Summer offers students an opportunity to improve. This improvement typically comes in the form of an internship, a job or summer classes at college, but these don’t need to be the only means.

Often, during the hustle of getting homework done and fluttering about as a social butterfly, we lose sight of other paths to personal growth.

The mind needs to stay sharp. For those who have less-than-challenging summer jobs, a demanding book can make the reader rethink their ideas and learn new things.

Read a book that takes an opinion you can’t stand (just not Ann Coulter’s). Learn about an emerging topic before the masses. Read a newspaper from a different city, state or country. Read a novel – even fiction (OK, Coulter counts).

If you’re not enrolled in a college course, take a unique class through your local park district. Don’t worry – people in your community don’t bite.

Learning what tools help in stressful times is crucial.

Exercise is professed to be a great stress reliever – and it is. If you haven’t worked out since high school gym class, you should start now (but start slow).

Along with exercise, a responsible diet gets chucked for pizza or fast food during the school year.

Well-being is sacrificed for convenience. It’s only convenient if we haven’t developed the skills to be a quick and effective cook.

Most of us have our mom, grandmother, an aunt or a friend who would love to teach us how to eat better by cooking more.

There are many ways to improve your health, and it does not matter which approach is taken.

What’s important is that summer is the best time to develop behavior patterns that will carry over when the rigors of a packed schedule tax our ability to make healthy choices.

It would be unfortunate to reflect on your summer and realize that all that you did was catch up on mind-rotting TV and movies.

If you are on the couch right now, quick – get up, get out and get a life!