How many times have you had plans for an ideal summer and, before you know it, summer is over and school is back? That feelings sucks, but is realistic for many people. Sometimes, we can get so in our heads about what our summer break should look like. This is mainly due to social media. As a college student, the main question I get asked is my plans for the summer. However, many students don’t have large plans for summer.
For example, I spent the majority of my summers working a job. This summer, I am taking classes online. I don’t have the time to go out as much as I would like. Because of this, I miss hanging out with my friends or trying new things.
Social Media’s Impact
The online world has led us to believe that everyone is going out during their school breaks. Spring break and summer are always talked about as events of the year. While many people do have plans with family and friends, it is completely normal to not have any plans.
Remember that social media is a glamorized perspective of life. Not just what people are doing, but also how they post about it. The people you see online may live very different lives than you. It’s easy to convince ourselves that we are falling behind our peers. But, people often forget that the point of summer is to also rest. School can be very stressful and it’s important to take time for yourself.
So, don’t feel bad if your summer isn’t Instagram worthy. Taking this time to focus on yourself and relaxing is just as nice. I know many people feel guilty whenever they relax because we are so used to having to get something done. You don’t have anything due at 11:59pm or a project you said you were going to stay up and do. So, let these few months fill up the space!
Overall
Once you graduate college, you won’t get this freedom and time back. The great thing about summer is that nothing is expected from you. Many people use school breaks to prepare for the next school year; others use them to explore new hobbies. Either way, your summer should not be based on what other people are doing. Comparing your summer or life to other people will only harm the way you see yourself. You are setting a standard for yourself based off of a stranger on the internet or a friend.
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