Top 5 Tips to Enhance Your Summer Break

While the taste of freedom from finals is sweet as the four chocolate bunnies you consumed over Easter break, thinking about what you want to do during the summer now can ensure you make the most of out it! Below are a few tips on how to keep your brain busy during the summer months.

1) Get a Summer Job

Getting a summer job is often one of the top priorities for students. If you are still in need of summer employment, try looking at Symplicity under the ‘on campus’ and ‘off campus’ opportunities for employment opportunities funded by the Summer Jobs Program. Career Services also provides advising for Resume, Cover Letters and Interview prep that could help to land you that summer job.

2) Volunteer

The benefits of volunteering during the summer are endless as they are an excellent way to a) Develop soft skills like leadership, communication, flexibility and working in a team b) Enables you to develop long lasting relationships with people within your industry and c) Gives you the opportunity to try out something that could be your future job. 

Current Opportunities Around Campus Include:

• SFU Summer Camp Volunteer
• Check out myinvolvement for current volunteer opportunities on campus 

3) Exercise

Despite our reputation as the city that continually rains, during the summer months Vancouver is the perfect place to exercise. Studies have shown that regular exercise increases the quickness of learning and the ability to remember more facts and think clearer.

Great exercising ideas in Vancouver include:

• Running or walking the SFU trails and SFU Track
• Running or walking the Grouse Grind with friends
• Hiking on the North Shore Trails
• Cycling around the Stanley Park Seawall

4) Start a Blog

An excellent alternative to maintaining your academic writing skills is documenting your summer through a personal blog. Being able to choose what you are able to write about opposed to the pressure of writing is a fun way to keep up those writing skills and get noticed by potential employers.

5) Catch Up With Family & Friends

While the school year is used for studying, going to class, working at your part time job and attending club meetings. Use the summer time to catch up with friends and family you weren’t able to connect with when you were in school and enjoy the perks that the summer weather brings!

*Lead image: creative-commons licensed photo by Lili Vieira de Carvalho Image resized by author.

Beyond The Article

• Top Government Summer Jobs for Students
• How not to annoy your employees at your new summer job