Summertime Sadness

Summer is always my least favorite time of year. Yes, it does have its upsides. Warmth. Sunshine. Freetime. Mosquit--oh, wait.

Aside from the icky Illinois bugs, there's an abundance of reasons autumn, winter and spring outrank summer on my list of most-wonderful-times-of-the-year. Namely, summer is boring.

Do not misunderstand. There's plenty to do in the summer (eg. beach, hiking, vacation, hanging out with friends), but when you're not in school and the kids you babysit just got shipped off to India, you can find yourself with a lot of free time on your hands. Quite possibly too much free time. You know what they say about idle hands.

This time-surplus can lead down one of two paths. Productivity or the mires of boredom. The latter is harder to escape than most would have you believe. Once you find yourself beaten into a pattern of loafing around drinking tea, writing, and talking to the sister you haven't seen in three years, it's a challenge to rise out of it.

However, I have compiled a list. The most wonderful list of things to do to prevent this summer boredom.

• Get a new job. I have been unsuccessful thus-far.
• Exercise. This has proven to be my lifeline in this dreary summer. I've started running, and I've already noticed a spike in my energy. So many benefits for a great time-killer.
• Call up some friends. This is when you realize they are in short supply.
• Create something. You've got to be in a special mood for this. Take up a paintbrush. Make too many friendship bracelets. Make a website. Organize your blog.
• Clean. This is another good one. Break a sweat and get some work that needs doing done.
• Play Skyrim. Yes, I have recently re-discovered this magical realm on the PC, and it's amazing. Completing quests gives you just enough illusion of productivity to keep your self-esteem up.
• Drink water. I tend to eat when I'm bored, so this is a good alternative.
• Have a bonfire.
• Sing. I like to do this, even if my voice sounds like tissue paper. Learn a new song on the piano or guitar. Pretend that you're impressive. 
• Blog. Remember that you made one of these. Write on it.
• Window shop. Leave your money at home so you don't tempt yourself, then try on those cute shoes. All of them. (I actually discovered I'm a size 6.5-7 not a 7-8 when I was doing this)
• Go hiking. I love doing this, but living in Palatine can be quite limiting.

I'm sure there are plenty of other answers out there. Any of these options is more productive than re-watching a whole season of Supernatural in a day or shopping for cool boots that you don't need (I didn't buy them!). Hope this helps those who find themselves facing the same summertime affliction. 

In the words of my elementary school year book, HAGS.