The end of the school year is upon us! If you are a busy working parent like me, this season can be both fun AND challenging. As the summer season approaches take some time to rejuvenate yourself and spend time CONNECTING with family and friends to bring more balance to YOUR life. Use these Top 10 ideas to add fun activities great for the whole family!
The end of the school year is upon us! If you are a busy working parent like me, this season can be both fun AND challenging. Even if you don’t have children, summer is a wonderful time to reconnect with old friends and family members.For the majority of the clients with whom I work, true success in business is more than a financial goal. It’s about maintaining a good balance in key areas of their life. As the summer season approaches take some time to rejuvenate yourself and spend time CONNECTING with family and friends to bring more balance to YOUR life. Use these Top 10 ideas to add fun activities great for the whole family!
1. Go Hollywood – The movies are a popular treat (one of my favorites) and can be enjoyed a variety of ways. Check your local theatre and see if they offer any FREE movies. The Regal Cinemas is again providing their Free Family Film Festival. Go to their site to search for a theatre near you. Selected G and PG are played during the festival. Feed the kids a hearty breakfast and you can probably even skip popcorn! What a great rainy day alternative. Check to see if there’s an old style DRIVE-IN near you! If so, why not pick a night to head over with family and friends. You can often go an hour prior to the start of the first movie and BBQ or play some games before the movie starts. Bring some lawn chairs and sit out in front of your car to watch the show. The drive-in is also friendly to the family budget.
2. Go Cruisin’ – Many local towns host a Cruise Night where folks bring out their cool classic cars and hot rods. These events are filled with music, food and fun. Our town has a different car theme each week, such as Harley Bike Night, Street Rod Night, and Muscle Car Night, to keep things fresh.
3. Picnic in the Park - Pack a lunch and head to your local park for a relaxing meal. Bring along a ball or some cards and engage the whole family. Fox Lake has free ski shows on their lake early on Friday evenings that can turn your picnic into “dinner and a show”. Need some time alone with your significant other? How about a sunset picnic dinner?
4. Get Movin’ - Dust off your bicycle or roller blades and hit the paths!
5. Be a tourist in your own City – Head towards the nearest big city and take in the sites! Visit the museum, take in historical sites, or the local festivals. Watch for fun seasonal happenings and be a tourist in your own city!
6. Get Crafty – Did you know that many Home Depot stores offer fun activities for kids the first Saturday of each month? Our nephew built a plane at one such event and had a ball! If you aren’t near a Home Depot, create your own craft time with Popsicle sticks, foam, ribbon, and any other odd items lying around the house. Kids are very creative and will surprise you in what they can create.
7. Take in the Local Festivals – Many communities have festivals and County Fairs. A trip to the County Fair can also be educational. The local festivals provide lots of entertainment, carnival rides and family fun close to home. If you get a sitter, Mom and Dad can have a night out and hear some great bands.
8. Check out your Library – The Library isn’t just for checking out books these days. They offer a full range of multi-media such as video games, movies, CD’s and DVD’s that can all be checked out for FREE! There are also a host of programs for children of all .
9. Take a Dip – In the local pool or at the beach and keep cool on those hot summer days. Better yet, what friends or family members do you know with a pool? Why not offer to bring lunch and get together at their place.
10. Family Fun Night – Start a new tradition by designating one night a week as Family Fun Night. Get your whole family involved and even let them choose the event for the evening. It could be a video night complete with popcorn and M&M’s or a bonfire roasting marshmallows in the back yard. Be creative! One client’s children implemented the idea and each child loved getting to choose the event and even made admittance tickets for each family member. You’ll not only be connecting as a family but also creating lasting memories!!If you have any ideas of your own not covered, I’m always looking for new activities to add to my list and would love to hear from you! E-mail me your ideas
Are you having enough fun?
It is a little known fact that fun is one of the secrets to sustainable success! The ability to have fun in every situation enables you to be more successful and more relaxed whether it is at home or at work. Oh sure, I can hear what you’re thinking. Things like, “I couldn’t have fun at work, it would be unprofessional”, or “If I’m having fun I’m not being the best _____ (fill in the blank: spouse / executive / business owner / mother) I should be and I feel guilty about that”, and my favorite “I’m so busy, I don’t have TIME for fun”. Well, here are three reasons why I believe you must make time for fun and why it’s NOT a luxury item:
Get More Done with a “To-Don’t” List
Somehow in our culture, “being busy” has been elevated to a status symbol. However, busy does not equal productive! It’s easy to be unceasingly busy with the never ending to-do list. As one thing is checked off, three more are added on. But too often clients complain they just aren’t getting what they want accomplished or they aren’t hitting their goals. They are “busy” going nowhere.
Can You Take a Baby Step?
3 Keys to getting and staying in action
