Summer is right around the corner, and we all know what that means! Most teenagers typically get extremely bored! Yay!
In all seriousness, it is easy to find yourself scrolling away on your phone for the entirety of summer break, I would know because for the past few years I have done the same thing myself. It is not necessarily a bad thing, but it is good to take your eyes off a screen and replace it with scenery, a book, or socializing. There are multiple things you can do during summer break that do not necessarily involve your phone, and you will be able to get some ideas in this article!
1. Go on a picnic at your local park.
If you want to go out to get some fresh air and be around nature, a park is just the right place to do so! You can go with your friends to the park and do-little activities like eating food, coloring a coloring book, and painting each other on a canvas. If you want to have more time with yourself, then you can still go to the park, have your own picnic, and do the same or similar activities. It is nice to be around nature and breathe fresh air after being cooped up inside your home.
4. Pick up reading as a hobby.
Reading is an effective way to challenge your mind; it is an effective way to challenge your mind because you get out of the habit of reading when you are not in school. Keeping up with summer readings can help you retain knowledge or skills by analyzing writing styles and characters. Having more knowledge should always be looked at in a positive light because we gain our different opinions or logic from the books we read. Keeping your eyes glued to a TV or cell phone screen will strain your eyesight and your ability to comprehend reading.
3. Go to the skate park.
Although I am sure many students at FOHI typically spend their free time at the skate park already, it could potentially be something new to another person. Skating is a fun and active activity that anyone can do, and it is not just limited to one type of thing. Most people use their skateboards, but there are also other alternatives, such as scooters, roller skates, and even bicycles. Skating is one of the cultures that many people at FOHI have, and the diversity of the skates is most reassuring for beginners.
4. Get in touch with your creative side!
Creativity can mean many things, from creative thinking to artistic skills, and getting in touch with your creativity can mean a variety of things; however, you choose to express yourself should make you satisfied with the outcome of your own thinking. You can experiment in many ways, for example if you like more hands-on activities, you can paint, draw, make ceramic pieces, decorate cakes, make jewelry, etc. If you enjoy creative thinking you can try to do puzzles, crosswords, questionnaires, produce creative ideas/solutions, etc. It is most important that you do something without feeling discouraged because you doubt your own ability to be creative. Creativity is a process that takes a long time, and it takes time before you realize what is really for you.
5. Go on walks.
Walks are amazing to go on, and they can help in many instances; if you are upset or stressed, a good walk will lift your spirits from the ground. This activity also keeps one active in their exercise, and you can easily get distracted from the scenery that paves the way for your walk. I know my favorite thing about going on walks Is to pick flowers that I see and make a mini bouquet that I can give to my mom when I go back home. Getting the vitamins from the sun also helps a lot with your vitamin D intake which keeps you healthy. On your walk make sure to think about the positive aspects of your life and the positive things you view on your walk, so that you do not ruin your cheery mood by overthinking about negative aspects of your life!
Remember to stay positive this summer and try your best to make the most out of it. Focusing too much on the negative can cloud your judgement and make you overlook the good aspects in life. I hope you all have a wonderful summer!
About the Contributor
Mayra Padilla, Staff Writer
Mayra I. Padilla is a Staff writer and Cartoonist from the Steeler Chronicle. She is a Junior and has 1 AP class along with 7 other clubs: Psychology Club, Undocumented Allies Club, Fashion Club, CSF, GEMS, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Link Crew. She spends her free time drawing, playing survival horror games, learning more about her favorite franchises, and watching shows with her brother!