As we shift from cooler to warmer weather, we experience a shift in behavior. Instead of just wanting to stay home and being introverted, we may find ourselves in an extroverted mood and looking for some places to go out to; however, with this shift in behavior, we also start to lose motivation in school since we have no reason to stay indoors. This being said, here is a guide on how to be an academic scholar all while balancing a healthy social life.

Organize Your Hangout and Self-Care Days 

What I found to be the best schedule is going on your calendar and organizing your week into days where you take time for yourself, and days you are more social. If you aren’t a social person all the time, allow yourself 2-3 days of a rest period to organize and reset your life before going out with friends. During this alone period, you can get important tasks done and afterward reward yourself by getting into your bed and watching a movie. Once you’re recharged and you feel like your social battery is recharged, then you can start planning to hang out with friends.

Go Thrift Shopping 

If you’re looking for something fun to do, you can always go thrift shopping with your friends and afterwards find something to eat. As the days get warmer, a good spot to do this is at Wicker Park. Wicker Park is a neighborhood that includes a variety of activities such as shopping, going to the movies or even going out the eat. It’s the perfect place to fulfill all of your and your friends’ needs.

Utilize Your Study Hall and Lunch Period

If you find yourself just wanting to come home and relax, then a good idea is to set aside some time at school to complete your homework. If you’re a junior or senior I know it may be tempting to go off campus, but you can instead use that time to get all your homework done so when you get home you can relax or go out with friends.

Get Acai Bowls or Boba

For some of us, it may be difficult to get your work done without the presence of others. In order to tackle this struggle, you can invite a few friends to get some Acai bowls after school to not only enjoy the weather but get some downtime from school. You can also get some Boba and afterwards head to the library, so you can not only have fun socializing but also tackle all your homework.