What to do with your Summer Holidays

The summer holidays are in full swing, from soaking up some rays to having a well-deserved lie-in. However, most people don't spend much time thinking about what they'd like to do during their few weeks for freedom. Then they're back to school before they know it, feeling like they haven't made the most of their break.

Well, fear not! Here are some suggestions on how to make the most of your summer holidays so that you go back to school feeling rested, refreshed and satisfied from a summer well spent:

1. Get a summer job:
   The summer holidays can be boring when you've not got anything to do, so why not keep yourself busy and earn some cash at the same time? Take a look online or go round and ask your local cafe's, shops and supermarkets if they've got any vacancies for a summer job. Remember that first impressions count, so dress smartly when you're asking them for a job. It always helps to have a simple CV printed out that you can give to them with your contact details, education and past work experience written down. You can also ask members of your family if you can work in their company for the summer, you never know what they might say! If working in an office or cafe doesn't suit you, why not make up some business cards and give them to your neighbours asking if they need any help with things like babysitting, dog walking, cleaning or gardening. People always love a helping hand! Whatever you do, having a summer job is a great way of getting valuable work experience and earning a bit of cash along the way.
   

2. Travel:
   It may be that your family has already planned a trip away, but even if you're not going anywhere and you're on a tight budget, there are loads of ways to see new things this summer! Why not visit your local museum or visit a nearby city you've never been to? You could even hop on a train and visit a totally different part of the UK for the weekend. Whatever you decide to do, getting away from the things you see every day can make for a really memorable experience! Travel hack - if you're going to be taking the train a lot this summer, consider buying a 16-25 railcard, which will save you 30% on all your train tickets!
   

3. Learn a new skill:
   The summer holidays are the perfect time to learn a new skill. Whether it's coding, Korean, crochet or cricket, there are loads of free and paid-for videos, apps and websites that will help you achieve those #goals. Find it difficult to motivate yourself? Why not get together with some friends and learn something as part of a group? This is a great way of holding each other accountable and having fun as you do it!
   

4. Study:
   As boring as it sounds, doing a bit of studying in the holidays can be a great way of getting ahead with your revision and tackling those subjects you find more difficult. Obviously, you don't want to spend all your time doing revision, but even an hour a day will make a huge difference when you head back to school in September.
   

5. Just relax:
   It can be tempting to fill up your entire summer with activities and things to do, but then you find yourself heading back to school more exhausted than when you left! Everyone is different, so spend some time thinking about how you most like to relax and then schedule some time in for doing just that. This could be anything from playing computer games, going to the cinema, having a DIY spa day, or just laying in the sun (but remember to put on suncream!). Whatever it is that helps you recharge, make sure you spend some time doing you - this is a your holiday!

Hopefully, this guide has given you a bit of inspiration on how to spend your summer holidays, but remember: everyone has their own way of enjoying themselves! Don't feel pressured to be really busy or do loads of things just because that's what everyone else is doing. Find your balance and do summer your way. It's supposed to be fun after all!