Organizing a Summer "Semester" Could Be the Secret to Maximizing the Season.

      In college, there was nothing quite like the excitement of enrolling in classes each semester. You transitioned from a structured high school environment, where your study topics and schedules were dictated for eight hours a day, to a world of options with hundreds of courses available, allowing you complete freedom to organize your semester as you liked. You quickly realized that the unique and entertaining names of these classes often masked standard general education courses, but it was still much more appealing to sign up for “Sex, Drugs, and Rock and Roll: The Chaos of the ’60s” than for “U.S. History.”

      Even after fulfilling your credit requirements, there was always space for a few classes that intrigued you purely because of their content. As adults, we tend not to allocate time to pursuits based solely on interest, especially if they don't contribute to our income or productivity. This has led some individuals to replicate the thrill of selecting college courses by creating their own summer schedules. Let's refer to this as the summer semester.

      What is a summer semester?

      In a popular TikTok video, creator @happy_worldwide proposed the idea of capturing the essence of college course selection by designing a summer semester filled with hobbies and activities. This perspective makes everyday tasks more intentional and enjoyable. Rather than dragging yourself off the couch for a spontaneous walk or promising to read a book each month (only to see it gather dust), creating a summer semester offers a framework that encourages you to carve out time for these activities. If you're looking to leave behind your habits of mindless scrolling and lounging, here's how you can plan your summer semester.

      How to plan a summer semester

      If thinking about this gives you anxiety reminiscent of back-to-school days, relax—there are no tests, grades, or right or wrong ways to do this. Simply ask yourself: If I were in college now, what fun elective would I want to attend for a few weeks? It could be Beginner’s Yoga, Intro to French, or Hot Girl Walks 101. Once you've formulated your ideal class schedule, it's time to bring it to life. For example, HGW 101 might take place on Mondays and Fridays at 7 a.m. on a trail close to home, while French could involve logging into Duolingo from your bed. Whatever you choose, determine specific days and times to integrate them into your weekly routine.

      The purpose of the summer semester isn't to overwhelm your schedule to the point of burnout. Instead, it's an opportunity to experiment with new hobbies and introduce some excitement into your summer. It's also a perfect chance to finally address those projects you've delayed. After you’ve crafted your schedule, consider designing a cute graphic and setting it as your phone wallpaper (I can't be the only one who did this in school to keep track of my classes) to recreate that first-week-of-school enthusiasm.

      Fun summer semester ideas

      If you're excited about the idea of a summer semester but need inspiration on what to "enroll" in, here are some suggestions to help you get started:

      - Start a meditation practice

      - Try a different workout each week

      - Arrange a weekly happy hour with friends

      - Engage in creative writing using prompts

      - Improve your financial literacy through YouTube videos, articles, or online courses

      - Experiment with floral design

      - Learn to play a new instrument

      - Discover new hiking or walking paths

      - Showcase your fashion skills by styling outfits weekly

      - Cook new recipes

      - Read books outside your usual genres

      - Start a garden

      - Take art or language classes

      - Visit museums

      - Watch classic films you haven't seen

      - Learn painting techniques

      - Play tennis or pickleball at a local court

      - Volunteer regularly

      ABOUT THE AUTHOR

      Lauren Blue, Assistant Editor

      As an Assistant Editor at The Everygirl, Lauren creates and writes content relevant to various aspects of our readers' lives. Her articles cover topics such as must-read books, movies, home tours, travel itineraries, and more. When she's not experimenting with the latest TikTok trends, you can find her browsing Goodreads for new releases to highlight on the site.