Five Tips on Having a Great Summer!

Most of our students are away for the summer right now and for college students summer can be a challenging time.  During the academic year, you spend a lot of time at CCM making friends, growing in your faith and maintaining a routine.  Then you go home for the summer and your routine changes - what happened to the 5:15pm Mass!?  What happened to trips to Andy's Frozen Custard!?  What happened to Newman Council meetings!? What happened to TNT!?  Don't worry - before you know it the summer will be over and you'll be back at CCM enjoying all your favorite activities again.  In the meantime, what can you do to have a successful and happy summer break?  Here are five tips on how to have a great summer:

1. Pray.
At CCM during the academic year, there are lots of opportunities to pray - daily Mass, Adoration, retreats, etc.  Then you go home and you let your prayer time fall to the wayside because: a) "daily Mass at my home parish is too early in the morning."  b) "there are too many summer activities going on I don't have time to pray" c) "I'm exhausted after working at my summer job; I just want to sleep".  There are any number of excuses you could come up with not to pray, but praying isn't meant to be a chore.  Prayer is an encounter with Jesus.  It is a joyful thing that brings us into a more intimate relationship with God. Scripture invites us to "pray always".  You can even make your work and play a prayer to God.  Also, take some time though to find silence.  Summers can be busy times, but it's important not to look back at your summer 'vacation' and think 'geez, I was more tired over the summer than I am during school!'  Make some time everyday to be with God in the silence.  It's easier to hear him when you're not distracted by all the noise around you.  Maybe you can get up a little earlier to spend time in prayer or find a break during the day sometime to pray a Rosary or go to daily Mass.  Commit to a weekly holy hour at the local Adoration chapel.  I guarantee that you can find time to pray - you just have to make it a priority.

2.  Set goals.
Don't just be lazy all summer.  Set some goals that you really want to accomplish.  They can be little things or big things.  Maybe there are some books you've been meaning to read (check out our recommended reading if you're looking for something!), or you can train for the 5K we're having in the fall, maybe you've always wanted to learn how to play the guitar, or you want to attend daily Mass at least twice a week, or you've always wanted to learn underwater basket-weaving - whatever it is, find something that you're passionate about, set a goal (or multiple goals) and set out on achieving them.  It can even be little daily goals, like "today I'm going to take my dog for a walk and  pray a Rosary".  Simple.  Making goals will help you have a sense of accomplishment at the end of the summer.  Life is a gift and it goes by quick.  Don't waste the time you have!  Set goals and see them through to help you be the person God has made you to be!

3.  Strengthen family relationships & friendships.
Let's talk about family first:  Your family is incredibly important.  And for college students sometimes summer break is the biggest chunk of time you get to spend with your family all  year.  Take advantage of this time with your parents, siblings, grandparents, etc.  The family is the core of society.  It's important to have bonding time with your family members.  Make memories together over the summer that you'll talk about for years to come.  Do a family activity together - even if you can't take a week-long vacation or anything, maybe just take a weekend or go to a Saturday ballgame together, pray a family Rosary, have a weekly game night, have family meals, go on a picnic at a state park, go to Mass together, go on a camping trip, go on a bike ride or a walk together.  You don't have to spend a lot of money or take a big trip to make good memories.  Sometimes the best memories are made just hangin' out.  The time we have with our families is precious so don't take it for granted.  Strengthen your bonds and enjoy each others company!

Next, friendships:  Surround yourself with faithful friends.  When you're at CCM it's easy.  Everyone comes to the Newman Center and you hang out together and keep each other accountable.  Then the summer comes and you all go home to your respective places and you begin to feel kind of on your own.  What to do?  First of all, keep in touch with your CCM friends over the summer - talk on the phone, connect online, or better yet, plan some time to visit each other.  Secondly, spend some time with your friends from home and create new friendships, too.  Talk to your parish priest to find out if there are any people your age in town who may want to do a summer Bible study or if there's a group already started that you could get involved in. It's important to surround yourself with good friends who will help you grow in your faith and help you on your path to holiness.

4.  Enjoy the outdoors.
God is super creative (duh!) so go enjoy his creation!  Don't stay cooped up in the house all day playing video games or watching tv.  Get out and get some fresh air!  Sweat a little - it won't hurt!  Get together with friends and play some outdoor sports or just take a walk, plant some flowers, or even just read a book outside.  There is a lot of beauty out there, so don't miss it because you were too busy catching the next episode of  _____________ (fill in the blank).

5.  Relax.
This is your summer break - take some time to recharge.  Don't be in such a hurry and be sure to enjoy the day.  Stress is so overrated. 

So there ya go, five little tips on how to have a great summer.  It doesn't claim to be an exhaustive list by any means.  There are lots of other things you can do to make your summer memorable.  If you've got any ideas in particular feel free to add them in the combox.  So have a great summer!  As Father says, "Stay out of chaos!"  Stay safe and happy and we'll see you back at CCM in August!