Fabia Shahzadi
You’ve worked hard, and now there’s a hefty chunk of time out to enjoy. But whether you’re between years at university or finishing your A Levels, a summer wasted isn’t always a good thing.
1 – Drifting aimlessly
Give yourself time to recover, but don’t lose all focus. Once you end up feeling bored and demotivated it can be hard to pull out of it. Plan some things to do across the week and try to give your days a clear structure.
2 – Leaving accommodation to chance
Make sure you’ll have a roof over your head for next term. Keep in touch with your flat mates too, and decide how you’re going to sort bills and so on in advance. A lack of clear understanding at the beginning can lead to arguments and problems later in the year.
3 – Ignoring your health
Look after yourself with healthy eating and some exercise. Partying all day every day isn’t the best way to feel fresh as a daisy for university. Put down the jaeger bomb and go for a run.
4 – Letting your brain seize up
The shiny lure of a Netflix binge is tempting, but maybe blogging to keep your mind ticking over is important. Starting a blog will keep your mind active and look great on your CV. If you really stick at it, you might even make money from it.
5 – Draining your finances
Staying on budget over the summer will make life easier come the new term. Consider getting a summer job to save up for the year ahead and perhaps pay off your overdraft. You could also use this time to get advice about debt if you’re struggling.
6 – Neglecting your CV
Take a few hours to spruce up the CV. Update it with your latest skills and experience and identify any gaps that you could fill by taking placements over the summer break. You could also check out your digital footprint and make sure that the public content would attract an employer.
7 – Missing the chance to challenge yourself
How about checking your university’s website to see if there are any activities they would like you to do over the summer? If you’re up for a bit more of a challenge, what about doing some voluntary work at a local club or charity or getting some work experience?