Remember when summers were devoted to the pool or beach, bike rides or road trips and especially bad daytime TV? Welcome to the real world: instead, college students entering these three summer months no longer have one blissful vacation. Personally, I'm currently on my third internship experience, all in hopes to get a job by next year if I decide law school or grad school isn't for me.
Working keeps us going, but depending on your motivation level (or lack of) and attitude, you may just see your experience in a negative light. If we could travel, party or simply live in the lap of luxury forever, we would. Complaining doesn't help your case.
Reality is, we need to work hard to become the best we can be. So here are some tips that will keep you going in this working summer season (if you choose a leisurely summer, these tips still pertain to you!):
Set a schedule stick to it: Even if you're not working, plan on getting up at a reasonably early time every day. It works in your favor to get your errands done, prioritize your plans, etc. If you are working, you know how important a schedule is to having a successful day. If you stick to a schedule, you're more likely to get more out of your summer.
Keep the energy productive: So if you do wake up early, don't just do the mindless, petty things i.e. lounge around and watch TV, play video games, etc. Get up and get moving. Go for an early run before work, do some of your work at home before work or after and maybe start a new hobby. Cooking takes the stress away for some, for others, it's a hassle. But the finished product is always something you can look forward to and feel accomplished.
Eat right: That being said, if you're going to spend time preparing food, you need to know what's healthy. A new study by the researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health suggests the following:
If you're eating these foods, they will make you gain weight:
Potato chips (an average gain of 1.69 pounds)
Potatoes (an average gain of 1.28 pounds)
Sugar-sweetened drinks (an average gain of 1 pound)
Unprocessed red meats (an average gain of .95 pounds)
Enjoy what you're reading?
Signup for our newsletter
Processed meats (an average gain of .93 pounds)
Alcohol (an average gain of .41 pounds with one drink a day)
Smoking (recent quitters gained an average of 5.17 pounds, but over time, gained only .14 pounds)
Watching TV (an average weight gain of .31 pounds per hour per day)
If you want to lose weight, try these:
Vegetables (an average of .22 pounds lost)
Whole grains (an average of .37 pounds lost)
Fruits (an average of .49 pounds lost)
Nuts (an average of .57 pounds lost)
Yogurt (an average of .82 pounds lost)
You can also use substitutes in food that are less caloric (like broth instead of oil, etc.) and just healthier overall!
Always push yourself to learn something new: Sure, you can continue to polish your strengths over the summer months, but don't be afraid to learn something new. Go ahead and read a few books, keep yourself updated on current events and explore a few events, festivals, etc. to become more culturally diverse. The more you know and the more you experience, the better you are to network yourself in the future. Even the most casual knowledge may bring you far someday.
Be adventurous with the small things: Give 100 percent of yourself into everything you do. Don't forget a way to be creative. It is your summer after all—you need to make the most of it. Revamp your style and the small things: pick other events to attend or do — music festivals, cultural fairs, book signings, IMAX movies, museum specials, kayaking, rock climbing, Pilates/yoga hosted by your park district —YOU name it. Don't forget to enjoy time with friends and family.
Read More
How one professor and her classes are preserving Oxford’s Black history
By Sean Scott | March 20, 2024Jazma Sutton, an assistant professor of history, teaches The Black Midwest (HST 350Q) and Black Women in America (HST 450D) classes. In both courses, she has students working with the Smith Library of Regional History and Miami’s archives to document and preserve Black history in Oxford.
Miami faculty members recount Freedom Summer in new documentary
By Luke Macy | February 25, 2022After seven years of work, “Training for Freedom,” a documentary highlighting Oxford’s involvement in the Freedom Summer of 1964, premiered on PBS Western Reserve on Valentine’s Day.
“Documenting the COVID-19 Pandemic”: History in the making
By Alice Momany | August 29, 2021In March 2020, Miami University’s archives launched “Documenting the COVID-19 Pandemic,” a collection focused on life during the COVID-19 pandemic.