For many of us who are enrolled in college during COVID-19, summer 2021 is shaping up to be an odd in-between period with a halfway-there sort of vibe: Things are looking up, but they’re not quite back to normal. Even as the world reopens and our schools prepare to follow suit, the pandemic’s effects still shape our day-to-day lives.
As a result, if you ask any of your peers what they’re up to this season, you’ll hear widely varying answers — especially for those of us who are jumping into summer classes. Some are pressing on with the virtual-school grind. Others are leaving the Zoom screens behind and feeling the heat as we commute to in-person classes.
Read more: Best laptop for college 2021
But regardless of whether we’re spending the sunny season in Google Classroom or an actual classroom, these gadgets can help us make the most of the last stage of life that allows us a proper summer break. (Shoutout to my fellow rising seniors. I’m still in denial.)
notion.so
I’ve struggled my entire college career to find an effective strategy for keeping track of my assignments. But after discovering this app on TikTok last semester, I’ve hopped aboard the Notion train — and I’m never disembarking. This remarkably user-friendly planning app lets you organize tasks, due dates, calendars and virtually anything else you can imagine — school-related or not. Best of all, it’s free — and a student email address secures you a Personal Pro plan, which lets you add unlimited users and file uploads.
Stephen Shankland/CNET
Remote and IRL students alike need a laptop that can get the job done, from writing papers to submitting assignments to procrastinating on Netflix. With education pricing, Apple knocks $100 off its typically $999 13-inch MacBook Air. On top of that, Apple throws in a pair of AirPods — which I’ve found useful for listening to lectures and watching course videos anytime, anywhere.
Check out our review of the 13-inch MacBook Air. And for a much cheaper alternative, here’s our review of the Lenovo Chromebook Duet, which also functions as a tablet.
Tile via Amazon
There is perhaps no easier way to derail your summer plans than by misplacing your keys, wallet, bag or devices. You can avoid this situation by crossing your fingers — or by investing in a Tile. Tiles are small, location-enabled gadgets that you can affix to your belongings. If you lose something, you can just pull out your Apple, Android or Windows device to determine the item’s whereabouts. The Tile Slim in particular is perfectly sized for a wallet.
Alternatively, check out the newly announced Apple AirTags.
Nekteck via Amazon
When your summer entails hunching over a computer, you certainly don’t need neck or back pain on top of the sweltering heat. This Nekteck massager is designed to relieve tension and crank out those achy knots. It even comes with a car adapter, making traffic jams much more enjoyable. I can confirm that a massager like this is well worth the investment. I kid you not, I’m using mine as I write this — and as a result, I am one mellow, tension-free intern at the moment.
To save $3, be sure to select the digital coupon box listed below the price.
SOULWIT via Amazon
Anyone who’s spent the past year of school online can tell you that their workspace frequently devolves into a spaghetti-fied tangle of charging cords. The solution lies in this cord organizer, which cuts through the mess and lays out your cords neatly side by side. And it’s not just another item to clutter up your nightstand or desk: This small bar attaches to all kinds of surfaces, from wood to glass to metal.
Polaroid
When you’re not hitting the books, you can catch up on all that human contact you’ve been missing over the past year. You can document your reunion with the real world using this affordable new Polaroid camera, which instantly prints itty-bitty snapshots of your hangouts, trips and everyday moments. For $120 and free shipping, you can purchase the starter set, which includes color film. CNET’s Joshua Goldman said it best in his April review: The Polaroid Go is “an adorably small instant camera ready for summer.”
