While we may be more inclined (or obligated) to stay inside right now, classes have ended and summertime has officially begun. This is the time to unwind and relax from all the stress that can come with school, and while unwinding and relaxing is much needed, it is still important to keep the mind fresh and active during the summer months.
Read a book
Irish writer and playwright Richard Steele once said, “Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.” Although we are required to read a lot for our classes, it is a good idea to continue reading in the summer. Given the current travel restrictions, find a book that speaks to you and travel to a whole new world while reading.
Take on a new hobby
Summer is the perfect time for taking on a new hobby with the amount of free time you’ve gained. Instead of spending your hours scrolling through social media, find or get back to a hobby you enjoy and spend your free time smarter. Whether it be embroidering, solving a Rubik’s Cube, playing an instrument or puzzle-making, there’s a hobby for everyone to enjoy that keeps the mind active in summer.
Watch entertainment that stimulates your brain
Instead of opting for mindless TV shows or watching whatever is trending on Netflix, watch something that stimulates your mind and teaches you something, like a documentary or historical show. You can even tune into a nature show to learn more about the wildlife around us.
Make some extra cash
While a lot of people are out of jobs right now due to COVID-19, there are a lot of online, work-from-home jobs available for anyone with a computer and Internet access. Sites like Rev and QuickTate allow you to make some extra income from transcribing audio files. Meanwhile, if you’re more into creating and earning some money from your designs, create a RedBubble account and put your graphics up for sale on all types of merchandise.
Start journaling
Journaling is great for a variety of reasons: it stimulates the mind, is a creative craft and can even help destress. Check out Pinterest and even YouTube videos to see the many different journaling and bullet journaling options there are and find what suits you.
Play word games
There’s nothing like good, old word games to keep your mind active in summer. Even if you don’t have Scrabble at home, there are a variety of apps that stimulate your mind right on your phone. Games like WordScapes and Word Cookies get you thinking as you try and come up with words based off the letters given. If you want to play something with your friends, download Words With Friends and you all can play Scrabble directly off your phones.
Photo: United Nations
