100 Productive Ways to Spend Your Summer Vacation

August 12th, 2009 by Staff Writers

By Rose Jensen Thoughts of summer vacation may include images of time at the beach or lake, lazy days escaping the heat, and no thought of classes or the stress of the past two semesters. However, there are plenty of productive ways you can spend your summer that can be fun, relaxing, helpful for your education or career, or just downright lucrative for your pocketbook. Check out this list of 100 productive ways to spend your summer vacation for inspiration. Volunteer Opportunities Whether you are looking for a day-long project or one that lasts the entire vacation, these volunteer opportunities are an excellent way to spend a productive summer. 1. Join a park clean-up day. Local parks, hiking trails, and beaches often sponsor clean-up days where the public can come out and help clean trash and make simple repairs. 2. Become a big brother or big sister. Mentoring organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters can match you with a child who needs someone to look up to. 3. Coach a sports team. If you love a sport, be it soccer, baseball, or tennis, and like working with kids, then there are plenty of chances for you to volunteer to coach a team. 4. Volunteer at a retirement home. Make visits to retirement homes just to chat, offer a presentation, do art, share some music, or bring your Wii in and hold a tournament. 5. Turn your pet into a therapy dog. Any type of dog who is good natured and loves people may qualify to become a therapy dog. Become qualified, then take your pooch on visits to childrens hospitals, retirement homes, respite care facilities, or anyplace therapy dogs are welcome and bring some joy to those who may not be able to keep pets. 6. Deliver meals. Meals on Wheels provides meals for the elderly or infirm and is always looking for volunteers to bring those meals to the clients. This is a simple way to make a big difference. 7. Read for the blind and dyslexic. Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic has studios around the nation available for volunteers to read and record books and texts for the blind and dyslexic. They are in short supply of volunteers who have a background in such fields as math, science, finance, computer science, and foreign languages. 8. Find the perfect volunteer match. Companies like VolunteerMatch will help you find the perfect volunteer opportunity for you. 9. Find existing projects for college students. Campus Compact coordinates with over 1,100 schools to offer students the chance to make a difference for others. 10. Volunteer and be recognized. Learn & Serve America is an organization that provides students with an opportunity to use what they have learned in the classroom to help others. Volunteers through this program who go above and beyond can be recognized with community service awards. 11. Knit or crochet for babies. Yarn arts have become very popular over the past several years. If you know how to knit or crochet, check with your local hospital. They often

have a volunteer program accepting knitted or crocheted items for preemies and newborns and will often provide the yarn. Travel The lure of travel is appealing to many, but the cost can sometimes make it prohibitive. Travel is a productive way to spend your vacation, and below you will find plenty of ideas on how to make that happen. 12. Be an overseas camp counselor. Travel during the summer, learn a new culture, meet some awesome kids, and get paid by being an overseas camp counselor. 13. YMCA Study Tours. These your-round tours will take you to global destinations to learn about the region. They cost money, but for many, scholarships are available. 14. Study abroad. Many companies and schools offer opportunities for study abroad during the summer. Travel and get college credits or work experience with these opportunities. 15. Volunteer abroad. A great way to travel and really get to know the culture is by working right alongside the citizens. Try a volunteer abroad program to get the most of both. 16. Work abroad. If you want to earn some money while traveling, then try working abroad. You can spend your summer saving and exploring. 17. Take advantage of student status. Sites such as FarePlay from StudentUniverse.com offer travel just for students. Search within your budget, find destinations popular with college students, find music festivals, and much more. 18. Book a college student tour. If you want something a little more guided, try booking a tour through an agency such as EF College Break. 19. Opportunities for Jewish students. Hillel offers a chance for Jewish adults age 18-26 an opportunity to go to Israel for free on a peer-group trip. 20. College visit opportunities. Some colleges encourage prospective students to visit their campus by providing travel grants such as this one. See if the schools you are interested in attending offer such options. 21. Visit friends. Line up friends you may not have seen in a while and take a trip to see them. You can probably crash with them, so all you need to pay for is getting there and back and your food and entertainment money. 22. Couch surf. Join a group like CouchSurfing to make contacts with others who will let you stay on their couch (or extra bed) for freeanywhere in the world. Internships Taking the summer to work on an internship offers many advantages to students. These tips and resources will help you find a great internship for a productive summer no matter what field you are studying. 23. Media internships. A great way to break into TV, radio, and other media-related fields is to take an internship. You can gain experience and also test the waters to ensure you enjoy this type of work. 24. Clerk. If you are a pre-law or law student, taking a clerkship can provide you with important resume-building skills as well as contacts for your future. 25. Science internships. Young scientists can take advantage of plenty of available internships. Learn how to find them and how to make them work with this article. 26. Disney. Disney offers opportunities for summer internships that can lead to paid internships or positions with the company.

27. U.S. Department of State. If working in the government sounds appealing to you, then check out the internship opportunities available through the U.S. Department of State. 28. Investment banking internship options. Its no secret that if you plan to work in investment banking, the goal is to get an internship the last summer before you graduate. If you missed this opportunity, dont despair.Here are some other ideas that will also help your chances for a career in investment banking. 29. IBM. If you are pursuing a degree in software development or an MBA, then you may qualify for the internship opportunities available at IMB. 30. Sports. Preparing for a career in sports may mean learning more than how to play sports. An internship opportunity like the one available at USA Track & Field is an excellent way to prepare for this career. 31. Environmental organizing. Summer is a great time to learn about organizing others who are passionate about saving the environment. Internships like this one at Environment Minnesota can get you started. 32. Try an internship company. There are several companies out there like this one and this one that will help you locate a summer internship, no matter what you major. Expand your Knowledge Take advantage of your down time to open your mind to new knowledge and experiences with these ideas that include education vacations, new hobbies, and open courseware classes. 33. Read. Make a list of books youve always wanted to read or find a list of best-sellers and give yourself plenty of reading for the summer. Share your finds on websites such as Shelfari or GoodReads. 34. Take an education vacation. Instead of just taking a vacation with no purpose, take a vacation where you can learn something. Use a site like Texas Education Vacation to plan a trip or use your own interests to seek opportunities to learn about the region, people, culture, and history of wherever you go. 35. Take a non-academic class. Maybe you think that since classes are over for the summer you should stay away from school, but now is a great time to take informal classes to learn art, music, pottery, or any other subject that interests you. 36. Learn to play an instrument. If youve always wanted to learn the guitar or play the piano, summer vacation is a perfect time to learn how to play. 37. Learn a language. Take classes, go online, or buy some books or software to help learn a new language. Whether you go on vacation later or can use that skill for language requirements at school, youll be on your way to speaking the language. 38. Take up a new hobby. If youve always wanted to make a model airplane, learn to knit, collect coins, or any other hobby you can imagine, while school is out is the perfect time to learn new hobbies. 39. Learn to cook. Specialty grocery stores and high end houseware stores often offer cooking classes. You can also find instructional videos online or just purchase some cookbooks and learn by experience. 40. Visit museums. Check out the museums in your town, then venture out to nearby towns and see what they have to offer. Exploring museums is an easy and inexpensive way to expand your knowledge. 41. Build something. Whether a bookshelf or a birdhouse, build something. Not only will you learn a useful skill that you can put to use later when you own a home, but you can use this opportunity for a creative outlet, too. 42. Take a geek vacation. Read this article to find eleven great vacations for geeks. You wont be sitting at home on your computer all day with these ideas.

43. Take an open courseware class. MIT and other universities around the world are making many of their past courses available free of charge online. These courses typically include such elements as the syllabus, course reading material, lectures, and projects. 44. Watch a university lecture online. Choose from 17 subjects and find video lectures from professors at top-rated universities at Academic Earth. Earn Extra Money If you devote all your time to school work during the semester, then take advantage of your break from that responsibility to build up your bank account with these ways for making extra money. 45. Be a camp counselor. A great summer job, these temporary positions are just for the summer and will have you outside doing fun projects while being a mentor to children. 46. Tutor students. Whatever subject or subjects are your strong ones, use that ability to tutor students who need extra help and earn some great money in the process. 47. Sell unused stuff. Clean out your living space and sell anything you arent using anymore. That old DVD player, the iPod you replaced last year, and those clothes hanging in the back of your closet can all bring in some money. 48. Get creative. Take these examples to heart and tap into your own creativity to find unusual ways to earn money. 49. Find a job related to your field of study. Not only can you gain important experience, but you can also save money or reduce your student loans if you find a job over the summer. 50. Take a part time job that may carry over to the fall. Finding a great part time job during the summer can build some cash reserves and still allow you some time to have fun. If its something you really enjoy doing, carry it over to the fall and keep earning that extra cash. 51. Start your own business. The possibilities are endless for starting your own summer business. From walking dogs to yard care to house sitting to web design, settle on something you can do well, line up some references, and spread the word. 52. Get a government job for students. Studentjobs.gov offers an excellent way for students to get their foot in the door for government jobs. Find a summer job here for your future. 53. Try an adventure job. Adventure jobs can be anything from white water rafting guide to climbing guides to outdoor educators. Search for a site like this one or this one that helps match you with these types of jobs. 54. Become a personal shopper. If you have a knack for decorating, dressing, or know your way around technology, help others shop for clothes, household items, or computers and other technology products. 55. Sell plasma. Plasma centers will buy your plasma, usually up to twice a week, and can be quite profitable with some donors earning over $200 a week. For School and Beyond Just because you arent in school doesnt mean you can be taking care of school or career-related issues. From creating a resume to improving your writing skills, these suggestions will give you an advantage over those lazing around all summer.

56. Study for admission tests. If you are heading off to college or grad school soon, use the summer to get ready for admission tests you may be facing. 57. Take extra classes. If you need some extra classes or need help polishing up on a subject you didnt quite grasp, take extra classes during the summer. 58. Create a resume. Its never too early to put together a great resume. Whether you will be in the job market soon or not, spend this time working on your resume so it is ready when you are. 59. Apply for scholarships. This blog post from Pay for College Blog offers suggestions on applying for specific college scholarships, no matter if you are a freshman or have been in school a while. 60. Find your focus. If you have been struggling with a direction to take in life, use this time to research, talk to others, and possibly do some volunteer work in the field of your choice to help determine what direction you want your future to take. 61. Visit colleges or grad schools. If you are about to enter college or grad school, take this opportunity to visit schools and learn about the areas. 62. Learn to type. If you use the hunt-and-peck method on your computer, learn to type. It can speed up the time it takes to complete school assignments and will also provide you with an additional skill for your resume. 63. Earn credits while having an adventure. Castle Rock Institute offers students a chance to take four humanities courses while participating in outdoor adventures and living in small community groups. The college credits earned are transferable, but check with your school to make sure. 64. Buy books early. If your professors already have their books listed, then buy your books early and get started reading them before classes start. 65. Do research for a conference paper. Having a conference paper accepted can be a huge boost to your future, whether that be grad school or a career. Proving you can do original, valuable research is quite an accomplishment. 66. Join a campus group. If your school offers community groups, think about joining one. There may be fewer activities during the summer, but you can still research and contact members. Being a member of campus groups can help make connections for your future and may look good on your resume. 67. Improve your writing skills. Writing is incredibly important during school and in your career. Establish excellent writing habits and learn to communicate effectively to see improvement in school and a great skill for your resume. 68. Get to know professors. You dont have to get to know them personally, but do your research on the type of professor each is, their teaching style, areas of interest, and what students like and dislike about them. This way, you can choose only the best professors who will motivate you to learn and can guide you in the right direction. Personal Challenges If you have ever wanted to challenge yourself with difficult task such as running a marathon or need to teach yourself important techniques as destressing or getting organized, then summer vacation is an ideal time to focus on these activities. 69. Train for a race. Whether you want to run a marathon, 5K, triathlon, or other race, use your time off during the summer to train for the race of your dreams. 70. Research your family history. Take advantage of your down time to research your family history. Talk to the older adults in your family, check out online genealogy sites, and put together a family history your entire family can treasure.

71. Tackle an old to-do list. If you have a to-do list that has been hanging over your head, use summer vacation to get those items checked off the list. 72. Climb a mountain. Travel to the peak that has always piqued your interest or give something local a try if you have ever thought about climbing a mountaina physical and mental challenge enjoyed by many throughout the ages. 73. Reconnect with family members. Now that you arent so busy, take this time to reconnect or mend broken relationships with family members. Use your time off to make a visit to spend time together. 74. Take a hike. Whether you just want a challenge of an afternoon or want to try your hand at a multi-day hiking adventure, hiking can be a great way to connect with nature and find yourself. 75. Clear the clutter. Clean up your living space, your work space, and your computer. Clear out old files, old clothes, paperwork you no longer need, and other clutter and you will not only have a cleaner, more organized place, but you can focus more easily on what you need to do than what is stacked all around you. 76. Destress. If the past semester (or past several semesters) has brought too much stress to your life, take this time to destress by pampering yourself, getting enough sleep, not overscheduling, taking time to focus on your breathing and meditate, getting exercise, eating right, and having fun. 77. Get fit. Take on an exercise program, examine and change the way you are eating, and make positive changes that can help you become healthy and fit. 78. Develop healthy habits (or stop bad ones). Quit smoking, drink alcohol in moderation, and take up positive habits such as meditation, exercise, and maintaining healthy relationships with friends. Help the Earth Use these ideas to have a productive vacation while helping the Earth. 79. Plant a garden. Even if you live in a tiny apartment, you can plant tomatoes, herbs, or flowers in a container. Learn how to grow container plants that can make a difference for the environment and give you something productive to do with your time. 80. Start a community garden. If you have mastered container gardening and want to move on to something bigger, try starting a community garden in your area. 81. Dont use your car. Try parking your car for the summer. Now that your schedule is more relaxed, take public transportation, walk, or ride your bike to get where you need to go. 82. Take a bicycle tour. Why travel by car or plane this summer? Take a bicycle tour instead. Not only will you help the environment, but you will improve your fitness and can meet new people on your journey. 83. Participate in an organized environmental project. Working or studying abroad while participating in a project such as these available through ProWorld Environmental Projects gives you the chance to do something for the Earth as well as yourself. 84. Plant trees. Plant trees in your own yard, organize tree planting in your community, or volunteer your time with an organization like Tree Musketeers. 85. Clean up vacant lots. If your neighborhood or community has abandoned lots that have become a nuisance to the neighborhood, organize a clean-up of the area. You may be surprised at how many neighbors volunteer to participate. 86. Start a compost. Composting is an easy project that can make a huge impact. Learn how to start a compost for yourself and then volunteer to help others do the same.

87. Switch to natural cleaners. Its probably not your favorite job, but cleaning the house has to be done. Take some time to learn about natural cleaners, then make the switch to save money and the environment. 88. Start a toner cartridge recycling effort. Set up toner cartridge recycling stations in local businesses and schools, then collect the cartridges and recycle them at the appropriate place (often for money). 89. Work at an organic farm. Spend your summer vacation working at an organic farm and you can learn ways to grow your own food while helping local farmers. 90. Avoid fast food. Fast food is one of the worst environmental polluters. With the massive amounts of beef raised and transported, the enormous amount of paper and plastic goods used, and other sources of fast food pollution are just part of the problem. They also push out local and small farmers and the food is just about the least healthy thing you can eat. 91. Opt out of junk mail. As this article demonstrates, there are many places sending you junk mailand you have to opt out of each by sending a letter, making a call, or via their website (not always available). To opt out of all these junk mail options may take up your entire summer vacation! Personal Development Working on personal development is not only a productive way to spend your summer, but a gift to yourself that will last forever. 92. Create a personal website. Whether or not you think you are tech savvy enough to do this, you can create a website for yourself. If you cant build one from scratch, use WordPress blogs or sites like WebStarts to make one, then fill it with your professional information that can help you build a career. 93. Blog. Start a blog (there are plenty of free ones out there) and document your summer to stay in touch with friends and family or use it as a personal journal to capture your creativity. 94. Think about goals. Setting both short-term and long-term goals for yourself ensures you will stay on track to make your future what you want it to be. 95. Become an early riser. Give yourself a good nights sleep by going to bed at a reasonable time, then form the habit of waking early each day. The extra time will give you an opportunity to do something for yourself before the demands of the day begin. 96. Learn to manage your money. This skill is not only an important one, but one that will help you make it through life with fewer stresses. Go online to find plenty of personal finance sites like Mint that can help you learn how to manage your money. 97. Learn to manage your time. Time management can help you complete assignments and projects more efficiently and is an important skill to carry over to your career. 98. Read motivational blogs. There are several popular and inspirational blogs that can help you find your motivation if it begins to flag. 99. Get organized. Before the next semester starts, get your papers and files organized. Set up a system so that you have a place for everything once the new semester starts. 100. Learn to embrace failure. As many successful entrepreneurs will attest, failure can be an important teaching tool and often leads to later success. Embrace and learn from your failures so you can create a positive future.

How I Spent My Summer Vacation

Posted by Professor Cram in Social Learning

As kids, we viewed summer as that magic time when the weather was nicer, days were longer, and, best of all, NO SCHOOL!!! As college students, we know that summer brings a healthy dose of reality. After graduation, we'll head out into the business world and the two-month summer vacation will be a thing of the past. For now, some of us can cling tenaciously to the summers of old by doing the travel-thing. Island paradises and old-world tours can be alot of fun, and can help us forget what awaits us after graduation. For the rest of us, summer can be a chance to get a head start on our summers to come. Here are some suggestions for productive ways to spend part (or all) of your summer:

Get a job Many of us could use the summer income to help pay for tuition, books, and other expenses in the fall. Don't forget, this is also a great opportunity to make valuable business contacts that could lead to full-time positions after graduation. Alternately, it's also a good opportunity to try out potential career tracks while having the built-in escape clause of 'heading back to school' in the fall. Experience is always useful, especially in your major/career track. Be an intern The next best thing to getting a paying job is to be an intern. Like a job, this gives you valuable experience and helps you make business contacts. It's especially useful for freshmen and sophomores who haven't yet decided on a major, since you can try out things without jeopardizing your GPA. Check with your counseling center at school or your local Chamber of Commerce to find out about intern opportunities near you. Try summer school Summer is a great opportunity to take a class that would normally be a back-breaker for you. The semesters tend to be shorter, with longer and/or more frequent class times that make learning a bit easier. For example, I got a D in Calculus my first year (not good for a math major!) so I took it again over the summer and aced it. A friend of mine who had difficulty with languages took Spanish over the summer semester; the longer class hours had more of an immersion experience and she passed easily. (It didn't hurt that she interned with an exchange student from Central America!) Mix fun and learning Vacations can be a learning experience as well as a fun way to pass the summer. Try a tour of small Mexican towns where you speak only Spanish, a humanitarian mission to Kenya, or an architectural tour of China. Step outside of your comfort zone and experience other cultures. As Ferris Bueller says, "Life is short, if you're not careful you'll miss it."

Instructions 1.
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1 Make a schedule. When you list down all the things you want to accomplish on a given week, you will be more likely to accomplish them--especially when you review your list at the end of every single day and cross out all the things you have already finished. For more efficient planning, categorize activities that are related to each other and do them by category. 2 Learn new skills. Whether it is a hobby or a new career you are interested in, you may want to pursue them when you are not so busy. Learning is an investment, whether you spend money on it (like in college) or not (like reading at home). Read a few books about that computer program you've always wanted to learn. Afterwards, be sure to think of ways on how you can apply what you just learned on your own. Nurturing this skill may even lead to bigger things, such as a career move or promotion.

3 Be active. Sports and exercise may be considered recreational, but they are very important because they help you be energized so that you may be able to accomplish more activities. Get a gym membership or try a new bike trail. Meet up with other joggers and run through various paths. Now is also the time to learn a new exercise that you have always been thinking about doing, like yoga or pilates. 4 Entertain yourself. Set a day and time for leisure activities such as watching TV, seeing a play or going to a concert. Make sure to limit that activity to one particular day or time. For example, movies will always be on Friday nights. TV will be watched between the hours of 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. This way, you will have more time to do your other tasks when you have a set time to take care of your need for entertainment. 5 Do things that you always wanted to do but didn't have time doing before. Think about your current situation as well as your budget--if it's possible to take a weekend to travel to somewhere that you've never been to before, or stroll down the local beach. Be resourceful, as this characteristic will help you when your money won't.

10 great ways to spend your summer vacation

Does your day begin at 10 am? Are your evenings a blur? Are your nights completely unforgettable? Well... you sure need a good vacation then. A week into this routine and yawn... you want to do something new, don't you?After all, vacations are to try out new stuff. We thought and thought to come up with unique ways to spend your vacation. Here's what we finally collated: Take up a job Many companies hire teenagers during the summer season. Most companies face a crunch, what with existing staff vacationing with their families. Hence, for those with career aspirations, get a job. Who's hiring? Almost everyone. If you have a skill, leverage it. Right from BPOs, software firms, advertising agencies, newspapers, corporates, hospitals, hotels... the list is endless. Take up a hobby Ya, right. So you've heard this before. But this time around, make it happen. First of all choose your hobby well. Let it be something you've been dying to do all your life. First of all, remember to list all the things you've wanted to do. Then identify the hobby that best fits your time, budget, and location. Learn Learn a new skill this vacation. Let it be a crash course on enhancing communication skills -gaining this has become very essential for everyone. It could be a short typing course to enhance your typing skills. Or it could be something more tangible like a short-term JAVA course or some other computer language. It could be a new language that you could learn. It could also be a semi-vocational course like tailoring or sketching. Something that will help you build your technical skills. Learn a new game It's never too late to learn a new game. If you are hooked on to Playstation, move on to something else -- like the Age of Empires. Games are a huge industry and who knows, one of you might get into the industry because of your sheet passion for the game. And then, if you are the brick and mortar type, run to your local toy shop and buy something for yourself. I know a lot of young people out there who love to construct and deconstruct toys/games. For more ideas, you can check out: http://www.arvindguptatoys.com/. These are toys created by using everyday materials. Go adventure-hunting

If you are the adventurous type, the world has suddenly opened up for you. Hunt for new places where you can vacation and conduct adventure sports. It could be a local dam that very few have heard of or it could be the mountain patch that becomes accessible during this season. Explore, talk, and reach out. Go bird-watching, join nature trails, or go back-packing. Remember to do all this based on expert guidance. Nurture a pet It could be something as no-high-maintenance like a cat. If you have the will and the time, you could get yourself a dog, a rabbit, a duck, love birds, and such animals. Talk to someone who knows about animals to make your choice. Do some volunteering For the socially conscious, may be volunteering with some local social agency might be a good idea. There are many voluntary groups that regularly require youngsters to contribute to their effort. Especially, the NGOs that work with street children. You could enroll up for one of these. Create a study group The best way to share knowledge is to create study groups. These are groups of like-minded people, who come together to share thoughts and ideas. Some of the greatest thoughts in history have come due to interactions within the young, like you. Decide on a place and a time. Choose a topic to discuss and run it to ground. Many who are petrified of group discussions can find this activity beneficial. Learn a new tool There are some who learn when they create. Learn a new tool... it could be working with a pickaxe or learning to use the scissor well. You could even learn tools like the tools from different ethnicities. What are the tools the Chinese use to make moh-mohs? (the answer is... they don't call them moh-mohs, they call them dumplings...) Connect with the spiritual you This could be a good time to de-stress yourself, especially if the next year is going to be an academically challenging year. Learn some yoga, some meditation technique, try vipassana, or may be pranayama. Choose whatever you think suits your personality the best. Sometimes doing something as mundane as cooking can be de-stressing for some people. Identify the task that helps you de-stress and works towards a calmer you. So, here are our tips. Pick any you like. And if you have any more tips, do share them with us.

For those who still havent planned their vacations, here are some suggestions:

1. Go on a Family Outing.
The best way to spend quality time with your family is to go somewhere and do activities together. There is the water-tubing activity in Maitum, the white sand beaches of Gumasa Glan, Sarangani Province, among others. You can ask Go Sarangani Travel & Tours for assistance. If budget is the problem, there might be inexpensive activities you could do. My family always goes to the beach during the vacation. Its just near our home and, most importantly, its free. We have lots of fun grilling fresh fish or barbecue by the seashore. We also never miss to rent a videoke machine and our self-acclaimed family of singers would sing our hearts out. Other than that, you can do sports like Frisbee, beach volleyball, etc. You can also watch movies together, eat out together, go to church together, etc.

2. Do some Charity work.

Christmas is the season for giving. For sure there would be charity work you can participate in like that of your church or the organization you are a part of. The SoCCSKSarGen Bloggers, for example, are going back to Kinilis for a medical-dental mission, gift-giving and fun day. Our church, the Alabel Alliance Church, as we usually do, would also be identifying needy families whom we will sing Christmas carols to. But instead of asking for money from them, we will be giving them clothing and food that the congregation pitched in. If you have no affiliations like that, you can organize your own in your neighborhood or give something for your favorite beneficiaries. They may even be your relatives. Its about time to check your closet if there are clothes you no longer wear but are still in great condition and give them to the less fortunate ones. If you have more than enough, you can buy new ones and give them away.

3. Do some Gardening. Plant some Trees.

For one whole year, we each contribute to the degradation of our environment. Why not spend a portion of the holidays doing something for Mother Earth? Just plant one tree and a couple of plants in appropriate locations and take care of them. Within a year, they might already be able to provide a little shade, or flowers, or fruits, and sequestered a few pounds of Carbon Dioxide. On the average, a mature tree can sequester about 50 pounds of CO2 in a year.

4. Grab the book youre dying to read.

Usually, I would buy a book every time I have some cash to spare but I dont read them right away. I store them in my shelf and read them during my idle time. I would read a few chapters of several books at one sitting. It would be different if you are on a holiday. While you are at a family outing and you have some idle afternoons by the beach. Wow, that for me is the best time to read books.

5. Create some handicrafts, make something out of your hobby, or learn something new!
I squeezed these suggestions into one not because my title says Five Ways not Six or Seven, but because they are all related to each other. What I mean by this is to create something tangible about things you are passionate about. If it is photography, you can take pictures of the places you visit and make something out of your photos. Photography enthusiasts would always take pictures but these pictures just end up in the computer hard drives or online accounts. Seldom do they make handicrafts out of their photos. Thisou can frame them, turn them into place mats, lamp shades, etc. And you can give them away as gifts! Here are some ideas for your photos. If you are into writing, this vacation might be time for drafting your novel or short stories. If you are into graphic design, now might be the best time to learn new techniques in using your favorite software and make sure you have an output. My co-teacher, Mr. Rolando Nerpiol, will explore his artistic side in painting with watercolor. That would be great, right? After doing any of these things, you can tell yourself when the new year comes, My vacation wasnt put to waste.