Planning a summer vacation early can help make flights, accommodations and events more affordable, says Company of Dads. Summer is peak travel season, so the earlier you plan, the more likely you and your employed family members can get popular dates such as the Fourth of July or Labor Day weekend off. You won’t need to worry about fluctuating #airfares or hotel prices, giving you peace of mind. And you will generate anticipation and excitement for your upcoming travels, helping wring that much more enjoyment from your time off for you and your travel companions. #SummerVacation
Tag: summer
Where Will You Travel This Summer?
While college kids and teachers are busy thinking about #spring break right now, it pays to consider what kinds of leisure experiences you’ll be pursuing for the #summer. If a summer #vacation is a part of that, start planning now! Set your dates, says Road Trip Queens, and arrange any petsitting or housesitting help you might need. Check the current travel advisories — especially now — to make sure your destination is safe. Book airfares and hotels to ensure you get the times and locations you want. Finally, research your destination and make a short list of “must-dos” to pursue while you’re there. #SummerVacation
It’s Time to Reset Your Fall Routine
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!
Don’t Stress About Summer’s Bounty
Home #gardeners can easily be overwhelmed by the sheer bounty of #summer and #fall #produce, especially if a particular crop succeeds. “There is an odd combination of being thrilled that you found the right plant and variety to produce like crazy, while also being stressed about what you are going to do with it all,” says The Homestead Garden. Visit the #garden daily to keep tabs on growth. Make a to-do list of tasks that will maximize your #harvest and still give you time to cook or store everything. Give excess fruits and vegetables to your neighbors if you can’t use them all. And look at gardening as a rewarding hobby, not a chore. #FreshProduce
Eating Seasonal Offers Multiple Benefits
Using fresh produce in season has a variety of benefits, says the Home & Garden Information Center at Clemson University. First, freshly harvested produce is at its peak nutritional value and is unlikely to have needed extensive storage or artificial ripening. Produce sold in season is also more cost-effective for the end user, since seasonal abundance typically lowers prices. Finally, eating fruits and vegetables in season helps support local farmers and the community, while reducing the environmental impacts associated with soil degradation and long-distance transportation. #FreshProduce