Now that the exam period is finally over, and we have finished the year, there is a long summer break awaiting us, with plenty of time to take advantage of opportunities.

Many students may not know or be aware of how to make the most out of their time, or use it in a productive or beneficial way. Although we all deserve some time off and to recoup after the stressful exam period and year, the summer break is long and you may find yourself bored and unsure of how to fill the time.

This blog will cover some different activities, opportunities and ideas that you can do during the summer. Some of which are productive (e.g. ways to make money, gain experience, add to your CV) and others which are more fun and recreational to fill any spare time (e.g. taking up new hobbies).

Productive Ways to Spend the Summer

Getting a summer job

Now that you have more free time, you may want to seek job opportunities to do during the summer period. A job can be a great way to earn money to help you through your next year.

If you are staying in Halls or Reading over the Summer, you can get a job through is through Campus Jobs. This is a great place to find on-campus work. To apply, you usually have to answer a set of questions and/or provide your CV (although not always asked for) and sometimes are asked to come in for an interview. Even throughout the year, Campus Jobs is an excellent way to find work On-Campus to help you make some extra cash alongside your studies.

If you are going home over the Summer, you may want to look for job opportunities in your town centre or near your home, for example in coffee shops, retail stores, supermarkets etc. If you know of people that need babysitters, people to watch pets, dog walkers etc. This can also be a good way to make a bit of money whenever possible.

Finally something you can do is to see if anyone needs either an online or in-person tutor, although it may be difficult to find during the summer holiday, some students may be wanting to improve their knowledge during this period. Often there may also be clubs for younger children over the summer, such as for sports, in your area that you can help out in.

Volunteering

Volunteering can be a rewarding and amazing opportunity to meet new people and gain new experiences during the summer holiday. Depending on what you are interested in, you can find plenty of volunteering opportunities online in your area, as help is always appreciated. For example, typical volunteering opportunities may include wildlife preservation, helping in local museums, helping in local hospitals, education, charity shops etc. It is also an excellent way to enrich your CV and prove to employers you want to help out your community and others, as well as proving your interpersonal skills and time management.

If you are staying in Reading, you can find volunteering opportunities on the Reading Borough Council website. The University of Reading also has a list of volunteering opportunities.

Volunteering can help you reach the RED Award if you choose to complete it. Summer can be a good time to start with plenty of free time. This award is excellent to enrich your CV, therefore aiming to complete it, or just getting started over this summer is a productive way to fill time.

Getting an Internship

You can find a summer internship using the Reading Internship Scheme. This involves paid work and can help you gain experience in the workplace as well as meeting new people and making connections that can help you get employed after your degree.

It can also help you figure out what you may wish to do as a future career, and get an idea of what type of work you are most passionate about. You can find listings using the MyJobs Online website.

Recreational Activities & Hobbies

Not everything you do over the summer must be work, studying or preparing for the future, it is also the perfect time to enjoy yourself and relax while you still can, and find some hobbies you enjoy. You can spend time with your friends doing different activities, such as travelling, going to festivals (e.g. the Reading Festival) or concerts, visiting theme parks, fairs, going camping etc. just to name a few. Creating memories is just as important as being productive, and having a good work/life balance is a good skill to have.

Here is a list of things that you can try this summer:

• DIY and arts/crafts
• Knitting/crocheting
• Trying out new video games.
• Cooking/baking new recipes
• Reading/writing
• Exercise
• Gardening and taking care of plants/flowers
• Learning an instrument
• Learning a language
• Learning to meditate and relax

There are plenty of things you can do to keep yourself busy over the summer break, and it is up to you if you wish to make the most of it, be it being productive or making new memories. Make sure to relax and spend some time with yourself, family and friends, as while being young it’s important to also make memories and enjoy the time we have.