It’s that time of the year again when the heat is sweltering and school is out; yes, summer holidays are here! As much as we wait for these months the entire year, we start getting bored at home very soon. So, let’s not waste time this year by throwing tantrums at our parents about what to do and what not to do. Here are a few suggestions for those who would like to avail the remaining vacation constructively, and have fun at the same time...

Start a business

The boom of social networking websites has turned the Internet into a space where one can talk, play and make some money on the side. You may have been thinking of going into entrepreneurship yourself. What better time than to start this summer? You may have received encouragement from your friends to turn your hobby into a business. Here are a few pointers for starting a business on Facebook:

Good photography: Think of your page ‘albums’ as a shelf where all of your wares are. Good photography will give your customers a clear idea about your products. You do not need a DSLR for gorgeous pictures; good lighting is the key. Play with effects and make your pictures creative. This will attract customers as they will be able to imagine what your products will look like once they have them.

Write a proper ‘About’ for your business: This is necessary if you do not want people asking constantly who you are and what you do. Write a philosophy behind your business, how to order and contact details. Give a time frame within which you will be able to respond to emails and keep a work number in case people want to call.

Update constantly: New material on your page will keep people coming back for more. Face it: no one’s interested in a page whose last update was two months ago. Studies have shown that those who frequent the Internet have short attention spans so keep your page lively and interactive.

Running a Facebook business may be more stressful than running an actual shop, but the efforts are well worth it and you get to indulge in your passion, so try your hand at it.

Make a movie/music video

If the usual pizza and movie nights are starting to get boring, you can always put your friends’ talents to good use. Take one of your favourite short stories and adapt it to a script and plan which of your friends will play certain characters. Work out which areas you will want to shoot the movie in. Or, if there is an issue you wish to address, you can storyboard a documentary. This can also work with songs. You can go for an artsy feel in a music video and tell a story through the song lyrics. Do not aim for perfection; the whole point of this is to take “hanging out” to the next level and have a creative product come out of it. It may inspire you to start your own YouTube channel, where you can showcase your talents and creativity. Besides, if you have the filmmaking or acting bug in you, this project could go towards your portfolio.

Start a blog

In the era of self publishing, getting your voice out there is not as difficult as it used to be. Starting a blog may seem intimidating at first but, it is an addictive hobby to pursue. It can be a gallery where you can showcase your artwork or a place where you share your opinion on books or movies, a blog is a great way of showing your talents in one place. Many great blogs started out from a simple Blogspot or Wordpress template and are now successful websites themselves. A few tips to keep in mind:

1. Just because a blog is in cyberspace does not mean you do not pay attention to basic grammar and language errors. Refrain from using ‘text-message’ language so that your blog is taken seriously and not just another blog where a teenager is whining about their life.

2. Keep it simple. Do not crowd your blog template with graphics and a distracting background. A neat and simple lay out will make it easier for readers to navigate around your blog.

3. Market your blog. Get your friends’ support, link your blog on your Facebook, so that people can click and access it. Tweet about it.

Get an internship

It is pretty obvious to include this particular activity here, but it is an important step to take towards you professional career. Those done with their A-levels would want to start exploring their options. Math and science whizzes can aim for internships at automobile companies while art and fashion lovers can intern at galleries or graphic design houses. Remember, it is never too early to start and do not just aim for big companies. Smaller firms can have just as much to teach; in fact more because their smaller staff will mean you get more responsibilities. Enthusiasm, perseverance and promptness are the marks of a good intern, so do your best. Trust Us, you will always remain grateful to that one company that gave you the chance to prove yourself and opened the doors to many other opportunities.

Our mantra for you this summer is: Make it Count. Be creative because there is something to do even if you are spending this summer at home. Instead of whining ‘I am bored’, plan simple things to do with your cousins or friends like cooking an entire meal or an all-night movie marathon. Two months is a long time to do something constructive and fun, so get creative and have a blast while doing so!