Summer vacation seems the same every year. You get the same advice about doing the same activities that you do during each vacation.

And then in August, you suddenly realise the time is gone. Someone asks what you did during your vacation. And you reply, “not much.”

Many of you want to do a lot and really feel guilty if you couldn’t do anything by the end of vacation, so for all those kids, here are a few ideas to do something different. Just something that feels like it was worth the time.

These three main ideas are just the start of a long road ahead. And I am sure, while you are at it, you will come up with more creative and interesting ones. Since different things work for different people, so pick the one that matches your interest — visual, physical or conversational. None of them require money. All of them require some time, your interest and your dedication.

Tired of hearing the same old summer advice every year? Discover a few unusual ideas that can turn your vacation into something worth remembering

Remember, these ideas are meant for your personal use; they could be for your family and friends, and that’s it. You should not go public, as it is totally not safe. The idea is to practice and bring out your creativity in digital form in a private way until you reach a certain age when you know what is good and bad for you. And you can handle the public reactions and feedback sensibly too.

I: A short documentary

The word documentary feels so big and heavy; perhaps you immediately thought of a National Geographic or Discovery kind of stuff, but in simple words, a documentary is basically a film or show about real life. Real people, real events, real issues. Nothing is made up; it uses actual footage, interviews and photographs to tell a true story.

It can be about anything: nature, history, a famous person, food, sport, etc. The whole point is just to show you something real in a way that keeps one watching. You can choose a watchman who has spent a huge part of his life watching over the area, cars or apartments. Or maybe a little boy working as chotu at a tea stall serving tea the whole day, or it could be the place near your house that used to be a park, but not anymore.

How to actually do it

You don’t need a camera, a mic or any other professional gear. All you need, and the best way, is to use your parents’ phone, because that way all the content that you are creating is safe with them.

So before you start, you must have a clear plan in your mind. Pick a subject, take a paper and a pen, and ask yourself some questions about it. What do I actually want to know about this; what I am curious about; how it is at its present stage and many more questions like these. The idea behind questioning yourself before making a short documentary is that you must be clear about what you are documenting and why.

Start shooting and shoot more than you think you need. If it is a person, get close-ups of hands, objects surrounding them and the environment. Record ambient sound, street noise (you can do it from your terrace or balcony). Be precise with the person; always blur their face or don’t take face shots altogether. Just talk to them and let the camera record the surroundings. If it’s a place, take full view, close-ups of small objects in it and its surroundings, etc.

Once you are done and happy, it’s time for edits. This is the hardest part. Most people who start films don’t finish them. Because the edit gets boring and soon you lose momentum. Remember you are learning, so finish it anyway.

There are also some easy-to-use apps available on a phone as well as on a computer, like CapCut, iMovie and DaVinci Resolve, they are all free. Your film should be between three and five minutes. Shorter is almost always better.

What you actually learn from this

Filmmaking teaches you to pay attention. Although you started light-heartedly and casually, you will ultimately realise many things. You start noticing light, faces and how people move when they tell stories and talk about their work. You also learn how important it is to finish things, even imperfect things. A lot of talented people never finish anything.

II: Make a podcast

A podcast is basically a recorded show you can listen to anytime on a phone or computer. It can be two people just talking, an interview, a story or someone teaching you something. There are podcasts on literally every topic — comedy, sports, fashion, drama, literature, arts, you name it.

To make a podcast, think of a topic to talk about. You don’t have to be perfect at any stage. Do a little brainstorming beforehand so when you start talking, you know where you are going. Involve a friend or sibling and you will actually enjoy making it.

You can also break your topic into episodes. For example, if your topic is FIFA or overall football, talk about your favourite team in episode one; in the second, talk about the best players you know, and episode three could be a debate between you and your friend about who is the greatest footballer of all time, and why.

Each episode will talk about a different angle on the same thing you love talking about anyway. Just write a loose outline to keep you on track without removing the spontaneity.

Once you have decided and brainstormed, at this stage, all you need is a phone. As I said earlier, it is better to use your parents’ phone so that all the content remains intact and safe. And through them you can easily share or show to your friends and family.

Setting it up

A tripod is a good option for making a podcast, but if you don’t have it, just hold the phone close to your mouth for voice clarity. If you want slightly better sound, record in a small room with soft surfaces like sofas or cushions, as they absorb echo. Close the windows if there are any.

Weird but true

Your voice sounds different in a recording and perhaps you don’t like it, but everyone feels this way. Also, the first episode is almost always the worst one. The improvement between episode one and episode five is impressive.

Podcasting teaches you to think out loud, structure an argument and speak with some confidence. These are things that help you in every conversation you’ll ever have for the rest of your life, such as interviews, presentations, arguments and explanations.

You don’t learn them by reading about them. You learn them by doing them badly and then slightly better the next time.

III: One skill, any skill

A skill doesn’t always have to be too useful or future-oriented. It just has to be something new for you. Perhaps something you may never have thought of learning.

A few options: solving a Rubik’s cube, learning origami, sleight-of-hand card tricks, speed reading, typing on a computer keyboard, calligraphy, knot tying, beatboxing, yo-yo, a musical instrument, drawing, etc.

These are side skills, and if you are still thinking why bother learning something that feels useless, know that in the long run, these things quietly build your patience, focus, memorisation, curiosity. You don’t notice it happening, but it is.

How to approach

Pick some time out from your routine and spend 20–30 minutes daily on the activity you have chosen. Deliberate and focused practice beats long unfocused hours of practice.

Find one good tutorial, practice and track your progress by filming once a week doing whatever the skill is. At some point in the first two weeks, you will feel like you’re going nowhere. Push through two more weeks. Almost always, something unlocks.

All the three ideas are just a starting point for your creative side. You may begin randomly, but you might love it, pick it up and keep getting better at it.

What is best about these three ideas is that they all end with something you will actually have to think about, share, show or can spend your time with in the future: a short film, a podcast or a skill you have learnt.

Published in Dawn, Young World, June 13th, 2026