Everyone has a vision of their summer that is filled with travelling, relaxation, and sunny days. However, if your summer looks anything like mine, it is filled with a job, not a lot of days off, and not much time to take for yourself. When it comes to this type of schedule, it is hard to feel like you are fully taking advantage of your time off from school. Here are some ideas that I have found that help me disconnect and relax during some downtime!

Create Your Own Morning Routine

Morning routines can help set up a great and productive day. You can make your routine as simple or as intricate as you’d like, and it is completely customizable to fit what you need and want to do in the morning. This routine can include a set time to wake up at, making up your bed, a time to read, a specific breakfast you’d like to eat, or hygiene practices that will get you ready for your day. Consider adding in different mindfulness activities to get yourself in the best headspace for the day (read more on these down below). Creating a baseline for your morning will help you feel productive even if you haven't done that much!

Start Cooking

If you want to try new things this summer, cooking can be an excellent place to start! Finding recipes that you enjoy eating and making are game changers, and super accessible with a quick Google search. Click here for 30 recipes that are easy and don’t cost a fortune to put together. Other great places to find recipes are Pinterest, and through different apps in the App Store! Just search "recipes" and the options are endless.

Add Some Mindfulness Activities into Your Day

Mindfulness activities are activities that can help you be more aware of your thoughts and feelings. Here are some activities that are simple but can help you feel healthier than ever:

• Write in a journal
• Set up mantras
• Start coloring
• Gratitude lists
• Work on puzzles
• Yoga
• Meditation
• Stretching

Enjoy Nature

One of the best ways to enjoy your day is getting some Vitamin D. Vitamin D promotes healthy bones and teeth and supports your immune system. Being in nature has also been linked to health benefits like an improved vision, mood, and focus while decreasing blood pressure and stress. Activities like walking, going to a pool, or enjoying a picnic in the park can help you experience these benefits. Going outside will also give you something easy and healthy to do during the day!

Exercise

Adding exercise into your routine can keep you healthy and motivated. The Eakin Student Recreation Center is open every day of the week and is still offering Group Fitness classes as well as Small Group Training. Not in Greenville? No worries! There are free workouts on YouTube that you can follow along with at any time of the day. Search for a specific workout, clear some space to move, and enjoy!