Thursday, February 17, 2011

spend a weekend resting, relaxing & recharging

we live in a very fast paced world.  we are constantly on the go..school, extracurriculars, appointments, errands, meetings, commitments, responsibilities.  and when we are home we are rarely relaxed, there's always some chore that needs tending to, homework to be done, bills to be paid, and on and on.  you get my drift.  you probably live like this as well.  sometimes it all overwhelms me, and i feel like our family needs a break.  so every so often we spend a weekend relaxing as a family.  we are lucky enough to be able to actually escape our house and recharge the batteries at a nearby cabin, but even if you don't have somewhere to run away to, you can always spend a weekend at home relaxing.  yes.  it can be done.  if you follow a few simple guidelines.
the first thing you need to do is UNPLUG!  turn off the cell phones, computers, ipods, etc.  these are all distractions.  the next thing to do is to think about things you WANT to do on this weekend.  not things you HAVE to do, but things you never seem to have the time to do.  when we go away for the weekend it includes some of the following, which help us focus on our family.  so not only are we unwinding, we are spending quality time together, and without the distractions of our everyday world we are able to listen closely, be present and just have fun.  an occasional escape from reality is good for everyone's well-being, even if that escape is in your own backyard.
some ideas for resting, relaxing & recharging:
take a walk in the woods.  it's not for everyone, but we certainly find it peaceful & calming. 
do i need to explain this one? 
i find that a fire helps us relax...it's mesmerizing 
art activities for the children, even if it is just crayons and paper...drawing can be a fun activity for the whole family. 
i'm a big fan of carry out or pre-made meals when we are spending a weekend relaxing.   
i'm always carrying around yarn for a crocheting project.   
cookies, they make everyone happy! 
a good book, i'm finding it harder and harder to find time to finish books, so when we spend a weekend recharging you will probably find a book in my hands. 
leaving the schedule behind leaves plenty of time for board games galore! 
family movies + popcorn = the perfect time for cuddles

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