Published June 4th, 2025
BY ZANA BALABAN
Finally approaching is our hard-earned summer–a season full of freedom, potential, and the temptation to waste it all in bed. As a professional procrastinator and bed bug victim, here are some tips to make the most out of every day.
The first step is to get out of bed. The room is dark and the blankets are warm, but your phone is tired of working overtime to entertain you. The light outside comes with an uncomfortable truth–the world’s awake, whether you’re a part of it or not. Harvard Sleep Medicine reports that teens need between eight and ten hours of sleep per night, and adults only seven, so if you’re clocking twelve on a random Tuesday, it’s not self-care, it’s hibernation. And if you’ve been up this whole time, then you’ve already wallowed for three hours past breakfast and wasted half the morning in digital quicksand.
To keep from finding a new place to doom-scoll or doze off, make plans. Get as many people excited about it as you can; this will keep you from chickening out. Think of the time you promised you would do that five-minute ab workout every night and get in the best shape of your life, or when you swore you’d start journaling: If there’s no one to keep you accountable, there’s a good chance it won’t happen.
Once you’ve got a few friends together, don’t let the “there’s nothing to do here” excuse kill the fun. Take a hike (see some insider recommendations right across the page), host a group to cook something ambitious or start a little side hustle. Babysit, dog walk, wash cars, anything to keep you moving and to fund your inevitable impulsive purchases.
Carmel’s quieter than a lot of places, but it’s not dead. People pay big money to travel here from all over the world, so take a second to appreciate your great fortune (while still attempting to avoid the tourists). Wake up for a quiet sunrise, survey the tide pools, try film photography, bike Carmel Valley’s backroads, or pack a picnic for your favorite secret spot. If you want to put your surfing skills to the test–or prefer to watch from the shore–check out the annual Carmel Surfabout happening June 7-8.
And if you’re still not satisfied, go explore a new place, and remember that you don’t need fancy equipment to do something adventurous. Take a day trip to Santa Cruz, drive out to Pfeiffer Beach, or car camp in Big Sur.
The goal is to create memories you’ll be talking about for years. Just get out there–your camera roll and your mental health will thank you.
