Summer should include time for leisure

It’s hard to believe that April is coming to an end and the spring semester is almost over. The end of the school year usually means celebrations, goodbyes, transitions and good times with good friends.

So many of these changes seem to happen all at once. As soon as the graduation parties end, good friends are moving off to begin their new lives in new places. For those taking summer classes, as little as one week may span between the end of regular classes and the beginning of new courses.

Let us not forget about the summer job. It seems as though so many of us spend nine months feeling as though we’re unable to wait another second for summer to arrive, only to spend three months working nonstop. However daunting this situation is, unfortunately, it is unavoidable for many students who want to work less throughout the school year.

In addition to other summer plans, moving seems to be almost inherent. Some students move out of the residence halls to go home for the summer, only to lug all of their possessions back three months later and move into another room. Other students may hop from one apartment to another, many moving one time every year that they are in college.

With summer approaching, it becomes easy to get caught up in everything that needs to be done. Before the school year can come to a close, there are finals and term papers and presentations to be done. There are packing and planning and job applications to be filled out. There are forms to be signed and fees to be paid and friends to be seen off.

Unfortunately, even after all of the preparations that must be made in order to “settle in” to summer, many of us will work or study the hours away in hopes of staying caught up for whatever next year brings.

Sometimes it truly is best to live life one day at a time. Yes, there is money to be made, there are credits to be earned, boxes to be moved and lives to be planned, but summer also brings a whole lot of fun to be had.

Students need to remember to make time for leisure in the summer months. The reality is that there is enough pressure to balance work and school and social obligations throughout the school year. The summer should be a time for some relaxation.

Although the summer months shouldn’t be wasted and can be a convenient time to do a lot of things that we are unable to do throughout the year, it is important to consider the effects of playing the catch-up game.

Working too hard in the summer can lead to the ultimate year-round burn out. Whatever summer plans students are making, there should be some time for simply enjoying the time away from school and work.