If you're on summer break, it's easy to think of it as a temporary liberation from schedules; however, planning and regimentation are the allies of practically every successful weight-loss plan. Set a summertime goal for yourself, ideally one that supports your weight-loss goals. For instance, pledge that you're going to learn to rollerblade or be able to swim more laps than your sister. Keep your meals, snacks, and exercise time on a fairly consistent schedule. This makes it easier to track your progress and more difficult to make excuses for skipping out. Get regular and sufficient sleep, but not excessive. Sleeping away your summer is not a good weight-loss plan. Ages six to 13 should get between nine and 11 hours of sleep; ages 14 to 17 should get eight to 10 hours of sleep; and those 18 to 25 need seven to nine hours. Unfortunately, tanning poolside does not meet this goal. You should strive to be physically active for 60 minutes most (at least 5) days of the week. If you are sweating at least a bit and breathing hard enough that it would be a challenge to sing, but you can still make conversation, then you are probably exercising at a beneficial level. The 60 minutes of exercise does not have to happen all at once. Doing 3 20-minute sessions seem to be just as beneficial as 1 60-minute session. Organized sports like soccer, swimming, and tennis fit the exercise bill. So to do activities like dance and aerobics classes. Though usually less of a calorie-burner, yoga also can benefit both body and mind as part of a weight-loss regimen. Especially if it gets oppressively hot where you live, it can be dangerous to engage in otherwise beneficial exercise during mid-day. If it's too hot to go for your regular jog, adapt your schedule or find a different (but healthy) activity. Staying hydrated by drinking water is good for your weight-loss plan, and it is also especially important during hot stretches. Hydrate before, during, and after exercising. Plain old water is generally more than sufficient, and comes without all the calories, sugars, and additives of sports drinks. In especially hot weather, either plan your exercise for early in the morning or later in the evening, or move your exercise indoors. Try DVDs, YouTube videos, or even games like Wii Fit that serve as an aerobic or strength training class you can do indoors. If you're lucky, you probably have a bit more free time during your break from school than you will once classes start back up. You can take advantage of being in less of a hurry. Don't drive when you can walk (or ride a bike). Sure, it's less than a 5-minute drive to your friend's house, but making it a brisk 20-minute walk (40 round-trip) will fulfill much of your minimum activity goal for the day. Take the stairs. Make the elevator your last resort. Turn your pre-back-to-school activity time into some extra cash. Mow your neighbors' lawns. Walk (or jog) some local dogs. Join a house painting crew, or help clean up the local park. Enjoy the great outdoors, look a bit trimmer, and fatten your wallet all at the same time.

Summary: Stay on a schedule. Work up a sweat. Beat the heat. Make use of your time.

Consider how something might still be useful even after it has fulfilled its original purpose. Many consumer products are designed to be thrown away after a single use but with a bit of care, you can learn to break the cycle. Look for ways to recycle items into home decor: turn old boots into planter pots, sew clothing into blankets, and use old wine bottles as candle holders. Think about how you can repurpose a "used" item into something functional. Wash out old condiment jars and use them for drinking or storage; use old clothes as cleaning rags; and consider rinsing out slightly-used Ziploc bags for a second use. . You can "recycle" organic matter (paper, leftovers, coffee grounds) at home by mulching it together into a compost pit or compost bin. As the food waste decays, it will gradually turn into soil with the help of worms or other insects. You can spread the composted soil onto your garden, or you can donate it to a local farmer! Think carefully before you throw something away. Even if you don't know how you yourself will reuse an item, there is a chance that someone else will be able to use it. Consider taking loads of old clothes, media, and household ephemera down to a local Goodwill or community thrift store. Try using community websites like Craigslist and Freecycle to find homes for unused items that you want to sell or give away. Before you throw something away, ask your friends, your family, and your neighbors if they can use it. Most Goodwill centers feature a drop-off point where you can bring your still-usable things, no questions asked. Look around: there may be other thrift stores or distribution centers in your area that offer a similar service.

Summary: Repurpose before you throw out. Compost food waste Donate.

Wasting water is one of the biggest ways individuals impact the health of the planet. Taking measures to use less water is something you can start doing right away. If you live in an area with a water shortage, this is even more important for the health of your region's environment. Try to check off as many items as possible from this list: Check and fix any water leaks. A leaky faucet can waste a lot of water. Install water-saving devices on your faucets and toilets. A low-flow showerhead could be a good start. Don't wash dishes with the water running continuously. Use a method that requires less water to get the dishes clean. Turn off washing machine's water supply to prevent leaks. It doesn't need to be on all the time. Replace old toilets with new ones that use a lot less water. Wash and dry only full loads of laundry and dishes. Doing a half-load wastes water. Don't use too much water to water your lawn. Don't leave the faucet running while you brush your teeth. Chemicals used to wash our bodies, homes, cars and everything else get washed down the drain or absorbed in the grass, and eventually, end up in the water supply. Since most people use heavy-duty chemicals for all sorts of things, chemicals are doing real damage to waterways and aquatic life. The chemicals aren't good for humans, either, so do your best to cut back on them. Here's how: Learn about alternatives to household cleaning items that do not use hazardous chemicals. For example, using a solution of 1/2 white vinegar and 1/2 waterworks as well as most commercial cleaners for basic cleaning jobs. Baking soda and salt are cheap, non-toxic cleansers, but should be used in moderation. When no good alternatives to a toxic item exist, determine the least amount required for an effective, sanitary result and use a minimal amount each time you clean. Paying close attention to the requisite amount will help you reduce and also save money. Instead of using chemical-laden shampoos and soaps, try making your own. Instead of using pesticides and herbicides, find natural ways to get rid of weeds and pests. Paint, motor oil, ammonia, and a host of other chemicals should not be poured down the drain or directly into the ecosystem. They'll soak into the earth and end up in the groundwater. Contact your local sanitation department to find out about best practices for disposing of hazardous waste and toxic chemicals. Individuals can only do so much when it comes to keeping water clean. Businesses and industries are often the culprits when it comes to water pollution. In order to protect the earth's water, concerned citizens should speak up and find ways to stop pollution at its source. Join a local environmental group that works to clean up the water in your area, whether it's a river, lake or ocean. Contact your local representative to speak up about your views on keeping water chemical-free. Volunteer to help clean up beaches or riverbanks. Help others get involved in efforts to clean up the water in your area.
Summary: Conserve water at home. Use fewer chemicals. Dispose of toxic waste the right way. Help identify large-scale water polluters.