"In college, there was no thrill like signing up for classes each semester. You went from being told exactly what to study and when to study it for eight hours a day in high school to having hundreds of courses laid out before you and complete freedom to plan your semester however you wanted. You quickly learned that the quirky, fun names they gave these classes were usually just cleverly branded gen eds, but hey, signing up for “Sex, Drugs, and Rock and Roll: The Chaos of the ’60s” definitely sounded way cooler than “U.S. History.”
Even after checking off your required credits, there was always room for a few courses you chose simply because they sounded interesting. As adults, we rarely make time for things purely because they interest us, especially if they don’t make us money or increase our productivity. Which is why some people are now channeling the excitement of picking a semester’s worth of classes into designing their summer schedules. Let’s call it the summer semester.
What is a summer semester?
In a now-viral TikTok video, creator @happy_worldwide suggested recreating the magic of college course selection by building your own summer semester of hobbies and activities. It’s a simple reframe that makes everyday activities feel far more intentional and fun. Instead of dragging yourself off the couch for a walk on a whim or swearing you’ll read a book a month (only to watch it collect dust on your nightstand), creating a summer semester gives you a structure that helps you actually make time for these things. If you’re ready to drop your current classes of doom-scrolling and bed-rotting, here’s exactly how to plan your summer semester.
How to plan a summer semester
If this is giving you back-to-school stress already, don’t worry—there are no tests, grades, or wrong ways to do it. All you need to do is ask yourself: If I were in college right now, what fun elective would I want to take for a few weeks? Maybe it’s Beginner’s Yoga, Intro to French, or Hot Girl Walks 101. Once you have an idea of your dream class schedule, it’s time to actually implement it in your life. HGW 101 could meet on Mondays and Fridays at 7 a.m. on the trail near your house. French might be as simple as clocking into Duolingo from the comfort of your bed. Whatever your chosen activities are, outline specific days and times to work them into your weekly schedule.
The goal of the summer semester isn’t to pack your schedule so full you burn out. It’s to try new hobbies and bring a little excitement into your summer. It’s also a great way to finally tackle those projects you’ve been putting off. Once you’ve made your schedule, create a cute graphic, set it as your phone wallpaper (I can’t be the only one who used to do this in school to remember my classes), and channel that first week of school energy.
Fun summer semester ideas
If you’re sold on the idea of a summer semester but aren’t sure what to “enroll” in, here are some ideas to get you started:
- Start a meditation practice
- Try a new workout each week
- Schedule a weekly happy hour with friends
- Practice creative writing with prompts
- Boost your financial literacy by watching YouTube videos, reading articles, or attending an online course
- Experiment with floral design
- Learn a new instrument
- Explore new hiking or walking routes
- Flex your fashion skills by styling outfits each week
- Try cooking new dishes
- Read a book outside your usual genres
- Start a garden
- Take art or foreign language classes
- Visit museums
- Watch classic films you’ve never seen
- Learn how to paint
- Play tennis or pickleball at a nearby court
- Volunteer regularly
Lauren Blue, Assistant Editor
As an Assistant Editor for The Everygirl, Lauren ideates and writes content for every facet of our readers’ lives. Her articles span the topics of must-read books, movies, home tours, travel itineraries—and everything in between. When she isn’t testing the latest TikTok trend, she can be found scouring Goodreads for new releases to feature on the site.