For some of us, summer means lazy days at the beach, covered in SPF 45 and engrossed in Danielle Steel’s latest novel. For others, okay, most of us, summer means a continuation of our crazy hours, with the exception of an occasional weekend.
If you fall into the latter category, as I suspect you do, it is possible to enjoy a stress-free summer, with the help of the following 10 tips.
-> 1. Push the cooking to the curb.
The secret to a fun and relaxing summer can be found in the freezer. That’s right: a well-stocked freezer, packed to the max with easy-to-prepare foods, can relieve tons of stress during the summer.
Here’s how: Make a list of the foods you enjoy and see which ones can be made and frozen ahead of time. Then spend a day or two prepping batches of your favorites and storing them in airtight containers in your freezer. Once the canine days of summer roll in, all you have to do is grab, thaw, and microwave. What could be more easy?
-> 2. Travel without emotional baggage.
If you feel like traveling this season, planning ahead will help you eliminate the usual Sturm und Drang of summer vacation.
Research your destination and purchase guides, maps, and travel insurance in advance. If you are traveling abroad, be sure to exchange a small amount of cash for local currency, at least for the taxi ride from the airport to your hotel.
To prepare for airport security, leave your bags open; Keep movies, valuables, and permitted toiletries in your carry-on luggage. And, whenever possible, pack lightly. How many times have you gone on vacation with a spacious and elegant wardrobe, only to wear the same pair of shorts every day for a week?
-> 3. Dare to be different.
Summer is an opportunity to renew yourself, and I don’t mean the books in your library. It is an opportunity to recharge your batteries and take stock of where you are in your life and where you would like to be.
Sure, a trip to the spa might help you recharge and rewind, but how about stepping out of your comfort zone and trying something new? Whether it’s creative writing or taekwondo, tap dancing or cake decorating, the goal is to try something you’ve never tried before and see how it fits. If you enjoy it, great – keep going. If not, go to the next, or maybe the next. Don’t be afraid to experiment.
-> 4. Plan a day without doing anything.
Just as trying something new is a sure way to recharge and renew, so is a day of utter hedonism. For some of us, an integral part of being a hedonist means doing absolutely nothing. Without plans. No compromises. No obligations. Any.
Of course, if doing nothing sounds too out of the ordinary, an alternative is to plan a few activities, with the implicit understanding that you won’t be trying to cram too much into your free program. bird schedule. That would be missing the point.
Some ideas: pack a picnic lunch, grab an absorbent book, and head to the park to spend the entire afternoon under the shade of a tree. Go to your favorite museum or art gallery and spend as much time as you like concentrating on each painting or artwork. Or stay home with a stack of DVDs and lounge on the couch for as long as you like. And guess what? Not having a schedule actually serves a purpose – it helps decrease stress, even if it’s for a day or just a few hours.
-> 5. Get organized.
If being distracted and doing nothing is not your cup of tea, you can choose to use your time for a productive activity, such as organizing and tidying up your home or office.
Instead of waking up one day and saying, “Today is the day I’ll clean my house!” (um, nervous breakdown, anyone?), a simpler and much more effective approach is what I call the Chip-Away Method.
Here’s how it works: Instead of walking into a room with the intention of transforming it into flawless perfection, think about “eliminating” clutter.
Let’s say you have a cluttered home office that seems too scary to deal with. No problem! Start with a bookcase or bookcase and focus on the first shelf – remove your things and place them on the floor. Now you have some executive decisions to make: Get rid of some things? Present some papers? Delegate a project?
Whatever you do, act. If you wait until later, you will be waiting for Godot. Do it now. Clean the shelf, replace your things, and move on to the next shelf. And the next, and the next … until – voila! – a clean office!
The Chip-Away method works perfectly in your kitchen, bathroom, library or study, in any room that needs organization. Once you’re done, you can take a step back and admire their hard work. And boy does it feel good?
-> 6. Play catch up.
Along the same lines, summer is a great time to catch up on all the things you didn’t have the chance to do for the rest of the year. Things like putting photos in albums; working on a scrapbook; organizing your raffle for socks; get rid of long-expired food from kitchen and freezer shelves; clean your closet; throwing away useless papers and coupons. You get the idea.
Use the Chip-Away method, as outlined above, to help tackle these projects. That way, they won’t seem so unpleasant or so scary. So when fall comes, you will be ready and stress free.
-> 7. Turn your garbage into cash.
Once you’ve gone through your cabinets and cleaned out your drawers, you may discover that your trash could be someone else’s treasure. And, better yet, you can take advantage of it!
Here’s how: Take your junk and host a garage or apartment sale with it. (Get your kids in the act by asking them to set up a lemonade stand.) Or take your stuff to a consignment store, sell it on eBay, or donate it for tax deduction. Put the extra money in a savings account and watch your money grow.
-> 8. Be smart about your skin.
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the US, with more than a million new cases diagnosed each year. In fact, 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. That is why protecting yourself from the sun is essential.
Here are some helpful tips from the Skin Cancer Foundation:
– Look for shade between 10 a.m. M. And 4 p.m. M.
– Do not burn yourself.
– Avoid tanning and UV tanning booths.
– Wear sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day, applying 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of sunscreen all over your body 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply every two hours.
– Cover up with clothing, including a wide-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses.
– Keep newborns out of the sun. Sunscreens should be used on babies older than six months.
– Examine your skin from head to toe every month.
– See your doctor or dermatologist for an annual skin exam.
-> 9. Schedule some “me time”.
Getting things done is great, but don’t forget that you need time for yourself too. Although this is not always possible, especially if you have a hectic schedule and family members are competing for your attention, there are ways around this hurdle.
Set your alarm if you have to, but take time each day to stop everything and do something for yourself, from immersing yourself in a juicy novel to getting your manicure. Even if you’re just sitting quietly for 10 minutes, reflecting on your day, you’ll be amazed at how good and focused you feel. Try it and you will see.
-> 10. Try to stay RESTED
This clever acronym – RESTED – created by certified professional organizer Eileen Stevie of Stevie Organizing Services in Cary, North Carolina, is in keeping with enjoying a stress-free summer:
A: Relationships – Maintain special relationships with family and friends.
E: Exercise – Stay healthy with a daily exercise program.
S: Keep it simple: think about reducing the number of things in your life.
T: Time Alone – Find a quiet moment to think clearly.
E: Eliminate what you don’t like to do.
D: Diet: Eat balanced and nutritious meals to stay healthy.
And there you have it: a RESTED summer. Enjoy!