Sometimes when we get so incredibly wrapped up in our day-to-day lives, it can feel like ALL of the days are running together – even the weekends. And especially now that we may find ourselves spending more time at home, more than we probably planned, every day might start to feel like groundhog day. That’s why it’s important to make a conscious effort to get the most out of our days.

Luckily, there are some really easy ways to add a little joy and adventure to your life that won’t break the bank and I’m going to share some of my favorites with you. So if you’re ready to spice up your weekly routine and make your weekends count, here’s my guide to adding a boost of fun to your life!

Plan a staycation in your city

One of the best ways to make every day not feel so monotonous is to have something to look forward to. And you may be surprised by all the possibilities you have right in your back yard. So here are some of my favorite staycation ideas:

1. Take a nature hike at your nearest state park

2. Order food from a new restaurant

3. Have a picnic at a nearby park

4. Go camping (even in your own back yard!)

5. Go on a scenic bike ride

6. Go star-gazing

7. Wake up early to watch the sunset

8. Take a day trip / road trip

9. Sleep in!

10. Eat breakfast in bed (like at-home room service)

And remember to snap photos of your favorite staycation activities. This is a great way to make memories that last!
 

Plan your next getaway

Although traveling the world might not be a realistic option for many of us right now, you can still get a head start on planning the vacation you’ve always been dreaming about! And why not take it one step further and turn it into a vision board! Not only are you keeping your vibrations high by visualizing your dream vacation, but by picking out the places you’ll stay and activities you’ll do, you’re taking inspired action toward a dream goal. This will make it that much easier to materialize when it’s much safer to travel again.
 

Organize a virtual reunion

I don’t know about you, but a lot of my events and meetings this year have primarily happened over video calls. So when it comes to business, staying connected virtually has been a huge help in keeping on top of things. And who said Zoom calls are only for business? For all of the people – friends, family, old coworkers – you haven’t seen in what feels like forever, why not plan a virtual reunion? Just like a school reunion, this is a great way to catch up and see how others are doing these days. So taking the time to plan it out (or even suggest a theme) makes it feel that much more special as if you’re in person reminiscing on old times.
 

Add “Self-Care Sunday” to your calendar

Carving out time over the weekend to pamper yourself is always a great idea. Sometimes taking time for ourselves is something we always say we’re going to do but never get around to actually doing it. So by marking off time on your calendar to do whatever it is that brings you happiness, makes you feel loved, nourished, etc. is truly just what the doctor ordered. And you never know, it just might become your new weekly Sunday routine! ;-)
 

At-home culinary school

There’s nothing quite like a good home-cooked meal. And sometimes, all we need is the time to go after those fun and exciting new recipes we’ve been meaning to try. So instead of thinking of it as just “cooking”, make this a fun culinary experience, like you’re teleporting to a different country via delicious cuisine. Making a meal from scratch is a fantastic way to activate all of your senses and be present and in the moment. So don’t be afraid to have fun and get messy in the kitchen this time!
 

Start a garden

Growing plants, flowers, and produce is not only good for the Earth, it’s amazing for the soul. Tending to a garden is equal parts therapeutic and exciting, and you don’t even have to have a green thumb to be successful. There are actually a handful of foods that you can grow from leftover seeds and scraps! So before you throw away those leftover lettuce leaves, toss them in a shallow bowl of water, and after a few days, you’ll see new roots and leaves starting to grow. So no more last-minute trips to the market when you’ve got a thriving home-grown garden.
 

Leave the phone at home

Sometimes stress and burnout can really show up when we’re giving most of our energy to our work lives, leaving little room for adventure. And especially if you work from home, by the time the weekend arrives, you may feel even more depleted. That’s why I say save one day to be electronic-free! Mute your phone notifications or leave your phone at home and get out and do something that makes you feel alive! Disconnecting from our devices even if it’s just for a few hours can really help you to recharge and realign, helping to make the most of our time.

And if you want to discover how to get even more out of your days, check out this podcast episode! I’m chatting with licensed marriage and family therapist, Amber Trueblood, about her first-hand tips on how to be more purposeful with the way we spend our time, energy, and resources. Now more than ever, it’s important to celebrate everything we can, even the little things. So spending our weekends doing activities that are simply good for the soul is one of the best ways to gain fulfillment and really squeeze the juice out of life! So here’s to more joy, more happiness, and a lot more fun!