FOR most TEENS, summer is a time to unwind after the very stressful exam season while seeking a job to fund all the plans for relaxation and entertainment. However, there are some who don’t have a summer plan and so spend most of it caught behind the television or their eyelids. TEENage would like to advise you on 10 things you can do to make this summer worthwhile.

Volunteer

How many summers have you been home and been bored out of your mind? Every TEEN goes through “summer remorse” — been stuck at home, mapping all the tiles in their room and watching everything there is to see on the television. But why not volunteer some of the time you have on your hands? Go to the closest library, clinic, school (or even a hospital) and volunteer your help. You might just find what you want to do with the rest of your life and you it will look great on your resumé.

Find a Job

You’d think this would be the first thing on the list, but summer jobs are quite hard to get. Summer jobs have become more scarce with the economic climate of the country, but they are worth having to fund your choices of entertainment without having to go to parents or guardians for money.

Start a Home Garden

Why not try to save your parents some summer cash by starting a garden? Not only is it beneficial financially, but it is a very therapeutic exercise because summer days are best appreciated outside. You can also invite your friends to help you.

Start reading your text books

Just think about, getting some reading out of the way during the summer, won’t you have more time to chill with your friends when school starts? Being familiar with the content and subject matter of your texts helps in understanding it faster and being ahead of the class, which has its benefits especially around exam time.

Exercise

We’ve all seen the MTV series I Used To Be Fat and seen how TEENS have had to sacrifice their summer freedom to lose weight. Prevention is better than cure and while we’re not asking you to pound it out at the gym every day, stay active and fit. Swimming is a very effective exercise and it is also fun.

Watch your eating habits

Junk food can mean some extra pounds at the start of school, so watch your eating habits during the months you are home. Be careful not to indulge in too many sweets and soda.

Learn something new

With the freedom of summer comes the ability to organise your time the way you want to and what better thing to do than to add something new to your talents. Learning a foreign language or skill can prove to be very useful in the future especially if you may need it in the new school semester.

Evaluate your goals

This is the perfect time to assess where it is you want to go in life and lay the foundation down for all those dreams you want to see come true.

Summer love

This is one thing that we have to say BEWARE. Just like the season, it doesn’t last forever and might lead to depression which might have adverse effects come school time.

Relax

Don’t party your summer away! Try to keep all the fun and excitement between May and July and leave August to fully recuperate and gear up for school the next month.

Have a great summer on us!