Deciding on what to do with your summer break (read: three months of freedom!) should always be led by an idea of gaining something. It can be anything really – Moving up a little more on the social ladder? (Protip: read this first) Travelling? Getting fit? Establishing networks and making moolah? “Religion shopping” for your very own spiritual awakening?

Bottomline is, you make your own summer. Netflix & chill aside, you should gain something from those three precious months. Roll a dice, pick one and have a summer to remember!

Skillsets

Resume-feeder, aren’t you? Currently, the most sought-after skills to beef up your CV usually involve coding, a working knowledge of Photoshop, etc. You could start by looking at interest groups or amongst the local tech scene rather than taking paid classes. No better time to fully focus on developing or picking up a new skillset than a three month break from the mad rush that is school. Business language courses are also all the rage for people looking to capitalize on expanding markets. These may take a little longer than three months but having that amount of free time to get into the swing of things really help. If you’re looking to pick up a new language conversationally, try online language courses and test your skills out at local Couchsurfing or traveler meet ups.

Business & Networking

Summer internships are highly sought after, but rather than getting blindsided by big glittery names or easy promises of “autonomy” and “creative freedom”, look for an internship that’s able to offer you a clearly structured programme. Having clear idea of the objectives for their interns is the indicator of a worthwhile internship. Time to do your due diligence and check out their Glassdoor reviews to see how the employees past and present feel about the organization as well!

(Taken from The Associate FB Page)

If you’re looking for a more futureproof investment, you might wanna consider joining business summer programmes or competitions.  The Associate is a three-week, jam-packed business competition held from 3 – 21 July 2017 that combines entrepreneurship, innovation and financial know-hows. Modelled after a camp (albeit with one with a stipend, how great is that?!), The Associate takes on a spirit of adventure as it brings you through a series of daily challenges and tasks leading up to the grand finale, where the winning team will stand to take home a cash prize of $5000. Rub shoulders with the upper echelons of society, with past cycles boasting the likes of big sponsors and partners such as W Hotel, Singapore Airlines, Capitaland and M Social. Just don’t forget to pack your bags – their 3D2N overseas business camp waits for no one! (Registration closes on 27 April)

Moolah

Straight-up to the point, money talks. Side gigs, part-time jobs and freelance work are de rigueur, even for people with full-time jobs. There’s endless possibilities to what you can take up. If taking up a short-term teaching assignment or being a barista isn’t your thing, why not try being an Uber or Grab driver? Uber only requires one year of driving experience before you can hit the roads. Plus they offer really nifty rental packages if you don’t own your own vehicle. This arguably offers the greatest flexibility and frees up your time to take on other side projects. What I plan on doing is to simply drive enough to cover the cost of rental and petrol, then hey, free car! Why ever not?

Recreation

Yoga’s been all the rage lately, but why not take a fresh spin on it by going for aerial yoga? Take the plunge (while holding on tightly for sure) with a selection of hoops, silks and lyra. Check out Aerial Fitness Studio’s Instagram page, you’ll know what I mean when I say there’s an added dimension of beauty, grace and elevation to it that makes it an art. Get ready to be your own Superman and go for it!

Getting too comfy in the routine of everyday life? Remind yourself of how big the world is by travelling in search of new sights and new experiences. The usual BKK trip aside, maybe you’d like to push yourself out of your comfort zone for a bit. Take a chance on a destination a little off the beaten track like Iran (Two-way ticket’s only $500+ on Skyscanner) and delve more deeply into the history, culture and soul of the country of your choice.

So which will it be? A business-centric summer, personal skills & development type, or something more recreational? Try your hand at one or two of them. A busy schedule’s a sign of a fulfilling life,  make #summer2k17 count!

This post is powered by Advisors’ Clique, a group of financial adviser representatives representing Great Eastern Financial Advisers Private Limited.  For more details on, feel free to contact Billy at BillyTan@advisorsclique.com.sg or drop him a text at  +65 9475 6701