Today has been one of those days where my productivity has slightly faltered. There is something about those hot, humid days that lead me to wanting to be a little lazier than normal. Know what I mean? But that’s okay. A few lazy hours doesn’t mean all productivity is lost for the day. Getting back on track…. now!
Earlier this week I posted about how it was time to do something better with your summer vacation. Sleeping in, watching too much television, scrolling through insta for hours, and tweeting emojis is cool once in a while but you can really do some awesome stuff during your break. Remember half of your life between the ages of 5 and 18 is spent in school. The other half you get to do what YOU want to do. It’s time to create your life and do epic sh… things.
I did a little brainstorming about all the things I hear students talk about and what they seem interested in when I share some of my stories. That led me to a list of 10 things you could do this summer. Don’t see your thing here? Let me know what you want to do and I’ll find you a way to do it.
1) Learn ANYTHING: The website Coursera is an amazing, free website that teaches you about anything. Languages, music, engineering, climate change, social issues, genetics, game theory, nutrition, you name and you can learn it. For free. Dedicate yourself to an hour each day learning something you’ve always wanted to know about. Despite what you may think, learning is cool and makes you the friend everyone wants to have when you’re older.
2) Podcasts: I swear by podcasts. There is no better way to hear stories, learn something, or laugh while driving somewhere or walking through the mall. Podcasts are available for free on iTunes and you can listen to episodes about anything. A personal favorite of mine is the Good Life Project. It’ll warm your hear and inspire you take on the world. There are podcasts about health, languages, comedy, how things work, news, self improvement, creating you’re own business (you’re never too young for this), and hundreds of other topics. I listen to podcasts while I get ready in the morning. It gives my brain a little burst of mental energy that Twitter does not. 🙂
3)Yoga: There are so many awesome yoga videos (and podcasts) out there. I absolutely love Tara Stiles. Her yoga videos are short, easy to follow, and always offers a challenge. Her website has some pretty awesome recipes and photos as well.
4) Pilates: Pilates is super challenging and if getting in shape is a goal this summer, check out Blogilates. Cassey has such an encouraging personality and I’m pretty sure you’ll be sore for a few days after a few of her videos. She also has some great recipes and an app! Check her out.
5) Cooking: It always amazes me how many kids tell me they don’t know how to cook. But then again, I guess it shouldn’t because I didn’t really know how to cook when I was in high school either. But cooking is fun and it’s good to know how to sauté, bake, and mix. You’re friends will be envious. There are a gazillion websites out there that can teach you how to cook but I like Laura in the Kitchen. She is super cute and has fun recipes. Plus she has a vlog that can be kind of addictive if you start watching.
6) Write: Teenagers are creative. They are way more creative than adults but a lot of times in school, there isn’t the opportunity to be creative. If writing is your thing, start a blog. And then go publish it into a book. It’s really that simple. There are a lot of great blogging platforms out there but some pretty common ones are wordpress, bloglovin, and blogger. And when you’re reading to publish a book, check out lulu, blurb, and createspace. (Can I get a copy once it’s published?)
7) Coding: I’ve learned there are a lot of kids out there that want to learn how to code but coding isn’t taught in their school. Well guess what, that doesn’t matter! Code Academy can take you from knowing nothing to creating one of Time’s “50 Best Websites” like it did for this guy. I experimented with it briefly and successfully got a dog to turn circles while “chasing” a ball. I was so proud.
8) Organizing: Life is difficult when things are unorganized. My approach has always been to just throw everything away until it look organized. However, that never really solved the problem. If you need to get your room, closet, or desk in check this summer, check out this YouTube channel about organization. Alejandra even teaches you how to clean out your locker at the end of the year. (Do kids even have lockers these days? I always had to carry everything around when I was in high school.)
9) Photography: I have seen some of the most beautiful pictures from my students. They really are talented little photographers. If photography is something that interests you there are many ways you can go about teaching yourself. Check out this Digital Photography School or this crazy guy’s YouTube channel for beginner photography lessons. It’s all free and a great way to get started. I think I may even watch a video or two. I always thought people who could take awesome pictures were just a little cooler.
10) Life: This is actually a personal favorite of mine and something I do/read every single day. If you’re interested in making yourself the best person you can possibly be, check out the Philosopher’s Notes. I was never one for understanding philosophy but Brian Johnson gives you a little Life 101 in very easy to understand words and ideas. That, I can do. Think of the Philosopher’s Notes as a lesson in self-mastery. Teach yourself these things now and you’ll be way ahead of the game after high school. To leave you with a thought from today’s lesson: For what were you made? If you had all the time and money in the world, what would you do?
So there you have it. A few resources to get you started making this summer the most amazing summer ever. And to starting out the next school year better than the last one. 🙂 ¡Suerte! (Maybe go listen to a Spanish podcast and figure that one out.)
Peace, Love, and Awesomeness,
Ms. T.Rod