How to Be Productive Over Summer Break

Summer 😎 — the long awaited break from school — characterized by sleeping in, lying on the beach, and spending time with friends. While summer should be a time to relax, it is important to stay productive, as these months are some of the most crucial, as they’re that necessary recharge before the next school year begins.

Read on to learn how to be productive over summer break so you can make the most of your summer!

Fun graphic that illustrates the four steps for being productive over the summer, which are also listed out below.

1. Do your summer homework early

Once the school year ends, the last thing we all want to do is the summer homework that school may assign. However, if you procrastinate your schoolwork until the last few weeks, you will feel unwanted stress leading up to the beginning of the school year.

I recommend breaking up your schoolwork throughout summer and starting early. By doing this you never feel overwhelmed with large amounts of work and also have time to ask questions if you are confused.

However, this does not mean that once school ends, the first thing you should do is plan for your summer work. I like to take the first week or two completely off, meaning I do not think about schoolwork and simply enjoy summer. This allows me to return to my work not feeling burned out and ensure that I enjoy my break.

If you plan on going to college, this is also a great time to spend your summer months preparing in any way you can.

2. Learn something new and set a goal

Summer is the perfect time to pick up a new hobby. Whether it is learning to cook that dish you you’ve always wanted to learn, or picking up a new language and impressing your friends - summer is a perfect time.

We have all been guilty of putting something off with the excuse of being too busy. However, with summer vacation comes  time that you wouldn’t normally have during the school year. 

I recommend picking one thing and sticking with it, and ensuring that your goals are attainable. When you set unattainable goals you are unlikely to stick with them, as they feel impossible. However, picking goals you know you can achieve will help your confidence and consequently enable you to achieve them.

For example, if you want to improve the distance you can run, the goal should be something that seems possible like a 5K for a new runner, otherwise, you are setting yourself up to fail.

By picking up a new hobby or achieving a goal, not only do you gain a new skill but you also feel productive and know that you have capitalized on the free time you don’t normally have.

3. Find a summer job 

When you think of a “summer job,” you may think of working as a camp counselor or scooping ice cream at the local parlor. However, if you’re strategic in your job search, you can land a role that will not only make some money, but also help you to gain experience in a field that you are interested in.

Think of some hobbies or interests you have and then find jobs that correspond with those. For example, if you like to read, find a job at the local bookstore, or if you like to cook, work at a restaurant.

The most important thing to remember, however, is that you should find a job you would enjoy. If you couldn’t envision yourself doing this for several months, then you shouldn’t do it at all.

For many, this is the first working experience, so you want to start your career, on a good foot, doing something you love.

4. Prepare for the upcoming school year 

The upcoming school year can be daunting. It is common to feel overwhelmed and nervous for the school year to begin, especially if your schedule is about to be filled with difficult classes.

A way to combat this feeling is to prepare for the classes that are scaring or stressing you out the most. If you are nervous to take that difficult biology class, then spend the summer lightly preparing.

This could be going to the library and checking out books on that subject or reviewing the curriculum so you enter the year prepared. Not only will you enter the class with some knowledge, but you feel more confident about your abilities. This will ensure that you start your school year successfully and confidently.

Don’t, however, spend your whole summer preparing for a class and create even more stress. Learn just enough so you feel prepared for the class, but not enough for you to be tired or burnt out from a subject. 

Final Thoughts on Staying Productive During Summer

While it is important to stay productive during the summer, remember to enjoy this time. Summer is the long awaited break from school, and not allowing yourself to take that break can be more harmful than good.

Burnout among students is common, increasingly so as the school year continues. So, it is important to capitalize on this several month break, so you are recharged and ready for the next school year to begin.

Good luck!


You may be on summer break but our tutors are still available 24/7 to help you power through your summer homework with ease! Request a session today if you need a little summer refresh! ☀️