Random Thoughts

Here's another nice article from MomCenter.PH about how to make the most out of long weekends. Because YES! there are a lot of long weekends coming really, really soon. WOOT!

Read on...

5 Simple Tips on How to Make the Most out of Your Long Weekends by MomCenter.PH

Whether you’re a working mom or a stay at home mom, the long weekend is a reason for celebration because it always means that the entire family is complete, for one extra day in the week.

Long weekends are a wonderful opportunity to spend focused and quality time with our loved ones, and thus must not be taken for granted. The last thing any of us want is to wake up the day after the long weekend wishing we had spent it better.

Here are some tips from momcenter on how to make the most out of your long weekends:

Do something different. If the idea of escaping city life appeals to you, then drive out to a nearby province and spend some time in nature. You will find your entire family refreshed and re-energized for the week ahead. The one thing that you will be risking by doing this however is getting stuck in traffic. Thus, be strategic about your departure times, and bring plenty of food and entertainment for the kids in case you spend a lot of time in the car.

Plan well. The long weekends scheduled for the next year are usually released during the last quarter of the current year. Plot them out on your calendars so that you can schedule leaves, book tickets for your trips and activities, and plan your itineraries in advance. You won’t just save time, but money as well!

Disconnect. If you can, put away your laptop, tablet, and mobile phone. Use your extra day of rest to take a break from everything that might trigger any feelings of anxiety or stress. Be intentional about avoiding any distractions that could potentially take your focus off the ones who matter most to you.

Choose your battles. As the mom, you can set the tone and mood for your family’s trip. Even if your kids are cranky and your husband is impatient, if you can…let the small stuff slide because if you allow yourself to be provoked, you will only add to whatever tension might be building in your family. Make the trip one that is memorable in a good way, by keeping spirits positive and high. The only way you can do this is by setting the best example.

Be flexible. While making plans might be key to achieving what you set out to do during the long weekend, they can also backfire if we become too rigid about our goals. If all of a sudden a child gets sick, or a storm hits, let go of of what you can’t control with a smile and choose to make the most of the weekend by being fun and spontaneous instead. At the end of the day, it is not so much what you do, but who you are with that makes a long weekend worthwhile.