It might not seem like it now but before long the summer will be with us, there will be longer evenings, trips to the beach and plenty of outdoor activities that we might not be able to do when it’s pouring down with rain. Even though there is ‘no such thing as bad weather, just incorrect clothing’ it’s not always fun to spend time outdoors when it is cold and raining. So in anticipation of the warmer months ahead, there are a few things we need to think about when it comes to preparing ourselves and our outdoor spaces. Some relate to our family and the activities that we will choose to do during the summer months. Some relate to children having time off, and some are going to be regarding the garden and outdoor spaces at your home. Whatever it is you need to prepare now is a great time to start thinking about it at least. We can all write a list and work through it during the spring season. Even enjoying the outdoor space during the springtime whilst working can be great for our mood, and enjoyment of our homes. Here are some of the things that will help you prepare for the summer months.
Landscape
Your garden can be a place of relaxation, socialising, and enjoying time with your family, and you should be able to feel proud and comfortable in your outside space. this extends much further than just having a lawn that is well-kept. Making sure that you have an area dedicated for relaxing, plenty of tables and chairs for people to sit down on, and space for the children to play safely, will all add up to a wonderful environment. Many people choose to have a gazebo for the evenings, or just in case the shower arrives, and this keeps everybody and your food dry during parties and social gatherings. Decorating a garden with lanterns, solar lights, and ornaments can really help make everything look much better. There are of course companies you can hire, that will be able to cut back your shrubs, provide tree surveys, and ensure that your greenery is all well looked after. Outsourcing certain aspects of your gardening can save your time and energy, and with working families who aren’t home during the week as much as others, can be a wonderful investment. So having a plan, making sure you are clear about what you need from your garden and implementing it the best you can bring you a real sense of achievement and enjoyment from your outdoor area.
Activities
During the summer holidays, our children are generally off school and looking for things to do. Keeping them entertained can feel like a full-time job in itself, but having a list of activities, plans, and ideas on what to do on a rainy day can really help you out with this one. Taking a short break to a seaside resort can bring your family wonderful memories over the summertime. It’s something that most of us aim for every year and helps the family reconnect, recharge, and feel better than ever before. Places such as Bluestone, are wonderful for families and encourages activity as well. Which we all know is great for our children. There are also plenty of activities you can do which won’t cost you a lot of money, these activities can be as simple as going for a walk to the local park, or doing a scavenger hunt around the local area. Even allowing your children to have a friend over, or having a barbecue in the garden can be wonderful activities that don’t break the bank, and everybody enjoys. There are resources with hundreds of activities listed which will help you keep the children entertained, and not cost the Earth. If your children are still very young, then the pavement talks, and outdoor paints, are also going to be a hit. Worst case scenario filling up a paddling pool, and getting the hosepipe out can entertain the children for hours no matter what their age.
Beauty
When we are hitting the beach, or just wearing fewer clothes in during the summer we want to feel our best, so getting our nails done at the local salon, in a colour that is nice and bright, maybe having your haircut differently for the summer months, or having a spray tan ready for the warmer weather, are all things that many of us like to think about. It’s not always about looking good for other people, but feeling like we like our best can be a great confidence boost. During the winter we are covered by large jumpers, umbrellas and many different pieces of clothing that can prevent us from feeling our best. But when we are ready for the summer, feeling good about ourselves, and doing the best for ourselves, then we are generally feeling good about the impending warm weather. Start in the summer with an amazing boost to your own confidence, and feeling as though you are really ready for the step forward, means that we can enjoy ourselves, and embrace the summer months.
Holiday
Planning a holiday can be the highlight of anyone’s year, so making sure that you have something to look forward to in the summer is going to keep your mood bright and cheerful. Choosing your holiday, and looking through all of the options available to you can be a fun activity in itself, I am preparing everything you need for your flight, such as luggage, entertainment, and supplies, can all add to the excitement. Of course, you need to be careful you don’t overpack and spend too much money on your baggage, but there are plenty of exciting things about a holiday that can give you something to look forward to. Studies have shown if you have something exciting to look forward to you will be in a much better position to stay stressfree. Making Sure that everybody enjoys their time on holiday can always be tricky, but having a discussion beforehand, making sure that everyone communicates with each other, and taking a look at the options available to you when you arrive, as some of the ways in which you can enhance your holiday. Maybe a little extra preparation, in the way of upgrades could be added to your holiday.
Clothing
Coming to the end of the winter and being able to put your jumpers away in favour of summer dresses is an exciting prospect. You can’t get it right every year, so it’s always best to make sure that the weather has turned for the better before committing fully to your changing wardrobe. But having your storage sorted, your summer clothes freshened up, and Ensuring that the family have access to close that suit the weather sooner rather than later, will be useful as soon as the hot weather arrives. It won’t take long for someone to complain about being too warm, so making sure that everyone has the right clothing available to them in your house is essential.
So planning for the summer can be fun, include some Great adventures, and it’s something that we can all look forward to, the sunlight brings the best out in all of us, and as long as things don’t get too hot, then we should all have fun outdoors, whilst we have the opportunity. That big boost of vitamin D that we get from the sunshine doesn’t go to waste, and I was socialising, and general activity levels will improve before long.
