Productive Free Time

Outsmart your parents with your summer plans

Hey Teens,

Are your parents wondering :nagging: about what you are planning to do during your summer break?

School is out, and so are the to-do lists. It may sound a bit like: 

What on earth are you going to do with all of this free time? And the answer better not be spending it on my sofa scrolling TikTok or out with your friends all day. I expect you to be a contributing member of this household, help with the chores, do the laundry, clean up after yourself, and do whatever else your father and I ask of you. 

Yikes… Does this sound familiar? 

Sure, parents expect you to be productive with your free time, and okay, sure, it may be relaxing to sit around all day, but we know it’s not a useful way to spend our time or beneficial for our brains. And it’s certainly not a way to end the nagging.

Photo by Daniel Apodaca on Unsplash

So you can choose to sit around with them breathing down your neck, waiting for your to do something, or you can find ways to spend your free time - productively.

Here are a few examples from real teens like you:

Seventeen-year-old Kaitlin

Seventeen-year-old Kaitlin spent her first week of summer break doing just that. She is interested in photography and recently received a vintage camera, and invited her friend to join in on a photoshoot excursion. With the combination of her deep fascination for the ocean, Kaitlin suggested that they visit a nearby beach so they can capture a few of her interests in the shot. Photography, costume design, oceanography, biology, and travel all in one fun project. You can read more about Kaitlin’s adjustment to self-directed learning this summer.

Fifteen-year-old Salman

Fifteen-year-old Salman is spending his summer break taking new courses on platforms like Skillshare and Khan Academy. After completing his required math program, he dives into subjects like animation, marketing, personal branding, and even how to start a YouTube channel. He uses his free time to delve deeper into these topics, learning more about math, animation, YouTube, marketing, video creation, and building a portfolio.

Projects are Productive

Productivity does not need to be a lot of grand endeavors. No one expects you to write a novel, learn a new language, and train for a marathon all in one summer vacation. 

A project is a fun way to do something from inspiration or an idea, no strings attached. Consider it a light and fun way to try something new, like a mini-experiment. 

When creating your project list, remember that it's not just for you. Another important tip regarding the project list you create is that it serves not only as a personal guide for how you'll spend your time but also as a tool to share with your family or household members. Nagging often arises from unmet expectations.

What are the realistic expectations you can set first? If parents expect you to be reading and studying all day, is this realistic? You want to be aligned with everyone’s realistic expectations from the first day of summer or earlier, if possible.

DO TRY this at home

1. Start by writing down a list of 10-20 projects or ideas.

2. Share the list with your parents or household members.

3. Discuss the ideas openly, explaining why it's important for you to spend your free time working on these projects.

Photo by Alexis Brown on Unsplash

When I asked Kaitlin what she found helpful from our discussions about productive free time, she explained it in her own words:

Anything that you can do that works towards a greater goal that is beneficial to your happiness or your mental health or your learning ability, or your well-being. Anything like that, in my opinion, is productive free time. It doesn't need to be the standard, you know, research going to school that kind of productive, it can just be putting the effort in time into something that you love. I think that this has helped me start my summer because it made me accept that even my small hobbies, even with my friends, can be productive free time. I don't need to spend all of my time doing things and learning things just for academic validation, it can still be productive, even if it’s for myself.

By finding meaningful ways to spend your free time, you'll not only reduce the nagging but also pursue your interests and passions.

Sure, hanging out with friends is a fun way to spend those hot summer days, but what if you could start a photography project together?

And here's a bet: your parents will reduce their nagging once they see your project plans in action.

Photo by Jason Rosewell on Unsplash

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