At the close of the winter semester and the beginning of summer vacation, most students either store their used textbooks far away, never to be seen again, or sell them. It seems that as soon as finals are over, students want to “move on” from the subject matter which they have been learning and never give it a second thought.

This mentality is understandable: After two long semesters of studying, writing essays, and taking tests, summer vacation affords the opportunity for a long mental break. It’s no wonder that most students just want to dump their textbooks and give their brains a rest.

Still, I’ve learned that while having 3 to 4 months of an uninterrupted summer break may be both refreshing and well-deserved, it certainly comes with its drawbacks. For one thing, you can forget a lot of what you have learned during the previous semesters, mentally backsliding. This can put you at a disadvantage by the end of the summer as you prepare to commence another school year. Luckily, I believe there are a few ways that you can keep your brain sharp over the summer while still enjoying your break.

My favorite way to keep my mind fresh during the summer is reading. During the school year, I—like all students—have a lot of required reading for classes and, consequently, little or no time left over to devote to reading for pleasure. Once classes are over, however, I have a lot more free time. This seems to be the case for most students. As a result, summer is the perfect time to start a fun book series or pick up a novel that you’ve been wanting to read. Other materials, such as newspapers or magazines, are valuable resources as well; you can use them to keep up on current events or explore a topic that interests you.

On that note, summer is also the perfect time to keep your brain active by trying a new hobby or researching a subject that you find stimulating. You could learn how to play an instrument, for example—there are plenty of cognitive benefits associated with doing so. Or you could learn how to develop a new skill you’ve always wanted to have. The options are endless.

Finally, it doesn’t hurt to review old material. In particular, if you know that you will be revisiting a certain subject during future semesters, you may find it helpful to dust off your old textbooks and review their content over the summer. There isn’t any need to go crazy studying like you would during finals week, but keeping your mind fresh by engaging in some occasional review will certainly be helpful.

Although summer vacation can be very relaxing and refreshing, providing a much-needed break for worn-out students, it’s still important to stay mentally sharp from May to August so that you’re prepared for the next semester.