Adults must plan for their future, but many don’t have any plans beyond the next day. For some, planning too far ahead is a laughable idea because when they plan anything, the universe has other ideas. The problem with a lack of future planning, though, is that it leads to drifting from their lives without considering that there could be a different curve ahead for them.
The excuses are common: we are busy working, we’re busy studying, we’ll do it tomorrow, having a Will can wait, who needs to learn about urns when there are vacations to go on? The thing is, planning your future isn’t just about you. It’s about the family you save from arguing because you planned a funeral thirty years before the event.
Planning for the future is about the kids who need to know their futures are secured, too. Having a plan for your future is good sense, and it’s much easier to do when you know your reasons. This leads us to the reasons why future planning is so important listed for you below!
Businesses have a huge plan for their business, and you can have a life plan in the same way. It should detail what you want from your life and how you plan to get there. Consider the place you’re in right now and the place you wish you were in. You have the chance to make that happen when you’re smart about your planning.
2. You Keep Control
Okay, so we can’t actually control our lives, but can we? We may not be able to control the outside forces that dictate the course of our lives or how it ends; however, we can control how we get there and what happens afterward in our funeral efforts. We can control how we plan to reach every milestone. Future planning allows us the feeling of control that we are doing something about the life we have. This feeling goes for every aspect of your life.
Whether you are searching for a brand new job or if you are searching for a brand new home. You have control over where you work and where you live. Something as small as going to a recruiter to find a job or finding the perfect moving & relocation services that will help you on the day you are moving. You control who you let in to help you, and you control where that help gets you. You are the master of your destiny and although certain things are out of your scope of control, what you can control is the true essence of your life.
3. You Get The Chance to Focus
It’s nice to think about what you want from the future and to plot the path to get there. The point of future planning is to give you focus and ensure that you get where you need to go.
4. Visualization
Your plan for your future is going to change your life and you can do that when you visualize the plan happening for you in real-time. Being able to visualize your goals helps you get where you want to be with ease.
Future Planning
With future planning, whether for your retirement, your future, or the education of your children, you need a plan. Without a plan, you won’t have any set path, and you won’t know what to spend your life aiming for. With a plan, though, you can relax a little knowing that everything is taken care of.
Financial security in your retirement will need some advance planning, and you’re never too young to start planning. If you prepare in advance for your retirement you can better manage your finances to make your money last as long as possible and plan ahead in case of illness or another incapacity.
The earlier you start saving for retirement, the more money you can save. Even saving just a small amount every month can be enough.
Put aside a small amount and stick to it. It’s never too early to start saving. If you start now, you can spread out the cost of setting up your retirement fund.
2. Pay into your employer’s pension plan
If your workplace has a pension plan, pay into it so they will make contributions, too. You might pay less tax on your contributions, and over time, this can help you to save a lot more. Ask your HR department about any 401k plans they have that you may be able to join too.
3. Don’t spend your retirement savings
Don’t touch your retirement savings unless it’s an emergency. Once you’ve started saving, don’t be tempted to use any of the money for something else, unless you truly have no other option.
If you dip into your retirement fund, you’ll have less to live on later. If you struggle to leave your savings where they are, a financial advisor can help you to manage your funds better.
4. Take advantage of different kinds of retirement accounts
If possible, increase your contributions to the maximum allowed in your 401k, IRA, or other retirement plans. Try to get enough into your 401k to qualify for any contribution matching your employer will make. The more you can pay in, the more they’ll pay in, giving you more retirement savings.
5. Consolidate your accounts when the time is right
As you get older, you could consolidate accounts to make it less complicated to manage them. Combine any IRAs of the same type with one institution. Find any old 401k you have with former employers.
Organizing your money into fewer places will make it easier to track how much you have and where your money is.
6. Shrink your debt
Pay more into your mortgage payments now if you can afford to. Aim to pay it off before you retire, giving you one less thing to pay for. Then, if you decide to downsize when you retire, perhaps to one of the over 55 patio homes that so many people are enjoying, you will be able to put the entire sale of your home toward something that suits you, without having another mortgage.
Avoid running up new debts on credit and instead, try to pay cash for any big purchases you make. No new debt means your retirement income doesn’t need to be spent on interest payments or paying down debt.
7. Set aside some money for your future care
If you’re worried about how your children will afford your care, set aside some funds. Think of medical bills, funeral costs, or nursing home bills. Emergency funds for paying unexpected health care emergencies or moving to a retirement home are also a smart idea.
Recap: Plan for retirement
If you plan for retirement now, it will make your life much easier in the long run. You won’t have to worry about finances, and you won’t have to spend your later years working.
What are some of the ways that you are planning for retirement? Let me know in the comments!
If you had to use one word to describe moving out of your home, it would more than likely be ‘stressful.’ However, it doesn’t need to be that way. There are things you can do today and in the coming weeks leading up to moving day to make your relocation much easier.
Removalists offer various services to suit your budget and needs when moving home. You will want to do this as early as possible to make sure they are available on the dates you need them. Otherwise, you could be stuck figuring out another, less reliable option for moving your things.
If you think you’ll need transport and help to move and pack your things, contact reputable businesses like Two Men and A Truck to see how they can help take the stress out of your moving day.
Start Clearing Out Your Home
No matter how far away your moving date is, it’s never too early to start clearing out any unwanted or irreparable things in your home.
Cutting down the amount of stuff you own is beneficial when moving because:
You can hire a smaller moving truck, which will cost you less
There will be fewer things for you to pack and organize
You can make a fresh start in your new home, with less junk and clutter.
Keep it simple by decluttering one room at a time. You may want to give things you no longer need, such as clothes or old toys, to family or friends, sell them on eBay, or donate them.
Call Important Contacts
Call your bill providers to let them know you’ll either be leaving their company or want to use their services in your new home. You will want to tell them which date you need to end service in your current home, as well, so you don’t continue to get charged after moving out.
Making contact in advance of your move date will give you ample time to work through each provider and ensure they can process the address change on their end.
Other essential contacts to tell your moving address are your family and friends.
Overnight Essentials
Before your moving date, pack one bag to keep with you during the move. This bag will have essentials to see you and your family through the first night and following day. These essentials include:
Non-perishable snacks and water
Pajamas
Change of clothes
Toiletries and towels
Toothbrushes and toothpaste
Clean bed sheets
Phone and phone charger
Purse with money and cards
A couple small toys for the kids
Keeping a bag on you with everything you’ll need will save you from searching through endless boxes on moving day.
Arrange Child Care
Moving is a lot more challenging to do when you have little ones around. For this reason, asking a family member or friend to take care of them while you move everything will be extremely helpful. Alongside the kids, if you have any pets, it may be worth thinking about finding a sitter for them, too.
By following the tips above, there will be no important mail sent to your old address. Plus, you’ll have a moving company ready and waiting on your moving day. Taking time to plan for your move will make a world of difference and make what is likely to be a busy day much more manageable.
It’s been a hard year for a lot of people. Job losses are abundant and people are still worried about coronavirus and its effects on millions of people around the globe. If you’re bringing a baby into the world at the moment you might be worried and have reason to be.
However, you can transition to life as a parent just like you would have before. These tips can help you get started and help shift your perspective to one of wanting to be ready and to tackle any issues which come up. Winter might be around the corner, and the baby may be on the way, but there’s always time to set your life up for parental success.
Plan The Events Stuff Now
This is the stuff you do to celebrate your baby coming into the world. This could be planning a little party a couple of weeks after having the baby. Maybe it’s looking at professional newborn photography to immortalize the moment.
Whatever you choose to do, plan it in now so that you can fully focus on the baby when the time comes. Planning events like this is never easy when you’ve got kids to look after. Think ahead and make it easier on yourself.
If you don’t think you’ve got time you might be able to ask friends and family for help, maybe they can arrange things if you’re a bit too busy to do it.
Planning the hospital route is a must, especially if you’re getting yourself to the hospital. Of course, you (hopefully) won’t be driving, but whoever is needs to be able to get you there quickly and know the way.
Go on a couple of dry runs and see how long it takes. Knowing how long it takes is important and should factor into your planning. You should also get a go-bag ready, full of what you’ll need at the hospital.
Little things like this take away some stress from what will always be an incredibly stressful day. You should also get a backup. Your partner might be away, busy, or even unwell.
If this is the case, you’ll need someone else to help you out. Always use an ambulance as a last resort because they can cost a lot of money, and they’re pretty much a waste when they could be doing something else.
You need to ensure the house is clean. Now, it probably is, but when a newborn is concerned it’s always best to be sure.
Disinfect everything. Your baby won’t have the same immune system that you do. Their immune system is weaker as they haven’t had the time to let it develop yet.
When you also factor in coronavirus it makes sense to have a deeper clean than usual. Don’t forget to clean and disinfect the car.
Your baby will be traveling home in the car, so make sure that the car is just as clean as the house. The immune system develops quite quickly but it always pays to be safe rather than sorry when it comes to things like this.
One of my New Year’s resolutions was to create a simpler chore chart than what I’d previously been using. My original one was literally four pages long. Well, when I decided to buckle down and create the simple chore chart I was wishing for, I decided to come up with one other freebie, bringing you the two free printables I’m sharing today.
Simple Chore Chart Printable
The first printable, the easy chore chart, is intended to make it easier for my kids to get their chores done each day.
I wasn’t kidding when I said my original chore chart was four pages long. It definitely didn’t make it easy for the kids to pick chores each day, and it definitely didn’t inspire motivation.
Luckily, the new one has been a much bigger hit. It makes it easier to keep up on chores, and the kids know exactly what they should be doing that day.
I’ve noticed that the chores are getting done more quickly, sometimes before I even make it home from work.
Paycheck Budget Printable
Since I was simplifying my life with the chore chart, I was inspired to simplify my budgeting method, as well.
Before, I had been writing my budget out on notebook paper every single pay period. Not a very organized method, I admit. It worked for me for a while, but I needed something a bit easier to wrap my head around.
I have a master list of when all of our bills are due, and each week I sit down to plan out what will need paid that week. I do this before I get my paycheck, and then the day I get paid, I reference my list and pay everything.
This printable can be used for weekly or bi-weekly budget planning and monthly budgeting, whichever you prefer.
In “other expenses” I put things like food, gas, and cheerleading (which we pay weekly). In the “savings” section I put upcoming holidays and our emergency fund, which I distribute money to weekly, as well. “Extras” is for any extra money I’m putting towards debt.
Then, the final box titled “leftovers” is to figure out what I’m left with at the end of the pay period. I take our total income and subtract the total amount of money going out.
Final Thoughts
Printables make my life so much easier, and simple printables are essentials. I can’t keep up with multiple pages for a budget or chore chart. I need simple ones that allow me to keep all of my thoughts on that one page.
What do you think – do free printables help you simplify your life?
Fall is one of my favorite seasons… probably my most favorite if I’m being honest with myself. While I love all things summer, fall has a sweet place in my heart. It’s the first sign that the holidays are coming, there are so many fun things to do in the fall, and you’re not as likely to sweat your butt off doing outdoor activities. This fall bucket list will ensure you complete all of the wonderful fall activities you desire.
Cute clothes, warm drinks, family time, pretty leaves, football, getting cozy watching movies, pumpkin everything, apple everything else…. I could go on and on. I made a list of all the things I want to do this fall, and I decided to share my fall bucket list and printable with you!
This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.
25 Things to do This Fall: Fall Bucket List
1. Apple picking
Find a local apple orchard and make a day trip out of it! Bring home all the apples you need to make apple pie, apple crisp, apple strudel, apple bars, apple sauce… be prepared to share with your friends and family!
2. Pumpkin patch
This is another day trip you can do with your entire family. Not only can you pick out your own pumpkins, some pumpkin patches offer tractor rides and corn mazes.
3. Corn maze
There is nothing that says fall quite like a corn maze. I let my kids take turns picking which way to go, and it doesn’t always turn out well. It sure is fun, though, no matter how long it takes!
4. Tractor ride
Our favorite pumpkin patch offers a tractor ride that takes you to the corn maze. Convenient, right?!
5. Jump in leaves
This is one of the most simple and easiest fall activities you can do. You’ll feel like a kid again.
6. Fall photo shoot
Get your kids cute one day (or make yourself cute… no one said it has to be a kid photo shoot), and take pictures in the leaves. Get beautifully colored trees in the background, put some pumpkins in there… get creative! Fall offers all the free backdrops.
7. Haunted house
It’s not Halloween time without a haunted house. You can’t skip out on this one.
8. Halloween craft
My kids and I love to do crafts. I like to decorate my kitchen with crafts that they’ve made. It might look cluttered, but they love to see their artwork on display, and it really gives a festive feeling to the house.
9. Thanksgiving craft
Think turkeys and thankfulness… you can’t go wrong there. Use Thanksgiving craft time to talk to your kids about the meaning of Thanksgiving and how it originated.
10. Carve a jack-o-lantern
You didn’t go to the pumpkin patch just to look around, did you? Use those pumpkins for something scary!
11. Watch a scary movie
Better yet, make it a marathon with all your favorite snacks. I like to make this a date night for the hubby and I after our kids go to bed.
12. Go for a scenic walk & look at leaves
We love to take quick walks around our neighborhood in the evenings to look at the leaves changing and falling. Sometimes we head downtown and explore, as all of the businesses look so pretty when the leaves start to change in front of them.
13. Make home made soup
Nothing says fall like a bowl of hot soup. Find a new soup recipe, throw it in the crock pot, and have yourself a delicious fall meal.
14. Paint nails a fall color
Fall colors are so much fun and can really set the tone.
15. Watch It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown
This is a favorite to do with my kids!! We eat our favorite fall treats and cuddle up to watch together.
16. Bake pumpkin bread
Share some with your neighbors, friends, or family.
17. Make apple pie
Don’t share this. Keep it all to yourself. Just kidding, kind of.
18. Drink cider & eat donuts
You can’t have cider without donuts. Well, I guess you can, but it’s not the same.
19. Chili & football night
I choose a day when my husband’s favorite NFL team (even though the Raider’s suck) is playing for chili and football night. I also make a few yummy finger foods and get a variety of drinks so that everyone enjoys it… even my hubby when his team is losing.
20. Caramel apples
I’m really excited to do this. I’ve never done it with my kids before, and I plan on slicing the apples into wedges, putting them on skewers, dipping them in caramel and offering a couple candy options.
21. Read “October” by Robert Frost
This made the list because of my love for Robert Frost. I read it aloud to my kids, hoping to instill a love for his work in them, too.
22. Have a bon fire
Fall is bon fire season. Not too cold, but cold enough to enjoy sitting next to a hot fire. S’mores anyone?
23. Create a craft using materials from nature
Our favorite thing is to gather leaves from our yard to use for fall wreaths, sensory bottles, and just gluing onto paper.
24. Go for a nature walk
We like to find nearby trails that we can explore. If your kids are joining, do a nature scavenger hunt with them. You can make a list of items and challenge your kids to collect these while walking.
Your list can include small insects, flowers, and even stones. Add an exciting twist to the activity by allowing the kids to examine what they have gathered, and discover what these are made of through an easy-to-use kids microscope.
This activity is a great way to enjoy the outdoors while learning and having fun at the same time. Also, using a kids microscope would guarantee a 100% wow-factor for the whole family.
25. Donate to a food bank
Fall is the time to really show how thankful and appreciative you are of all you have and to give back to those who are less fortunate.
Free Fall Bucket List Printable
Final Thoughts On Fall Bucket List: Things to do This Fall
Printing this fall bucket list and displaying it on my refrigerator has gotten me so excited about fall. Next up, pulling out all of my fall decorations!
What is your favorite thing about fall? Tell me about it in the comments!
We get 18 delicious summers with our children. This is one of your 18. If that’s not perspective, I don’t know what is.”
-Jessica Scott
Believe it or not, summer will be here before we know it. My big kids only have one week of school left, and my preschooler has been done for almost two weeks now. Our summer shenanigans are so close to starting that I can already feel it, hence the need for a summer bucket list.
This is the first summer in 3 years that I haven’t been a stay at home mom, but that isn’t going to stop us from having all the same fun as usual. I just have to plan a little more strategically to get in all of the same activities. One bonus, though, is that since I’m working this year, we’ll have a little extra money to do stuff we’ve had to miss out on in the past.
Since my littles are getting older and are able to express what they want, I’m excited to get their input for our Summer Bucket List. If you have been following my blog already, you know that I love printables, so, of course, I have a printable for my kids to fill in their own bucket list.
I created these printables last year, and my littles were still too small to understand the concept of filling in their own. My big kids loved it, though, so we are just using the same one again this year. I’m hoping my littles (ages 5, 3, and 2, BTW) will love it just as much this time around.
Summer Bucket List Ideas
Go to the beach
Go to the zoo
Make lemonade
Have a water fight
Have a bonfire, roast hot dogs, and make s’ mores
See a dollar movie
Go to a splash pad
Have a cookout
Visit a nature center
Watch fireworks
Watch a parade
Catch fireflies
Visit a library
Go to a garage sale
Play soccer
Play mini-golf
Go camping
Make homemade pizza
Go on a trip
Summer Bucket List Printables
To start, I know these printables have more than 19 activities on them. I made them last year, and we loved them so much that I didn’t want to recreate a new one.
All 19 activities are on the list, so you can think of the rest of them as bonus activities. 😉 If you’d prefer to only do the 19, however, you can print a blank template and just write in the 19 activities to do this summer.
Since I have to plan a little more effectively this year, I created and printed some blank calendars for the summer months. I then looked at my summer bucket list and picked a date for each activity. I spread the activities out throughout the entire summer so that the fun can last the entire three months.
Final Thoughts On Things to Do This Summer – A Summer Bucket List
Summer may seem like it will go on forever, but it’ll be over before you know it. You only have three short months to make memories with your kids before they go back to school, start a new grade, and grow a year older. Make the most of it this year so that you can look back with no regrets. What activities do you make sure to do every summer with your kids?
Being a homeowner is so exciting. The sense of freedom that comes with owning your own home is pretty amazing, and you may feel like nothing could go wrong. Lots of things can go wrong in your home, however, unless you schedule home maintenance services.
The worst part of being a homeowner? The moment you realize that there’s more to it than you expected.
Home maintenance services protect your home from unwanted and expensive repairs, and they can just improve the look of your home. These services also improve the way certain parts of your home function. While some of the maintenance can be done by you (or your spouse), others will require a professional.
Home Maintenance Services To Schedule Now
1. HVAC Maintenance
Air Conditioner Maintenance
Each spring you should have an HVAC technician come to your home and inspect your air conditioner before using it for the year. They’ll likely clean it (if necessary), and they’ll make sure it’s all running efficiently.
Even if repairs aren’t necessary, an HVAC professional will do the routine maintenance that ensures your unit doesn’t require costly repairs in the near future. This maintenance can also keep your utility bill a little lower, since your unit will be running efficiently.
Furnace Maintenance
Likewise, in the fall, you should have an HVAC technician inspect your furnace before the first use. They’ll do the routine maintenance that has all the same perks as for the air conditioning maintenance, but it’ll also help prevent a house fire caused by a glitch in your furnace.
2. Hot Water Heater Maintenance
An HVAC company may be able to do your hot water heater maintenance, as well. Two birds, one stone if you hire a company that can do both your A/C and your hot water heater.
Hot water heater maintenance will ensure that your water won’t unexpectedly run cold at an inconvenient time.
3. Gutters Cleaned
Having your gutters cleaned isn’t just for appearance. There are quite a few reasons to make sure they are regularly cleaned out.
First, it helps get water away from your home so that it doesn’t all settle around your foundation. Next, it prevents trees and weeds from growing out of your gutters, which also protects your home. Another reason is to reduce the number of mosquitoes and other insects that breed in your space.
4. Power Washing
Your home can become stained and built up with grime and pollutants. Each spring, you should power wash your home to remove all of this. It can prevent your home from becoming permanently stained, reduce the number of allergens found around your home, and it will make your home look better.
This one can be done on your own but, if you don’t like doing this kind of stuff, you can always hire someone to do it.
5. Lawn Maintenance
BOOOOO lawn maintenance. Does anyone else hate mowing the lawn as much as I do? OK, I’ll be honest, I have NEVER mowed my own lawn.
Now, this isn’t out of laziness, I swear. My allergies get SO bad when grass is being cut that I can hardly breathe sometimes. So, when my husband mows the grass, I take a Zyrtec and settle myself inside.
So anyhow, you have to do lawn maintenance for a couple of reasons. Of course, maintaining your lawn just makes your house look pretty on the outside and everyone wants that.
Second, it eliminates pests. Insects and large pests alike love an unkempt yard. You’ll find that your outdoor events are swamped with mosquitoes if you don’t keep up on this maintenance.
This is another maintenance that you can easily do on your own but you can also hire a professional to take care of the job for you. Hiring professional maintenance services for your lawn care can save you time and make sure the job is done well each time.
It’s also worth noting that the property itself isn’t the only thing you can maintain and restore. You can do the same thing with your furniture and other belongings. By using contents restoration services, you can have your furniture looking as good as new. If you’re giving your home some TLC, why not look after the furniture?
Final Thoughts On Home Maintenance Services
A home is one of our biggest investments. It’s also the place where we spend a ton of our time and where we raise our families. You may not think there’s much that needs to be done to keep your home running smoothly and looking good, but there are certain home maintenance services you should schedule ASAP.
Many of these maintenances should only be done by a professional, the others you can likely do yourself, but you could save yourself some time and headache if you just hire a professional for all of it. So, get your home maintenance services scheduled so that you can sit back and relax, knowing your home is taken care of.
Mornings are hectic if you wake up at the same time as your kids. You won’t be able to have even a few minutes of quiet time before the morning craziness begins. Getting kids ready for school, daycare, or wherever you go that day can lead to stress. This is why it is important to follow a morning routine that will make you want to wake up before the kids.
If you take time to yourself in the mornings you can avoid feeling stressed during the day. You can have a cup of coffee and read, write, or check your blog stats before beginning the morning requirements. This will set you up for continued productivity, less stress, and just a better day overall.
With five kids, I need to make sure I’m taking this time in the morning to set myself up for a great day. My morning routine allows me to have some peace before the kids wake up, and I can get myself ready instead of scrambling around at the last minute.
1. Wake up at the same time every day
There are many reasons why waking up at the same time each day will benefit you throughout the entire day. First, you will have time to get stuff done before your kids wake up (which is the point, right?). You will also have an easier time falling asleep at night and waking up in the morning, you’ll take fewer naps, and you will feel less sleep-deprived.
Some other perks of waking up at the same time include: ⦁ being more alert and focused ⦁ having better short-term memory ⦁ being in a better mood ⦁ feeling less pain ⦁ feeling an increase in your immune system ⦁ performing better at your job ⦁ driving more safely and alertly
2. Make your bed
The best reason to make your bed as soon as you wake up is that it will keep your mattress and sheets clean and only allow the outermost layer to become dirty. The second most important reason is to start your day off on the right foot. By crossing something off your list the minute you wake up, you’ll feel accomplished and motivated from the start.
Making your bed also makes your room seem cleaner and less cluttered, which can reduce your stress levels. This benefit at the beginning of the day can make a huge difference.
3. Drink a big glass of water
Your body will be pretty dehydrated after sleeping for 6-8 hours. Coffee may be your go-to, but it leads to further dehydration. Before you caffeinate in the morning, drink at least one glass of water.
Aside from hydration, drinking water in the morning can help you be more alert and focused. Additionally, drinking water first thing in the morning increases the function of your immune system and helps your metabolism kick in sooner. If you’re not fond of water because of the waste, that could be because of the pollutants in it, which is why having your water come from American Water makes sense – it’s much purer and great for your health.
4. Eat a nutritious breakfast
After fasting for an entire night, your body needs nutrients. Without nutrients shortly after waking up, you’ll likely feel groggy all day. Studies have shown that eating a nutritious breakfast in the morning leads to higher cognitive function and energy levels, helps maintain or reach a healthy weight, prevents heart disease and diabetes, and can also help you maintain or reach a healthy blood pressure level.
5. Get yourself ready for the day
It is so much easier to get motivated when you get cleaned up and ready for the day. Don’t sit around in your pajamas or you’ll be more likely to be lazy. When you feel good about yourself, you feel good about what you can do.
6. Plan your day
Get your thoughts organized, and write down when you need to do each thing on your to-do list. Having a plan helps you get focused and makes it easier to get things crossed off the list that day. This clears your mind for a more enjoyable day and ensures you have time for everything.
What to do Next if You Still Have More Time
Then, if you still have time left before your kids wake up, practice self-care. Do something you love or something that will help you relax a bit.
My favorite thing to do in the morning is to read a book. It’s my quiet time, and it gives me a chance to do what I love BEFORE beginning the real-life stuff.
Having quiet time or self-care time in the morning also helps me stay focused at work instead of constantly thinking about what I’d rather be doing at home. If I already did something that I’d “rather” be doing, I don’t think about it so much at work. It’s the perfect way to end my quiet time in the morning.
Unfortunately, I don’t ALWAYS have time for it, but I’m working on giving myself more time in the morning to ensure this self-care time. When I don’t have time, however, I make sure to get some self-care time before bed each night. Bonus if I get the chance to do it at both of those times. 😉
Final Thoughts on a Morning Routine that Will Make you Want to Wake Up Before The Kids
A well-planned morning routine that makes you want to wake up before your kids is important in ensuring that the rest of your day runs smoothly. Every parent needs a chance to wake up, focus, and gather their thoughts before the craziness of parenting kicks in.
You will find yourself happier and in a better mood, too. So, wake up early, drink some water, and have a cup of coffee while the house is still quiet, plan your day, and do whatever else you need to get done to have a productive day.
What is your favorite part of your personal morning routine? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!
Spring is FINALLY here and while the temperatures in Michigan still keep slipping into the high 30’s, I think we will soon get some relief. Since next week is supposed to be significantly warmer, I knew I had to move quickly and take the list of things to do this spring out of my notebook and turn it into an actual printable.
I swear, in Michigan, we get 6 months of winter temperatures, 2 WEEKS of spring temperatures, and then the summer temperatures come in full force. It’s a little insane if you think about it.
We have already knocked out a few of the suggestions on the list, but I had only been keeping track in my notebook before creating the free printable. My kids were super excited to check things off the list when I printed it to hang up, though, so I’m glad I let them take over with the tracking!
Anyhow, without further ado, here is the list of 30 things to do this spring:
Things to Do This Spring
1. Go on a nature scavenger hunt.
Sylas (4) LOVES scavenger hunts. Any type of activity where he has a to search, hunt, or follow a map is right up his ally. Since spring brings on a whole new range of textures, sights, and smells, I thought a nature scavenger would be best. This gives the littles a chance to explore the fresh earth and all that it has to offer.
A quick Pinterest post led me to the perfect nature scavenger hunt. I planned on creating one myself, but since this one was so perfect, I didn’t bother.
Spring is pretty breezy, which means it’s the perfect time to fly a kite. Find a spot that’s slightly higher than just a flat area of land, and the flight will soar so high.
We are lucky and have a park just minutes away from our house with a huge hill. My kids go to the top of the hill to fly their kites and from down below, it is pretty magical. When they do it, the kites rarely hit the ground, either, which is pretty awesome.
3. Play tag at the park.
It’s true that you can play tag at home without ever leaving the house, but it just isn’t as fun. By going to the park to play tag instead of doing it the usual way, you are allowing your children to play one of their favorite games in a totally new environment, and how cool will that be for them?!
4. Jump in puddles.
Make use of all the rain that spring brings with it, and have some fun jumping in those puddles. This is the perfect time to pull out the rainboots but, if you don’t have any or don’t feel like looking, just go barefoot!
5. Plant or tend a garden.
Believe it or not, kids LOVE to learn about the land we live on. This is the perfect way to allow them to learn, have fun, and do something productive. I have many flower gardens throughout our yard and half of them were planted by my kids over the last few years. It’s so much fun for the kids to see their hard work pay off when the plants grow into something beautiful.
You can plant flowers or vegetables. Kids tend to try new foods if they made them, so I’m thinking that if they were to plant and grow their own vegetables, they may be more likely to eat them? I’m not sure if that logic works but it’s worth a shot!
6. Have an ice cream bar.
On one of the warmer nights, set out the ingredients for an ice cream bar. This could include multiple flavors of ice cream, chocolate syrup, bananas, candy pieces, sprinkles, chocolate chips, cherries, whipped cream, and anything else that you enjoy on your ice cream. To make this one even more fun, you can take your kids to the store and let them choose their own toppings.
This may be one of the easiest suggestions on the list, to be honest. This is because it’s free, easy, and there is no prep work involved. You can take a walk around your neighborhood, or you can venture out and find some good hiking trails in your area.
8. Have a game night.
My kids LOVE game night. We get out all the kid games and play them one after another until the kids get bored or I bribe them with a movie. Come on… as much as we love game night, you have to admit that we can only settle so many arguments before we’ve had enough.
Anyhow, we choose some yummy snacks (mostly store bought, but we also let the kids choose a few homemade options).
9. Feed the ducks.
This is something that I have never done before, which is pretty crazy if you think about it. I’m super excited to take my kids to do it. There is this super cute park in my city that is pretty popular for feeding ducks (and it has a super old train that kids love!), so I plan on going there.
Now that I think about it, though, I don’t even know what to feed ducks. Is it bread? I’ll have to google that in a minute.
10. Have a barbeque.
Make sure it’s kid friendly! Unless you don’t have kids, that is. Then make it 100% grown up friendly. Since I have kids, however, mine will have to be kid friendly.
That means hotdogs, hamburgers, and lots of kid friendly side dishes. I’ll probably do this one with a bunch of the other outside, at home ones while the food is cooking. No one says you can’t combine multiple ideas from the list at one time. 😉
11. Spend time star gazing.
Honestly, I feel like I don’t spend enough time simply enjoying the outdoors, especially at night time. Instead, I go inside the minute the sun is gone, preferring the bright warmth of my home.
This spring I plan on changing that and enjoying nature a little more. Disconnecting for a while and spending calming time with my kids while learning about our world sounds so peaceful. I also have a star gazing book I’ve been dying to put to use, so this will be the perfect time for that.
12. Blow bubbles.
Kids love, love, love to blow bubbles. All ages. Take some time to do this WITH them, and they’ll love it even more.
13. Draw with sidewalk chalk.
This is the perfect time to practice letters, numbers, sight words, name recognition, and art. The possibilities with sidewalk chalk are limitless. You can also pull out some classic sidewalk chalk games such as tic tac toe and hopscotch. Another fun idea is to draw lines on the ground and have your kids walk on them.
14. Have a picnic.
Kick off your shoes, settle back on a blanket, and unpack your picnic basket. Kids love to have picnics, and it is the perfect time to simply talk and unwind with your littles.
15. Read books outside.
So this probably won’t go as planned, but I envision all of us sitting calmly, relaxing while reading books outside. My kids will probably run around instead, but it gives me a good excuse to read outside and maybe, just maybe, my kids will join me for a little while.
16. Play hide and seek outside.
Face it, everyone in your house knows all of the hiding places inside. It isn’t even fun anymore when you already know where to look. Take the game outside now that the weather is nice!! Set a few ground rules to ensure that everyone remembers to be safe, pair a grown up or big kid with the toddlers, and search for new hiding places!!
17. Watch the sunset.
Is there anything more relaxing and breathtaking than a sunset? End one of your perfect spring days this way, and invite your kids to enjoy it, too.
18. Have a movie night.
Make it complete with popcorn, movie theater candy, and a yummy drink. Let loose a little and let your kids have a fun night laughing at their favorite movie with you and their siblings. It’ll be a night they’ll remember for years to come.
19. Make a spring craft.
I never need an excuse to make crafts, and if you give me an excuse, I may go a little bit crazy. Spring is the best time to do crafts because you can get a little bit messier than normal by moving craft time outside.
Paint a little more, use nature-inspired items on crafts, and maybe even incorporate some ice cubes or squirt guns. Luckily, Pinterest has TONS of options to choose from, and if you follow me on Pinterest I have a board already dedicated to it.
20. Play catch.
Baseball, football, whatever kind of ball you’ve got… just get outside and play catch. So many memories and bonding moments can happen during these seemingly little moments.
21. Paint rocks outside.
Go on an adventure and find your own rocks to paint! This will make them even more special. When you’re done you can save them or head out and hide them around town for others to find later.
22. Run barefoot in the grass.
My kids have already done this a million times this spring, so I think I can cross it off now.
23. Look for shapes in the clouds.
This is another time to lay back, unwind, and give your kids a chance to talk to you. Even better, it may just be a good time to laugh and be silly with them.
24. Shaving cream play outside.
Wear play clothes (or work clothes if you’re an adult), and get messy with shaving cream. I intend to work on letters, numbers, and sight words with my kids, but I know it’ll eventually turn into kids being covered in shaving cream. If it’s warm enough, you can just use a hose to clean off.
25. Have a bonfire.
In the spring, the evenings can be pretty chilly, so after the sun sets, light a fire and put on a hoodie to stay warm. Make it an even better night by roasting some marshmallows and making s’mores.
26. Go to yard sales.
Yard sale signs are the first indicator that spring is here. Stop by a few and let your kids grab a couple toys that may or may not break by the end of the day. You might get lucky and find some super cute home décor, a new patio set, or something even better.
27. Have a toy car carwash.
Get some hot wheels cars dirty and let your kids clean them with toothbrushes, soap, and water. If your kids are anything like my kids, they LOVE water play. Add in some cars and soap and it’s going to be the best day ever.
28. Watch a sports game.
This should be easy to do if you just hit up your local sports field on a Saturday morning. You’ll likely find soccer, baseball, tennis, or track this time of year.
If you have kids in spring sports, you’ve likely already watched a sports game or two this year. I’m in your boat, and I’ve written a post about how to survive spring sports season.
29. Go for a drive and find a new park.
I’m pretty sure that we’ve already played at every park near me, so this may take a trip to a nearby city. I love to explore and I know that my kids do, too, so I think it’ll be fun!! This may just have to be our picnic day.
30. Collect plants and other items to make into artwork.
You can make a collage, a picture frame, letters or a name, or anything else that you little artists come up with. Let them choose their own materials and follow their own ideas. It’ll be fun for everyone, and it is the perfect time to teach them (show them) about trial and error.
Things to Do This Spring Bucket List – Free Printable
My kids always LOVE to check items off of a list. They likely get this trait from their list-loving mother, but I’d say she isn’t that bad. 😉
Since we all agree that lists are awesome, I tend to create bucket list printables for every occasion. To thank you for reading my blog, I’m giving the printables away for FREE. Feel free to download and print the spring bucket list printable so that you never forget the 30 things to do this spring, and please send it along to a friend who may like one, as well!!
Okay, I may have gone a bit crazy and created three different printables, but I couldn’t help myself. Choose whichever one you like best!!! The link for each one is below the corresponding picture, just click where it says “Spring bucket list”.
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