How To Not Rot Your Brain During Summer

Exams are over. You've burned your notes, deleted your school group chat, and promised yourself a full month of lying down. Fair. But by week two, the buzz fades and the scroll begins. Suddenly it's August, and you haven't used your brain in 47 days.

Here's how to stay sharp this summer, without becoming That Guy doing A-level flashcards at the beach.

Do Less, But Every Day

We're not saying open a textbook. Just keep your brain in gear. Read a chapter of something interesting. Spend 10 minutes explaining a topic you learned this year to your friend. Small daily effort keeps your brain from going mushy. Research from the University of Texas shows that just 15 minutes of cognitive engagement per day can preserve long-term memory and improve focus.

Learn Something You Actually Care About

School doesn't always let you pick. Summer does. Curious about photography? Japanese history? How to code your own website? Pick a rabbit hole and fall down it. A study from the University of Chicago found students retained twice as much when learning something self-selected vs assigned material. Translation: obsession is good.

Move Your Body, Not Just Your Thumbs

There's no brain without blood flow. Go outside. Walk. Skate. Dance badly. Whatever gets you out of bed and into the world. Exercise isn't just physical. It boosts attention span and mood, both of which you'll need come September.

Swap TikTok For Something You Can Keep

Not forever, just sometimes. Take breaks from content that vanishes. Write something. Build something. Make a playlist you'll actually want to hear in five years. Your future self will thank you. A 2022 Oxford study linked reflective creative work with lower rates of stress and stronger identity formation in teens.

Keep Talking

Don't vanish. Keep your friends close. Have conversations that aren't just memes. Chat about ideas, futures, dreams, nonsense. Staying socially engaged protects your emotional intelligence, which, surprise, is a huge factor in academic and life success, according to the World Economic Forum's 2023 skills report.

TL;DR

Your summer doesn't have to be productive, but it also doesn't need to be a total brain melt. Little bits of curiosity, connection, and motion go a long way. You've earned your rest, just don't turn into a potato.

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