We’re finally getting that warm and fuzzy feeling...you know, the one that comes with the knowledge that summer is finally upon us. Longer days, greener scenery, even the loud rolling thunderstorms -- literally everything about this weather is finally putting everyone in the mood to go out and do more. Even if that means standing right outside the front door just to feel the sun on our skin again.
I think it’s funny how as soon as it starts getting colder, this obsession over having a better summer than the last begins. I mean, who’s not looking forward to hanging out with friends without having to shovel a foot of snow off your car, making plans without having to check to see if it will be literally zero degrees outside that night, or being able to go jacket-less to the bar to show off your incredibly well-coordinated outfit? We use the entire winter to think about the swimsuits we’re going to wear, the trips we’re going to take, and which restaurants we want to try when the sun finally makes its way back around and smiles on us for another four or five glorious, glorious months (unless, that is, you’re living in a climate when it’s 75 and sunny all year round. You’ve never known real pain!).
With work and family and general life drama, the season always seems like it sneaks up on us too quickly. Bam! Summer comes and everyone’s planning to have the best summer ever. But by the time July rolls around, we’ve ended up spending most of that time under the covers with a bag of Takis and the curtains drawn, binging The Umbrella Academy on Netflix (which, I guess doesn’t necessarily constitute a bad summer).
In order to really get the most out of your summers, it's going to take some discipline. I mean synced iCals, writing in notebooks, budgeting, the whole nine. But summers are meant to be breezy, I hear you saying, I don’t even want to think about writing in a notebook, note-taking is NOT for the summer! Okay I hear you, but consider this: taking it one step at a time to have the best summer on the books? Definitely worth it!
Budget?
Adding up flights or gas, food, tickets, and a lot of money for alcohol can get a little bit pricey. Just as we budget for everything else in our lives, saving up a little extra for the summer is no different. The Sephora VIB sale is happening as we speak, but I have a strict budget in order for a road trip to Toronto in August, so painfully, I’m living vicariously through my Instagram feed instead.
During the summer, I plan to spend $20-30 extra in food every week, just in case there are new restaurants I want to try or outdoor dinner parties I want to chip in on. I'll spend about $20 more in gas and $150-200 in unplanned travel fees. Any leftover money is great to add to savings you already have, but not having enough money is honestly heartbreaking.
Picking up some extra shifts to put away $50 a week for a few months in the winter is a great way to be sure that your travel expenses are covered, even if you don’t have anywhere to go. If it’s a little to late in the game to have saved up before hand, I always consider picking up shifts in the summer, whenever I can. It’s the perfect time too, since a lot of your coworkers are probably going on vacation soon, the slack needs to be picked up by someone, and it might as well be you!
The Takeaway: Put money away in a summer fund. How much extra you’ll need depends on how many restaurants are on your list to try.
Work Out That Schedule
So, at the moment, I have two jobs and an internship, which is great for me; I’m able to save money and the internship is a great step forward in my career. But between that and sleeping, I’m left with oh... zero days off and almost no time to myself. It’s easy for really busy people to get depressed during the summer, even with all of the beautiful weather, because there’s a lot of plans that have to be sacrificed in order to go in to work. To make every day of the summer count, I start by knowing exactly what days I’m NOT going to have to make plans.
Google Calendar has been a lifesaver, since I’m usually on a desktop when I’m at work and I can make changes that I can see anytime I log in. There’s a ton of color customization options if aesthetics makes a really impact on your productivity, as it does mine. I can also see what tasks I have to accomplish and try and do them on days where I have time after work, so that my weekends are as clear as they possibly can be. Also, requesting vacation time waaay in advance takes so much stress off your shoulders (trust me, so much stress).
The Takeaway: Actually use the calendar app on your phone!
Can I Phone a Friend?
Crying in the movie theater alone is an incredibly cathartic experience, and I recommend doing it if there’s just a lot going on with you and you need a solid 120 to get yourself together. But plans are typically best when you have a buddy to go with you! Remember that different friends are best for different events, but don’t count out your drinking buddy to be great to come with you on a museum date!
Be aware, your friends and family probably have just as much going on as you with work, vacations and birthdays (send them this article so they can be prepared - there should be NO EXCUSES). Sync those calendars and make sure you double and triple check plans, especially if you made them months in advance. We all know how quickly plans can change!
The Takeaway: Make sure your friends don’t flake on you.
Research... a Necessary Evil
The worst feeling is loving a band and having them never stop in your city because you live in a flyover state (thanks, Ohio!). The second worst feeling is seeing that they did play in your city a couple days ago, and you had no idea. That’s why finding out what events are happening in your city, or the cities that you’re traveling to, in advance can take the stress out of scrambling for time and money the week of. You’ll also be able to find events you didn’t even know were happening!
The best sites I’ve been able to find events through have been BandsInTown, Eventbrite and Ticketmaster. Also, check your local museums, city travel websites, and Twitter friends for the most updated lists of events. Keep a list of your events and travel dates, itineraries and even flyers up on the fridge to keep you
The Takeaway: Google is your BFF!
Stay Flexible!
Even though you have your money right, your schedule on lock, your friends sworn to be your plus one, and the tickets in hand...something’s bound to go wrong. And sometimes, cancelled plans lead to the most memorable, fun, spontaneous days. If one of your parties gets rained on, have a backup plan to rent a movie and have a day in at your place. Check what movies are playing in theaters. Are any new restaurants opening in your downtown area? When one door closes, don’t forget that a ton are still wide open and you might not have to RSVP for them!
Even if your schedule is like mine, and you’re working most days, try making mundane tasks fun. Going grocery shopping with my best friend is just as much fun as seeing a movie or going out to dinner with her, and it’s also knocking off something from my to-do list in the process. Seeing vacations and festivals on social media can make us feel like our summers have to be picturesque or extravagant for them to be worthwhile, but have fun where and how you can and always remember that their lives on social media aren't always what they seem.
The Takeaway: Everyone’s summers aren’t going to look the same. Even if you aren’t lying on a beach somewhere, it doesn’t mean that your summer was a complete bust! Plan to do what you think is fun, and the memories make themselves!
Go out and have an amazing Summer '19!
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