I just finished my final exams for grade 11 and feel like I can finally focus on myself again. As I head into my senior year of highschool, I want to spend this summer forming routines and habits that help me feel my best, as well as finding ways to be productive. Even more, I am really looking forward to the warm weather and the ways that I can have fun with it! Although I have been working hard to study for and do well on my exams, I’ve also been getting excited by spending countless hours on pinterest cultivating the perfect summer ’24 vision board (which you can find here). Here are my plans for the next couple months, I hope you enjoy!
1. Planning
I would say that almost anyone who knows me in person would say that I am not a “go with the flow” kind of person; I definitely work best with a set plan. To help me be the most productive, I organize any events on google calendar and write almost daily to-do lists on my notes app. These two habits, although not overly complex, help me SO MUCH!!
2. Making time for friends
While summer break means no school and lots of free time, the sudden loss of a constant social life can cause me to struggle with my mental health. Something that I want to make a priority this summer is scheduling times to hangout with my friends. I have a list in my notes app of fun activities to do with friends and I am making it a goal to try and check off as many things as I can by the end of August.
3. Volunteering
I started volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters, a peer mentoring program, this year after a co-op placement with them in first semester. I had a really great match and was able to continue throughout the rest of the school year. I found it super fulfilling to see the difference I could make in someone’s life and I also loved being able to spend time with kids. This summer, I am looking into volunteering at my local hospital! Volunteering is such a gratifying and productive experience that I totally recommend.
4. Reading
I fell back into love with reading in 2022 when I discovered kindle. While I do love the aesthetic of physical copies, and there is something so lovable about buying a new book, I’ve found that I can read faster and for longer online, which makes it more enjoyable for me. Since my courses starting picking up in senior grades, I haven’t had much time to read and it hasn’t been a priority for me. I really want to get back into it this summer because I know it is a really fun way to pass the time. I just bought Lavender House by Lev A.C. Rosen as per a friend’s recommendation and I’m looking forward to starting it!
5. Making solo-time enjoyable/setting good self-care habits
I am 100% guilty of rotting away in bed over the summer. The lack of structure and responsibilities that come with the holiday can make it really easy for me to waste all of my time on social media, netflix, or just laying in bed. I really value my alone time and I know there are ways to make it more enjoyable. Here are some of the ways I plan on doing this:
- Treating myself once in a while
- Indulging in my morning and nighttime routines
- Spending lounge time in new settings (eg. library, cafe, beach, etc.)
- Making meals that I really enjoy from start to finish (cooking included)
- Making a regular habit of journaling
- Finding new hobbies
6. Elevating my warm-weather style
I used to dread the warm weather because it meant all of my wide-leg jeans, knit sweaters, and hoodies moved to the top shelf, while my basic tank tops, jean shorts that didn’t fit the right way, and oversized tee-shirts moved to the more accessible lower shelf. This spring, I have actually spent time in the sections of the thrift stores that I normally despise and have found some really fun pieces! It has taken a while, but I’ve built a summer closet with a mix of trendy and timeless clothes, as well as some new accessories that will level up my outfits. I’ve been having a lot of fun thrifting lately and hopefully I’ll be able to keep adding to this wardrobe in the coming weeks.
7. Finding creative hobbies
When I was little, the most common thing I heard from the adults around me was that I was “such a creative kid!”. I used to be super passionate about art and writing, but that has fizzled out a lot as I’ve gotten older. I recently got a little crafty making good luck pins for a cheer competition, which reminded me how much I enjoy creative hobbies and made me curious as to how I could incorporate creativity into my life now. One way I’ve embraced little-me is by starting this blog. I’m super excited to have an outlet to share the things I’m interested in! I have also been constructing a pinterest board filled with fun little crafts that I can do when I have some spare time.
8. Taking online classes
There are two self-paced psychology-centered classes that I am planning to start over the summer. The self-paced model will hopefully work really well for me because I can start it over the summer while I have free time, and then use my spares during the school year to finish it up. I am also very interested in the social sciences, which will make me more motivated to work through the courses. Senior year can potentially be really stressful with a heavy workload and university applications, so I am hoping this will lighten my load a little!
9. Spending time outside
It has been abnormally cloudy and rainy for the past few weeks where I live, which means the start to my summer hasn’t been as sunny and warm as I was hoping. However, I am trying to make light of the weather and spend time outside regardless. I’ve been taking my dog for walks and to the dog park regularly, which clearly, he also loves. As well, I am trying to replace my bed with my hammock. I can read, watch youtube, or write while in a hammock, which makes it a nice and lazy option when I don’t feel like being active.
While my GOAL is to do all of these things this summer, there is a good chance I won’t get them all done! Summer can be really overwhelming with the sudden abundance of free time, so I am giving myself leeway and just planning to do my best. I hope this post can help you to plan your summer and enjoy the warm weather!
All the love,
Grace
all the love 
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