Summer comes with summer vacation — a combo we anxiously wait for all year. Whether you are an adult or a youngster, this time of the year is the most relaxing. We make plans for outings, both within and outside Pakistan, or opt for skill-oriented courses or participate in other leisure activities.

And during this time, you sleep as much and as long as you want. I mean, there are no hard and fast rules for getting up and sleeping early in most households, because mums know that they have been yelling all year to make you get up and sleep early. And this is the only time when they can also relax, so everyone just turns off their alarm and just chills.

This is also the time when you or your mum makes you realise that you now need to clean the clutter from your room, table or cupboard. And yes, this is what I am going to talk about today. Declutter your stuff this month.

Whether it’s your cupboard, table or your room, it’s still messy and has no structure, because right after the exams, we all just got too busy with Eid-related activities. I am not asking you to make a whole plan, as you did for studies during exams; while a list or plan is always helpful, sometimes we need to just relax without checking the checklist.

After a long year of exams and strict schedules, summer vacation is finally here. If you want to make the most of your holidays, a quick summer reset is exactly what you need to clear the clutter and truly relax

Sorting the exam aftermath

The academic year leaves behind a load of papers, copies, notes and assignment files. Parents stay quiet all year and let you survive your study load, but once the vacation comes, they want you to finally deal with your clutter.

Turn to your study table or wherever your academic stuff is piled. Since the “dust” has settled, you can sort out what is no longer needed. Keep notes or books that you will actually reread or use for reference.

Give away the books and copies you no longer need. Someone coming into your previous grade will find them useful. Bin the rest: notebooks with 20 pages used, stationery that doesn’t work. This takes maybe half a day, but it’s worth it.

Taming your wardrobe monsters

I have noticed that youngsters often prefer a shirt they love and always reach for it, come rain or shine, and there are trousers/pyjamas they just want to spend their whole life wearing; therefore, a lot of clothing remains untouched.

Be strict with yourself here. If you have not worn something in the past year, you are not going to. It is simply not your thing anymore.

Here again, make three piles: keep, give away and discard. Put it in the give-away pile or take advice from your mum to decide. There is always a voice in your head, “but I might wear this someday.” The answer is, “You won’t.”

Pick the right physical activity

Cricket, football and cycling in the evenings- all of these are rare now. And we all know why. Screens crept in and took over those hours. I am not going to lecture on limiting your screen time, etc. All I want to say is that you must take out some time for any physical activity each day, because your body needs movement the same way it needs food and sleep.

Choose something you actually enjoy. That is the only way you can stick to it. If you don’t like football, don’t pressure yourself because of your friend. You can opt for cycling instead. Keep it simple, but consistent and let it become part of your day the same way scrolling already is.

Put your green thumb to work

These days, many social spaces are giving kids and youngsters a chance to discover how fun and relaxing growing plants can actually be.

If you have a balcony, a windowsill or even just a corner where sunlight easily reaches, you can grow vegetables like tomatoes, mint, chillies, cucumbers, garlic and green onions, as they are quick to grow. All you have to do is take the seeds out of tomatoes, chillies and cucumbers, and sow them at least one inch under the soil. For garlic and onions, just push the head down about an inch, and they will start sprouting soon. Make sure they get sunlight and water them just enough every day.

For those with no room for sunlight, cacti and succulents are the best options. All this activity sounds boring until you see the results. Nurturing nature is one of the most satisfying things one can do.

Summer activities don’t have to be always planned. The pressure to have a packed, memorable summer is real, but mostly pointless. Some of the best days are just slightly different versions of normal days. You have spent one whole year cramming academically; give yourself some space now.

Friends will be there and hanging out will continue like it always did, but use this free time with your siblings too. Watch a film and eat together, and have chaotic fun without your phone for a bit.

These are the days you will actually remember. Not the ones you planned, but the ones happening without planning.

Published in Dawn, Young World, June 6th, 2026