How Can Summer Feel Like a Break Again?

Are “third places” the answer?

by Kennedy Shaw

I’m not too far out of summer recess days that I forget what it felt like to be fresh out of the pool, rocket pop in hand, and dreading the summer reading looming over me. It seems to me now, though, that summer is just a season—the only places I go often are work and home.

After talking with some friends, I’ve found this dissatisfaction isn’t one I hold alone. Yes, working throughout the summer is inevitable, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be having fun. Over the phone, a friend shared a term called “Third Place.” In sociology, the third place refers to the social surroundings that are separate from the two usual social environments of home and the workplace. Examples of third places include churches, cafes, bars, libraries, gyms, bookstores, parks, and theaters. These places are breeding grounds for idea exchange, relationship building, and the change of scenery (AKA experience the world outside of your screen) that we all need in order to have a healthy lifestyle.

Having “Third Places” provides stress relief—your local theater may be one of the only places where you have nothing to do besides enjoy yourself! Third places could look different depending on your hobbies, but a few things hold true no matter where you are: Most people love to be entertained, and most people love to talk over food and drink.

When picking a third place I kept in mind what I’ve been craving—taking in the arts locally. An avid reader might take to the new renovated library as their Third Place. Maybe the perfect Third Place for someone trying to relieve stress would be the local Hand and Stone. For the entertainment nerd, maybe visiting South Jersey’s most historic theater to see productions like The Wizard of Oz, comedy, or musicians like The Glenn Miller Orchestra could be exactly what you need to have your summer glow up. No matter where you pick, consider what your community has to offer for the summer blues—and go somewhere after work!