I’m finally free from school work. Now what do I do?

The end of the semester is finally here. Take a moment to let that sink in. It seems unreal, doesn’t it? Depending on whether or not you have any eight week classes left to finish, you’re either really close to being done or totally free. Of course, most of us will have new obligations this summer that will keep us just as busy as before. But even if you do, you’ll probably find yourself with a little bit of precious free time before starting that new job or picking up those summer classes. And once you figure out what it means to relax again, you’ll probably be asking yourself . . . now what do I do?

Your first thought will probably be to sleep all day or scroll through your Facebook feed or peruse Netflix. And that’s okay. You’ve earned it. But if you’re not careful, your free time will be gone before you know it and you’ll wonder what you even did. So to avoid completely wasting your time, here are some post-semester activities to get your head straight and launch into summer. You might even find these activities to be a much more worthwhile way to spend your newfound free time.

1. Catch up with friends

2471138966_44fe5cb7f4_zWith a totally blank schedule and nothing to do, it might be a little hard at first to drag yourself out of bed and actually leave the house. Let’s be honest though—catching up with friends is far more rewarding and invigorating than being a bum all day. And yes, you could always see them later, but there’s no time like the present. Besides, you no longer have the excuse of being busy anymore! This is probably one of the few times you’ll be able to hang out without having to check your schedule or say no because you’ve committed to something. Make it happen in the here and now and you’ll be grateful you did.

2. Do some spring cleaning

If you’re anything like me, you’ve likely spent so much of the semester in total disarray that you’re in desperate need of some organization. The end of the semester is always a great time to get rid of the various clutter that’s built up over the course of your studies. Not only does this help me to feel like I’m organized for once, but it also 3821001012_3594008c82_zhelps me to clear my mind and focus on what I need to get done. Life is better with less clutter. Starting off your summer with a clean slate will do wonders for your state of mind and unburden you of more than just that mess that’s been sitting on your desk.

3. Look back on your semester

Now that you actually have some time to sit down and think, try investing your brainpower in a little introspection. What did you like about this past semester? What did you not like? What do you want to do differently in the future? Write these down somewhere you’ll remember and come back in a month or two. By recapping the past semester, you’re able to look back on what’s worked and what hasn’t—better enabling yourself to avoid making the same mistakes again.

4. Set goals for your summer

6530389351_aafa8d3fe7_zSimilar to #3, look ahead at what you want to accomplish this summer. Make a list of things to do and have it in front of you every day. You’ll have better luck doing something awesome this summer if you don’t rush into it blind. Sure there will be some spontaneously awesome moments that will seemingly come from nowhere, but if you hope to achieve something significant or be in any way productive this summer, a little bit of planning is in order. If you really want to succeed, also take some time to decide how you want to reach these goals. Make checkpoints for yourself, detailing where you want to be at the end of every month or week. Do this and you can’t go wrong!

5. Plan something crazy

It’s been a long semester, and right now what you need is to have some fun. Go ride a rollercoaster. Go with some friends to a wild concert. Anything to blow off steam and let loose. Chances are it’s been a while since something has tired you out in a good way. Whatever you do, make sure you go all out and do your best to let go of all the stress that’s been weighing you down this semester. You’ll come back from your adventure a new person and ready to face whatever life decides to throw at you next.