Tips for Surviving the Summer

Whether you're a three-sport athlete training daily to get better or a regular, hard-working student in the classroom, figuring out what to do daily during the summer can be as challenging as an Algebra II exam. Trust me, I know. I've spent summers working in air-conditioned restaurants from 5 - 11 p.m, bailing hay from sun rise to sun set and traveling with teammates to camps and tournaments all over the state. (Not all at once, mind you - that description spans about five years.) The point is this - no matter how busy or how light your schedule is, the summer can seem to drag on. It's partly because you've been in one place everyday for nine months, namely school, and once it's out you've got an awful lot of time on your hands. While you've probably got a job and you have the camp thing down pat, you're looking for new things to do during your downtime. Here are some different ideas on how to beat the boredom: --Mix it up. Doing the same thing everyday get old fast, so keep yourself on your toes and do something different each day. If you're an avid pool attendee, skip the chlorine and bathing suit routine and head indoors, head to the local bookstore and browse the shelves for a few hours. If you've been working out at the gym for the past three weeks, grab your sunscreen and headphones and head to the pool for a relaxing day of rays. --Clean out your car. C'mon. We all know you use your car as your traveling room during the school year, so there's probably clothing items you didn't know you had lurking somewhere in the backseat. Everyone likes the feeling (and smell) of a good, clean car. No doubt your friends (and parents) will appreciate it, too. --Go fishing. Get some friends together and plan an early morning fishing trip. Yes, you heard me: early morning - that's when the fish are biting. (And you can always sleep the afternoon away upon your return). There are lots of lakes and ponds in Central Indiana. Pick a spot, meet up with your pals and take the bait and tackle. You can catch your lunch and catch up with friends. --The home theater. Everyone always tells you to get outside, and for the most part, they're right. Don't rot inside the house playing video games or watching TV all day. But, what happens if it's raining? It's been known to shower in Central Indiana during the summer months, occasionally, so it's not a bad idea to have a back-up plan. That's right: movie day/night. Call four friends. Get everyone to pick a movie. Throw in some pizzas for lunch, popcorn for a snack and settle in for a rainy day at the movies. Another added twist - board games. Have a bunch of friends over and play Monopoly, Catch Phrase and any other group games. A little secret about board games: they'll keep your mind sharp. --Cut the grass. You know your parents don't get a summer break, right? So, when they come home from a long, hard day's work, the last thing they want to do is mow the yard once or twice a week. Help them out, throw some SPF 30 on your nose, fire-up the lawnmower and cut the grass. You'll get a nice tan and maybe dad will throw you $20 bucks for your troubles. --Take on a project: Crossword puzzles. Models. Books. Portable enjoyment for the mind. Ever find yourself with a couple of hours to kill before your next practice or rendezvous with friends? Grab a book and settle in on the back porch. Or take the paper and locate the crossword section to see how many you can do - and no one will be mad if you look up the answers using Google searches - at least you're looking up something useful. A little critical thinking will go a long way once school starts back up. And putting together a model plane or car or house takes attention to detail - distracting your eyes from watching the clock and seconds tick away on another summer day.