5 Ways to Improve Your Academic Skills Over the Summer

When you’re a student, summer is a time for kicking back and having fun as you shed the responsibilities of the academic year. While it’s important to enjoy this time off, you shouldn’t let your academic skills regress over the break. If you want to come back refreshed and ready to succeed in the fall, you need to put a little work in over the summer to stay sharp and practiced. Plus, this is the perfect time to get ahead in any upcoming classes or pursue a subject just for fun. Stay productive over the break with these five ways to improve your academic skills over the summer.

Practice Writing

Writing is an invaluable skill for any student or professional. From creative writing to sending letters to publishing blog posts, there’s no wrong way to practice writing. As long as you focus on proper language and effective communication, you can keep up with your skills and make the coming semester—and all its notetaking and paper-writing—much easier. Plus, if you write by hand, you can prevent your handwriting from becoming completely illegible over the break.

Take a Summer Class

One of the best ways to improve your academic skills over the summer is to never quite leave them behind. Summer classes are a great way to stay in the rhythm of assignments and studying without being a full-time student. It’s a much smaller workload than the semester offers, so you’ll still get the chance to relax and take some time for yourself. Summer courses and programs are also a great opportunity to pursue a class just for fun rather than for a mandatory credit.

Research Something That Interests You

You don’t always get to learn your favorite subjects over the course of the school year. While your mandatory classes are important, it’s also good to devote your energy toward something that genuinely interests you. Summer is the perfect opportunity to do just that. You don’t need an official class to learn something new. Documentaries, library visits, and endless online resources make it easier than ever to teach yourself about a subject. Practicing research now, on your own time, gives you the skills you need to be a good researcher down the road—an invaluable trait for any academic career.

Step Away From the Screen

We spend a lot of times looking at screens. This isn’t always a bad thing—social media keeps us in touch with friends, the internet is full of helpful resources, and shows, movies, and video games provide hours of entertainment. Still, it’s important to step away once in a while, both from the fun parts and the serious parts. Make sure you spend a couple of hours a day away from your phone, computer, and TV. Let your eyes rest as your mind focuses on other things. This scheduled screen-free time will turn into a healthy habit that benefits you and your well-being throughout the coming academic year.

Prep for the Coming Semester

It always pays to plan ahead. Look at the coming semester and take note of any major tests, college or program applications, essential courses, and any other significant points. Now is the perfect time to get a head start on reading, standardized test prep, or brainstorming major essay ideas. You can also take this time to brush up on prerequisite classes or any other skills you’ll need in this year’s classes. A little bit of preparation can go a long way. You’ll walk into the first day of classes feeling confident and ready to tackle the entire year.

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