August marks the countdown before a new school year, even if it’s been years since your K12 or college days. Now’s a great time to reflect on what has or has not been accomplished during the summer. While summer’s not the lazy vacation it might have been in years gone by, the longer hours and agreeable weather bring about a change of pace and offer a chance to achieve something that you simply didn’t feel you had time for earlier in the year. The possibilities during summer months are endless—and there are many online references to consult. Both formal and informal activities count:
- Reading a great book
- Learning a new skill or working towards a fitness goal
- Travelling to a favorite or new place
- Organizing some aspect of your life
Summer experiences may enrich us and set us on a different course for the rest of the year. For some, making a monetary investment or voicing a commitment to others by signing up for a workshop or online course is sufficient incentive to complete it. With so many social media avenues available to us, we can post our intentions publicly or selectively, and then follow up with updates on our progress and hurdles. Let your friends know what you’re up to and you might just get company or at least a cheering section.
For others, the personal sense of accomplishment is what drives them to achieve a goal:
- A gardening class can help you to beautify that neglected patch of backyard
- A CPR refresher course could bring you peace of mind at the pool or beach
If you enjoy your community’s history, find out if the local museum has a docent or volunteer program you can participate in. Have a fitness goal? Check out local parks to see what seasonal activities could help you stay on track. For example, trails challenge programs offer incentives (for example, a patch or T-shirt) for hiking “x” number of miles of park trails. If you’ve got a family or friends group of varying ages to consider, something you may all enjoy is a treasure-hunting activity with GPS devices known as geocaching it makes any hike an adventure.
What, you say you haven’t started anything yet? Don’t fret now that we’re in the final weeks of summer. If you’re a procrastinator, this may be the push you need to start OR wrap up that program!