Written by: Emma Habarurema

Summer is not all about travelling somewhere far from home and spending all your savings on shopping, sightseeing, food, and so on. If you can do this, great! But there are some people who simply cannot afford this. Not to worry, your summer can still be as fun and memorable home as it would be anywhere else. So if you are one of the many people with zero plans for the summer, keep on reading. These tips might be just what you need to make your summer an unforgettable one.

1. Boost your self-esteem 

Most of your friends are probably abroad traveling, and you feel alone and all by yourself. Do not sweat it or feel bad about it. Take advantage of your time alone, and use the time to work on yourself. Find your flaws and learn to live with them, and most importantly learn to love them. Your flaws are what makes you unique. You have probably heard this before “Not everybody is going to love you and the odds are a lot of people aren’t going to love you. So the most important thing is to make sure you love yourself.” Cliché? Maybe, but it is true. Here are some tips you can use to gain confident:

• Stop comparing yourself to others
• Stop caring about that other people thinks
• Be at peace with yourself

2. Try something new 

Summer is all about having fun while enjoying the sun. The fact that you are alone home does not mean that you have to literally rotten in your house. Take this time to step out of your comfort zone and try something new! Yes, you could not afford to travel abroad, but maybe you can afford to take small trips around your country. Chances are you have not visited every city or town there is. So why not use this summer to do so.
Explore your country, meet new people and make fresh memories. A positive mind makes a positive life. If you set your mind right and think positive, you cannot fail this summer. Tell yourself that this is going to be the best summer yet, and watch it happen. Bring someone along, a person of your choice. Whether it is a friend or a family member, it is entirely up to you. Having someone to share memories with can never go wrong!

3. Spend time with the people you love 

One of the most important thing in life is to create good memories, especially with your loved ones. After all, with school out of the way, you have more time on your hand now.

• Visit your grandparents: 
  If you have grandparents living in nursing homes or somewhere that makes hard for you to see them often, pay them several visits this summer. “Make up for lost times.” Imagine the joy this will bring them.
• Spend time with your siblings: 
  No love is greater than the one you have for your siblings, and no bond will be as powerful as the one you have with your brothers and sisters. Instead of fighting them, use this time to show them how much you appreciate them. Take your baby brother to the movies; hug your sister; anything to show them how much you love them.
• Do something nice for your parents: 
  Do something nice for the people who have taken good care of you since day one, and continues to do so. Let them know that raising you was and still is worth any sacrifice they have and will ever make.

During adolescence, people tend to grow up fast and forget about the childishness within them. Take a second and think about your childhood-self. How much did you care about where you spent your summer? Exactly, you did not care at all. Yet you had fun, and you still can. All you need to do is loosen up a little and feel joy. During your stressful life, make sure you find the time to relax. This summer, try to view life from a child’s point of view. Think like a child, act like a child and play like a child. It is all about  your attitude to what you do.

I hope these three simple tips helps you plan a nice summer, or at least gives you ideas on how you can spend it at home. I hope you enjoy your summer and make the best memories with your loved ones.