May 25, 2018
A Device-Free Memorial Day Weekend (and Summer!)
In lieu of today’s traditional round-up, we’re going to celebrate Memorial Day weekend and the impending summer vacay with some tips about staying present with your family throughout the summer season.
It’s easy to think that being plugged is in is what keeps us connected. It allows us to stay in touch with our children when they’re not at home and check in with family members with just a few clicks. It makes it simpler than ever to research new topics with rapid speed, plan epic cross-country journeys, and catch up on the latest and greatest of basically everything. But these devices come with zero barriers, making it easy to get lost and mistake technological connectedness with actual connection.
If you have children, summer vacation is on the horizon. If you’re in the middle of your adoption process, the season of slowing down and getting some sun has begun. Like every year, it will fly by, drawing to a close and leading us into the hustle and bustle of fall before we know it. Then it’s the holidays, and don’t even get us started.
In a burst of optimism, here are some unplugged activities that aim to bring you closer to your family and friends, or simply to yourself, while hopefully instilling a few good habits for tech-free relaxation that will allow you to reconnect, recharge, and remember that life does exist beyond devices.
- Take a walk with your spouse, your kids, or by yourself. Pay attention to what’s going on around you and enjoy nature-fueled communication with your walking partner.
- Cook dinner together, from scratch. Have everyone pitch in with a favorite side dish, or dessert.
- Spend some time outside every day, even if it’s just 15 minutes, to soak up the sun and breathe some fresh air.
- Engage a passion. Whether it’s a cause, an instrument, an athletic endeavor or a new organization you want to start…you’ll never grow if you don’t give yourself the time.
- Spend some one-on-one time with your children, or a dear friend. Indulge their interests, open their eyes to something new, spark some imagination.
- Craft day! Nothing is more fun a little at-home DIY. We know you have a project that’s long been sitting on the back burner…the time is now!
- Visit a local museum—science, art, history, whatever. Choose an exhibition and make it an interactive learning experience.
- Catch up on sleep.
- Play board games, or teach your children one of your favorite card games.
- Sit outside and read a book. How glorious it is!
- Dominos!
- Read a book about something that’s always interested you, but you’ve never given yourself the time to enjoy. Or choose a family book, and read one chapter out loud together every night.
- Explore new outdoor spaces in your area. It’s easy to get into the mindset that you have to travel to soak up America’s great outdoors. But that hidden walking path, secluded garden, or outdoor courtyard in your home town? Those are the real hidden gems.
The options truly are endless. Let us know on our Facebook page what happened when you and your put down your devices. We’d love to spread some inspiration!
