There's something about the summer that just hits different. Let's forget that it's that period where everywhere is always feeling hot. The days are brighter, the day tends to slow down, it's kind of like a moment you can get to reflect and cool off, even the evenings last longer. School is out for many students, families plan vacations, parks become busier, even theatres become busy and social media suddenly fills with beach photos, sunsets, road trips, and people smiling in places you've never been. But I think the summer isn't supposed to be the same for everyone. To some people, the summer is for going outside and doing whatever activities. While to some other people, they prefer spending the summer indoors with a fan blowing cool air, a good movie playing on the TV, and a bowl of popcorn beside them. I think both are perfectly okay. For a long time, people have made summer feel like a competition. If you're not traveling somewhere amazing, going to huge parties, or posting hundreds of pictures online, it can feel like you're "doing summer wrong." I don't believe that's true at all. To me, summer isn't about proving you're having fun. It's about actually having fun. Whether you're an outgoing person who wants to explore every corner of your city or someone who enjoys quiet afternoons at home, summer can still become one of the best times of the year. My perfect summer is staying indoors with my TV turned on, while watching the latest movie or series with a side of popcorn or small chops or just normal food while screaming at the TV yelling "Oh Nicki, your love for Bear is really on another level". Apart from that I spend time on my phone chatting with my friends or looking at a very funny meme. While other times I just take the day to relax and reset after the whole academic workload and also try funny experiments in the kitchen. Anytime the summer is coming up I've already started creating my own movie and series catalogue for me to binge watch all through the summer.

A great summer isn't measured by how many likes your photos get. It's measured by how happy you actually feel. If staying home with your favorite snacks, movies, and games makes you happy, then that's a successful summer too. In fact, I think introverts sometimes enjoy summer even more because they know how to appreciate peaceful moments. There are a bunch of things for people who would love to spend the summer indoors can do. They can create their own movie marathon, learn a new skill, read a book they've been ignoring, create a perfect gaming day, or start a journal. Then maybe after all that they can just go outside to cool off or to have human interaction and just come back home to rest. To me, that's a perfect summer.

Some people simply can't stay indoors for too long. If that's you, summer is your season. Longer daylight means more adventures and they don't all need to cost money. Go for walks in places you've never visited, ride your bicycle, visit a park, play football, watch the sunset or maybe even fall in love with someone cool. Even something as simple as sitting outside with friends talking about life can become one of your favorite memories. Sometimes the best summer stories aren't planned at all. If I were to spend the summer outside, I'll definitely not want to miss a cinema experience. I love watching movies and seeing a latest film on the big screen would definitely be on my top ten summer to-do list. Plus chilling out with friends in a nice restaurant.

Summer fun is great, but don't forget the basics. Drink plenty of water, especially on hot days, wear sunscreen if you'll be in the sun for a long time, get enough sleep, even if you're tempted to stay up all night, eat fruits and healthy meals along with your favorite treats and exercise. Having fun is easier when your body feels good too. And what I usually do every summer to make sure I never forget that moment is I actually play a specific music on repeat so that even after summer when I listen to it, I can have that nostalgic summer feeling or I can just remember best moments about it. It could be an activity you can stick to or even a particular fragrance or even seeing the sun set that you can use during the summer just to bring out that nostalgic feeling when the summer activities are over. You can just look at how the sun sets and just be reminded about how awesome the summer was. One thing I wish more people understood is that amazing memories don't always come from expensive vacations. Some of my favorite summer moments have been simple laughing with friends over cold drinks, watching a movie with family, walking outside after it rains, listening to music while watching the sunset, playing games until everyone is laughing so hard they can't breathe. Those moments don't cost much. But years later, they're often the ones we remember the most.

If you ask me how summer should be, my answer is simple. It should be yours, not your friend's, not your favorite influencer's, not the person posting vacation pictures every day. But YOURS. If you're an introvert, enjoy the quiet moments without feeling guilty. If you're outgoing, go make memories outdoors. Watch a movie, read a book, learn something new, explore somewhere different, spend time with people who make you laugh. And don't forget to slow down every once in a while. Because one day, summer will be over, and you won't remember how many hours you spent scrolling on your phone. You'll remember how it felt.