Summer Planning

ORGANIZATION, June 2009, by Jenny McKee


SUMMER PLANNING
Getting organized for the summer to
make the BEST of your time off!




Dear Jenny,
The summer is coming up and I want to ACCOMPLISH something this year. Last summer I slept in, watched TV, hung out with my BFFs and not much else except for the week I went to my Nana's. I'm 14 so I'm still too young to get a job but I'm going into grade 10 and I hear about these teens who DO STUFF with their life already. I don't want the whole summer to go away with me thinking, just one more week THEN I'll do something productive.
How can I plan or organize it properly?
- Trisha, 14, Gananoque


Hi Trisha!
Good for you for thinking ahead and deciding to plan your summer. By planning ahead you’ll be able to stay on track and fit in everything you want to do.

First Things First
First, you need to decide what is most important to you about how you spend your time. Do you want to earn some money? Volunteer? Are there specific places you want to go? Certain activities you’d like to try or do? What about things you could do to help out around the house?

There are many options. Write them all down on paper so you can see what they are. Now decide what is the most important to you and what would give you the most joy and satisfaction. Talk to your family and friends. What ideas do they have? What are they up to this summer? It’s more fun when you can do things with others, so why not plan together!?

Here are a few ideas to get you started!

Earn some money by babysitting. It’s a great way to earn some cash and still get to enjoy the outdoors and play with kids. Make up a flyer and distribute it around your neighbourhood. Tell all your friends and local moms that you are available. It’s a great idea to take a First Aid and CPR course ahead of time. You’ll be more valuable to prospective parents and you'll be confident that you know what to do if an emergency arises.

Give your room a good clean out! Pull everything out, wash everything down and rearrange your furniture. It feels good to have change and it’s a great time to purge and get rid of things you really don’t need or use. You could even plan a garage sale. Ask your mom or dad if they have items they don’t need. Tell them you’ll do the work if you can keep the profits. It’s a fun way to make some extra cash and clear out the clutter. I’m sure they’d appreciate you helping clean up the house as well!

Plan a girl’s night with a twist! Have a clothing swap with your girlfriends. Everyone bring things they don’t wear, use, or need any more and trade them out! It’s a fun way to get new clothes and accessories without the cost. You could even turn it into a mini fashion show and share ideas with each other. Go wild and do crazy hair and makeup… girls night is all about having fun and being yourself with your BFFs. Why not find a new look while you’re at it?

Get in better shape! Block time into your week to include exercise. Look into local pools, tennis courts or recreation centres to find something that interests you. Try and find as many outdoor activities as you can... summer only comes once a year and you might as well enjoy the warmth and sunshine before the snow returns! There are a lot of great biking and walking paths available. Check your local directories and go explore nature. Read Karen Demers' High Fives article this issue on starting your own walking club!

Visit people! Now’s a great time to plan 'dates' with your grandparents, aunts or friends you haven’t seen in a while. Don’t waste time with people who bring you down. Commit and plan to do things only with those who make you feel good and who you have fun with.

Good for you for thinking in advance! If you plan ahead of time, you’ll find you get more done, see more people and have more fun! After all, isn’t that what summer is all about?

~ Jenny


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