Make The Most of Summer By Being A Resourceful Robinson Crusoe
A guide to staying flexible and adapting our plans this summer
Remember being captivated by the adventures of Robinson Crusoe? Cast on a deserted island, Crusoe was forced to use the limited resources he had to create a new life. This summer, many of our vacation plans have been canceled, and we are stranded on our own separate “islands.” However, like Crusoe, we can be resourceful, find unique ways to add spice into our lives, and enjoy a staycation. Here are 4 ways you can be a Robinson Crusoe at home!
Themed dinners
Crusoe had to hunt and forage for food. While the local grocery shop has all the ingredients we need, this is the perfect time to experiment with new recipes and add unique twists on recipes we already love! Baking bread became popular at the beginning of quarantine, but why stop with that? Recently, I’ve made banana sorbet, pasta, and vegetable soup.
Themed dinners have been popular on TikTok lately, with a few Youtubers jumping on board with the idea, too. The concept is simple: the food, costumes, and decorations revolve around a particular theme. Get creative! From Disney themed to a fancy candlelit dinner, themed dinners are the perfect way to make eating at home exciting.
Remote volunteering/internships
We can give back to our community without actually going out in our community. From becoming a virtual tutor through Biobombz to helping those with reading disabilities by scanning books for Bookshare, you can use the skills you have to benefit others. If you want another way to exercise your skills and learn from professionals, search for a remote internship on Chegg Internships.
Learn something new
Have dreams of attending an Ivy League but don’t want to shell out $60,000 per year? Harvard’s online courses are the perfect opportunity to deep-dive into fascinating subjects for free! With courses ranging from Introduction to Computer Science to Modern Masterpieces of World Literature, there’s a subject for everyone. By taking summer courses, you get the opportunity to learn in classes tailored towards your passion.
I’m sure we’ve all been binge-watching movies at home, but what if we could learn a new language while doing so? Many libraries offer those with a library card free access to Mango, a language learning app. The Internet is flooded with resources to help us expand our language abilities over the next few months.
DIY projects
Crusoe built his own shelter, but we can decorate our own rooms instead. Create a few pieces of wall art, make photo frames, sew a pillowcase or decorate a wreath.
Though many of us are staying at home this summer, we can learn to adapt and use these ideas to develop engaging passions and give back to our community from home. After all, if Robinson Crusoe could create a new life from scratch on an island, we can be creative and enjoy our summer.
