Words by Desa Desiree Tayting (@dsdsrtytng)
If you’re the kind of millennial who would rather keep their planner loaded with activities, even during the summer or any long break, or someone who would like to stay busy even during vacays, this post is for you.
6 Ways to Spend Your Vacations Productively
6. Take an online class.
Just scroll down your Facebook feed and sponsored ads of sites that offer online classes will appear before you. (Try Shaw Academy or Sap Hana). Some of them are even free! If you can’t find any, try searching Google for online classes you’re interested in. It can be anything! It doesn’t even have to be related or in line with the program or course you’re in as long as you enjoy doing it and are learning something in the process.
Last summer, I tried a brief introduction in Digital Marketing in an online academy. I saw their ad on Facebook, clicked on it, and found out that they give out free webinars once every two weeks. I was glad that I was looking forward to learning something new while I just stayed and sat at home. It’s nice to get bits of information while on break!
5. Start a healthy lifestyle.
Being a busy student who’s bombarded with lots of schoolwork can be draining, so why not start adapting a healthier lifestyle? There are a lot of easy home workouts you can follow on the Internet as a guide. YouTube has plenty of videos that can help you start a fitness program in just a few minutes daily. You can also download apps that will help you track your progress.
Feeling lazy? Ask a friend to join you on a daily morning jog, so someone can at least hype you up. Still not motivated? Try hitting the gym and ask an instructor to help you start a workout. Try boxing or Muay Thai, which many gyms offer nowadays at reasonable prices, or try something completely new, like aerial hoops.
(RELATED: How the Aerial Hoops Class at Chrome Divas Inspired Me to Become a Better Person)
Also, try making your own healthy snacks at home. Who knows? You might even bring out the healthy chef in you! Long vacations are the perfect time to get fit and healthy.
4. Learn a musical instrument.
I know a lot of people whose biggest frustration is to play a musical instrument, but are too busy in school to enrol in a class for it. Now that you’re on vacay, you can allotan hour everyday or once a week to learn how to play the piano, guitar, drums or violin – whatever you’ve always wanted to try. You can take up classes with a personal trainer or if you have the instrument at home, just watch videos on YouTube and start teaching yourself your favorite songs.
3. Start a blog or journal.
This one’s for the people who like to tell stories or document events and things (like me!). There are a lot of sites that cater to blogs and you don’t even have to pay for them. Try and explore Blogger, WordPress or Tumblr, and then start blogging about the things you love – be it food, cafes, studying tips or even just your personal daily experiences. You might end up discovering a writer in you!
(Find out how you can contribute to When in Manila here!)
Don’t worry if you’re feeling shy, but still want to post online as these sites have options to post your blogs publicly or just keep them to yourself. On the other hand, if you love pens and quirky stationary, you might want to consider getting a notebook to start a journal. Get artsy and also doodle on it!
2. Sell your pre-loved items online.
You know the feeling of being ‘short’ on money sometimes, especially when you have to purchase a lot of school items? This is your chance to start a small business online. Dig through your closet for the clothes you’ve outgrown, the shoes you no longer like, and the books you feel like giving away. Then, post them on Instagram or Carousell for a decent price. Just learn how to ship (I use Xend most of the time – plus, they also have an app for convenience!). Deal with customers online, and you’re set. Don’t forget to be careful when dealing with people online, though.
1. Travel.
This is my favorite way to learn and experience things. When you mention vacations to me, the first thing that comes to mind is to travel anywhere, particularly to places I’ve never been to before. It doesn’t have to be grand and expensive, either, so you can try budget-friendly traveling.
I know that being a student can be financially tough sometimes, so if you want to travel during your long breaks, you’d better save up your money and prepare for it. Make sure your parents let you go, though, and don’t push through unless they say yes to your plans. When you finally get a yes, plan ahead to avoid unwanted circumstances during your travels. Most importantly, as much as possible, travel with a friend or a group. It’s safer to have at least one companion around (plus, your OOTDs will be covered that way).
Travel hack: why not ask your family to travel with you? You’ll spare yourself from the expenses and you will be well taken care of.
Aside from these tips, there are a lot of other ways you can spend your vacay wisely; it merely depends on your preferences. Just don’t forget to enjoy everything. If you are merely keeping busy to avoid pressure, choose to just sit back, relax and be worry-free instead.
