Well, summer is here! And for many of us that means no school, time off, vacations, and time to take a break from the normal daily grind of life. But should we just use all the time to sit around and relax? How can we go about having a summer that is restful and fun, but also one that is productive? How can we have the kind of summer we look back at and feel good about all we did? Today, let's look at five tips to having a restful, yet productive summer! 1) Keep a ScheduleIt is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep. ~Psalm 127:2 It's the third week of summer break. You're stretched out in bed, your face buried into the pillow to block the stream of sunlight flooding into your bedroom from behind the curtains. Rolling over to glance at the clock, you see it's 10:30. You roll back over and after half an hour of dozing in and out, you finally drag yourself out of bed, reluctantly throw your clothes on, and sit down on the couch to watch a movie with a bowl of Fruit Loops, texting your best friend all the while. I don't know about you, but that story fills me with dread! I don't want to have a summer like that! Even if it's fun to sleep in and be a bit lazy every occasionally, we end up having a much better summer when we keep a schedule (even if it doesn't feel like it in the moment that the alarm clock goes off). Pick a time or a round-about time to wake up and go to bed, then stick to it. Stick to a morning routine, even if it's way more lenient than it your schedule is during the school year. God made us to be purpose-driven, and a schedule of some sort can help us to fund that sense of purpose. 2) Define Your PurposeGo ahead and think ahead about what you want to do this summer. Do you want to spend time with friends? Practice a musical instrument? Read? Watch that movie you've been wanting to watch? Read your Bible more? Whatever it is, having a plan for what you want to do ahead of time and then putting that into action will help to ensure that you feel good about your summer when fall rolls around. Remember not to get over-ambitious though. You don't want to overload yourself with things to do and places to go. Sure, you want your summer to be productive, but you also want it to be restful. 3) Watch Screen TimeWherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight... ~Hebrews 12:1 Screens can be such a time-sucker, whether in the form of a computer, phone, iPad, TV, or whatever. When used properly and in moderation though, they can also be great benefits, make tasks easier, and provide a fun way to relax. Don't give your summer away to a screen! Take active measures to make sure it doesn't steal your time. Maybe determine to stay off devices until you've spent time with God in the mornings or to stay off the Internet the last couple hours before bed. Maybe install an app that blocks certain things that tend to distract you (Since I use a laptop, I like the free version of Cold Turkey Blocker for this, but there are also lots of apps for those who use phones). Whatever measures you have to take, watch that a screen isn't standing in the way of you and having a good, truly productive summer. 4) Keep LearningThe heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge. ~Proverbs 18:15 Did you just do a double-take? I know for alot of us summer is our break from learning, but that doesn't mean we have to shut our brains off. Even if we don't want to sit over a textbook or work out math problems (I know I don't!), there's still plenty of fun, but still educational activities to engage in. Go on a nature trail, watch a movie about something you're interested in "experiencing," try cooking some new dishes, memorize a few Bible verses, check out your library's summer reading program (these aren't just for children! They have them for teens and adults as well!), study a new topic in your Bible, or try a new hobby or activity. Perhaps pick something you are already interested in and spend some time refining that hobby or skill. 5) Serve OthersAs we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them that are of the household of faith. ~Galatians 6:10 Sometimes when we think about summer, we tend to only think about all the things that we think are fun and that we'd like to do, or that we'd like to get done. But life's not all about us. We're to strive to be like Jesus, who took on himself the form of a servant. Consider doing something with a sibling, volunteering somewhere, or helping out with a chore around the house. Don't forget to be willing to lend a listening ear or change your schedule for someone else. This is often something hard for me, but the results are so rewarding! Well, that about wraps it up! Do you have any thoughts on how to have a good summer? What do you plan to do this summer? Leave a reply in the comments! I'd be thrilled to hear from you!
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