away into a blur of tanning and rotting, set aside time this week or next to hit the reset button. Learning how to slow down and set goals yet still have a relaxing and productive summer is what we’re going to be talking about in today’s article.
We all know how easy it is for the summer season to fly by, where every day turns into a blur, and when the end of the season comes, you can’t remember what you accomplished. Before anything else this summer, make your mental health your top priority. If your finals season has looked anything like mine, your brain has probably been on overdrive and needs a break. Now is finally the time to recharge, so take a while to catch up on sleep. Don’t feel guilty for sleeping in for the first couple of weeks of summer. Your body needs to recover, and no one wants to start summer by getting sick. Take one of the first weekends to unplug and do absolutely nothing. Think of this phase as your “mental decluttering.” Journaling, meditating, going for walks, binge-watching a new show, and indulging in your comfort foods are all things that help you reach a state of pure relaxation.
Once you take a weekend or a week to do absolutely nothing, set soft goals. The key word here is soft. Summer shouldn’t feel like another semester. Instead, set a few light but meaningful goals that excite you, which you may not have had the time to accomplish during the semester’s craziness. Try creating goals in these three categories:
- Personal: “I want to start working out again.”
- Creative: “I want to learn how to knit”
- Professional: “I am going to update my resume and LinkedIn and apply to internships for the fall semester.”
Keep these goals flexible with no pressure. This is supposed to be growth on your own terms. Don’t forget that resting is productive, and so is healing, rethinking your path, and spending time with friends and family. You don’t have to be taking five online courses or working seven jobs to “use your summer well.” The best part about summer is that you get to decide how you want to spend it. A few ways to still feel productive include reconnecting with people from home, trying something new just for the sake of it, and saying “no” to plans that you know will drain you. Your future self will thank you just as much for rest as for ambition.
Summer is short, and your peace is precious. Protect both by asking yourself: “Is this adding to my joy or draining it?” and “Am I doing this because I want to or because I feel like I should?” You’re allowed to change plans, outgrow people, and you’re allowed to make this summer completely yours. Don’t get me wrong, summer is the perfect opportunity to relax, but it is also the chance to have a lot of fun without any pressures of homework or tests in the back of your mind. Go to the beach, have a party with your friends, go out to eat! The beauty of summer is that it allows you to create a balance.
In the end, resetting isn’t about reinventing yourself; it’s about remembering who you are when the world quiets down. You don’t need to have a five-year plan or turn into a whole new person. However, you can take small steps toward feeling better, thinking more clearly, and doing what’s right for you, whether that’s working on your goals or simply giving yourself a well-deserved break. Make space for rest, but don’t lose all of your momentum. The summer is your chance to slow down without standing still.