Just when we were getting really comfortable with our lazy summer routines, Labor Day weekend has already passed us by, launching us headfirst into the final busy months of 2009. Our summer tans may still be dark, but Thanksgiving and Christmas are suddenly not so far away. Scary thought, isn’t it?
Better shake the beach sand off your flip-flops and get moving before life runs you over. In celebration of the post-Labor Day week, here are 10 ways to snap out of your summer-day laziness and get back into the productive flow of things.
1. Give Your Personal Style a Seasonal Update. Ditch the flip-flops and open-toed sandals, and make the effort to look sharp on days when you have to get a lot done. You’ll feel more efficient and productive if you take the time to invest in your personal apperance and not look like a slob. Maybe it’s time for a new haircut, a new fall wardrobe indulgence or even a new manicure?
2. Give Your Living Space a Seasonal Update. Even if it’s as simple as throwing on a new tablecloth and adding a vase of freshly cut flowers, keep your living space from being stagnant. Rearrange some furniture or even better, give things away if you have too much clutter. Your surrounding environment truly is important in shaping your daily mood.
3. Recharge Because You Deserve It. Celebrate the end of summer with a final hurrah before you plunge full swing into the busy craziness of things. Perhaps you’re long overdue for an hour-long full body massage?
4. Make Plans to Learn a New Skill. Countless students all over the world are ending their summer vacations to start a new academic school year. It’s never too late to revisit the classroom, and this time your choice of subject is completely yours. Whether you want to indulge in an academic passion or simply learn a new language or cook a new cuisine, some new learning in your life will kick your butt out of lazy summer mode. Check out community colleges, adult learning centers, online courses or even podcasts.
5. Schedule New Activities to Look Forward To. Schedule it ahead of time because that’s the only way you will go around to doing new things. Did you read about an upcoming concert in the local weekly? Or an upcoming art opening at a museum you’ve been wanting to visit for ages? Make the point to write it down into your daily planner or digital schedule book. Being excited for new adventures will be your anti-lazy.
6. Exercise. Physical movement keeps your mind clear and your body more energized.
7. Meditate. Giving yourself at least 10 minutes of quiet self-reflection time during the day will keep you anchored to your higher purpose and also keep you from becoming overwhelmed.
8. Read a New Book That Intellectually Challenges You. If summertime is known for trashy beach reads, then maybe you need to mark the new season with an interesting book from the library or the bookstore that will challenge your worldview or will take mental effort to read. Check out the current New York Times bestseller list for some literary inspiration.
9. Plan to Finish at Least One Concrete Goal Before 2009. It isn’t how you start, but how you finish. How about those New Year’s Resolution goals you made way back in January? Sure, Is there at least one unfinished goal you know for sure you can fulfill if you make the extra time and effort? Make sure you can end 2009 with confidence, renewed self-respect and pride for accomplishing the things you set out to do.
10. Mentally Prepare Yourself for the Holiday Season While You Have the Time. Start planning ahead for any big gifts you have to buy, any plane tickets you have to purchase or other big plans that may become overwhelming if you are right in the midst of it. If you at least start thinking about it now, you’ll feel far more prepared and confident once the holiday madness begins.
Got other ideas for snapping out of lazy summertime mode? Feel free to share ideas in the comments below!
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