Tag: summer fun

It’s Time to Reset Your Fall Routine

Posted on by Jordank

You’ve probably noticed that the days are getting shorter and the temperatures (a bit) cooler. The kids have returned to school and the merchandise on the store shelves has a sepia-toned, spooky or pumpkin-spice bent. And even if the first leaf hasn’t changed color, it’s fall.

As your rhythms adjust to the available daylight, you may feel a desire to change other parts of your routine. It’s “a temporal landmark—a moment in time that separates one’s past self from one’s present self, making it easier to adopt new habits,” says Calendar.com.

While summer is more freewheeling, school and work schedules rule the fall. Cooler weather makes it easy to get a good night’s sleep, cook comfort meals and exercise. And just like the trees shed their leaves, you can shed the habits that no longer work for you.

Begin with reflection. Ask yourself what summertime habits might undermining your energy and productivity. Perhaps you need to cut down on screen time, make a list of to-dos ahead of the holidays or get to work on a household project before the first snow.

Align your habits with the flow of the season. The early sunset might inspire an earlier bedtime — and there’s nothing quite like a good night’s sleep. Nights out with friends might morph into quiet nights around a firepit. Burgers on the grill might turn into hearth-warming butternut squash casseroles.

One way to meet the fall season is to #declutter. Items such as coolers, outdoor games, pool toys, sporting goods and tents won’t get much use in the months ahead, so #organize the keepers for #storage and #donate the things you don’t want to ClothingDonations.org.

The same goes for clothing. Designers debut the new fall fashions as the weather changes to drive sales, abandoning summer clothing to the clearance bin. You can do the same as you pull out your cool-weather clothing — decide what to keep, store, wear, donate and trash.

The changes you make to meet the season don’t have to be massive to have a positive effect. Even a tiny bit of #decluttering or a few extra hours of sleep can improve your outlook on life. Make a few small, attainable goals and stick to them for the season. Have a happy fall!

It’s Your Last Chance to Take a Summer Vacation

Posted on by Jordank

#Summer 2025 is passing quickly! The long days and warm weather will soon be a memory, and the time to take advantage of them with a summer #vacation is dwindling. Nonetheless, there’s still time to schedule a getaway.

Time off is crucial to preserving one’s physical and mental health, says AFC Urgent Care. Those who skip #vacations are at a higher risk for heart attack, anxiety and depression. And those who take vacations are often less stressed and more attentive to their own well-being.

You might be worried that the stress and expense won’t be worthwhile, but “a memorable summer vacation doesn’t require months of planning or thousands of dollars,” says Yahoo! “With a little creativity and flexibility, you can find affordable ways to explore new places.”

Depending on your tolerance for car travel, roadtripping can be one of the cheapest ways to enjoy a change of scenery. Pack the car, the family and a few snacks, and you can be somewhere new in a matter of hours. Check Google Maps for places within a preferred distance from your home base, or visit Roadtrippers.com to access complete planning tools. A simple search can help chart your route and highlight points of interest, restaurants, hotel accommodations and campsites, and more.

Another way to have a cheap #getaway is to share costs with friends. Split multiple ways, an Airbnb or VRBO rental can make even exclusive locations affordable. Start texting your travel companions; you never know who might be willing to take a few days off.

With schools starting earlier every year, crowds start to ease at the end of August, Frommer’s says, and you may be able to save on flights and hotels during the “shoulder” season. Or you might be able to land a cheap flight to a fully off-season location in Mexico or the Caribbean.

Don’t despair or wallow in the fear of missing out. There’s still time to set aside a day or three to see something new, take a hike, go to the beach and otherwise shake off the same-old, same-old routine. Your health will benefit!

How to Cure the Summertime Blues

Posted on by Jordank

I’m gonna raise a fuss, I’m gonna raise a holler / About working all summer just to try to earn a dollar / Sometimes I wonder what I’m a-gonna do, but there ain’t no cure for the summertime blues.

The Eddie Cochran classic — later covered by recording artists as diverse as the The Who, Alan Jackson and Rush — highlights a common sentiment: That the lazy days of summer often run out before one can make the most of them.

The feeling often sets in around this time of year, with a new school year rapidly approaching for students, and adults scrambling to take a few days off or juggle social event. But while there may be no cure for the summertime blues, there are a few strategies that can help head them off.

The summertime blues often result from a fear of missing out (FOMO). Find something you want to do and make a plan; whether it’s a walk in the park, dinner and a show, or a full-on vacation, get it on the calendar. It will give you something to look forward to as well as a sense of accomplishment.

Suggestions from the Jewish Family Service include spending time outdoors — a little sun and fresh air can do wonders. Get together with family and friends. Develop a hobby that doesn’t involve work or screens. Above all, eat healthy and get some exercise. You also might try to do some #decluttering; too much #stuff can weigh on the psyche.

If the summertime blues go beyond a wistful sense of lost time or missed opportunities and develop into seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and/or depression, seek professional help. Common signs of summertime SAD include “anxiety, insomnia, loss of appetite, irritability and decreased energy levels,” says the Henry J. Austin Health Center. Disrupted routines, social expectations, body image concerns and oppressively hot weather can contribute.

It’s not unusual to feel a little bit gloomy even when the sun is shining. Fortunately, summer is longer than you think; you still have more than two months to enjoy everything the season has to offer. Start today!

Boundaries Can Keep Kids’ Summer Messes in Check

Posted on by Jordank

Prevention is the name of the game when it comes to handling kids’ #summer messes, says The Maids. Set boundaries for kids: A mudroom drop-off tray for dirty socks and shoes can help household keep floors free of mud, grass and sand. Having children eat ice cream and popsicles outdoors plus a post-treat washup regimen can keep sticky hands away from, well, everything. Pick backseat snacks that won’t drip or spill, and pack a roll of paper towels or wipes in the car for spot #cleanups. And have a towel “tree” or clothesline available for wet towels and bathing suits. #Cleaning goes fast when most of the house is a mess-free zone. #SummerMesses

Conduct Resets to Keep Summer Messes at Bay

Posted on by Jordank

With #summer’s busy schedules, making memories often supersedes everyday tasks such as #cleaning. Learn to expect the routine #messes of dirty dishes, stacks of laundry or strewn-about toys — the kind of mess that differs from #clutter. “It’s a byproduct of being a living, breathing human being, and no matter who you are or how #organized you may be, there is no escaping it,” says decluttering expert Katie Joy Wells. Establish quick cleanup rituals or “resets” by taking a few minutes to put things back where they belong. Busy areas such as the kitchen might need a few quick resets per day. #SummerMesses