Take the kids and go to a movie.- Take the neighbor’s kids and go to a movie.
- Play a round or two of miniature golf. No course near you? Invent one. Kitchen chairs make awesome obstacles.
- Start your paperwhites or amaryllis bulbs.
- Decorate the house for the upcoming holiday.
- Start a large jigsaw puzzle and invite everyone to join in.
- Write out, address, and send your holiday cards.
- Take Mom to lunch at her favorite restaurant.
- Bundle up and take a walk on the beach.
- Sort your socks and weed out any that don’t have matches once and for all. But what to do with the lonely single socks?
- Call or visit friends or relatives who can’t get out easily.
- Go ice or roller skating with or without the kids.
- Make freezer dinners out of all that leftover turkey.
- Take someone out that NEEDS to go shopping.
- GIVE rather than BUY – to the food pantry, to the local animal shelter etc.
- Slow down and rest for the upcoming fast paced season ahead.
- Take a bubble bath.
- Take the dog out to the park. Better yet, visit a local shelter to play with the dogs.
- Make a flock of origami cranes to leave in unexpected places as a happy surprise.
- Visit a historic site that’s within an hour of your home that you have never been to.
- Make a New Years Resolution a month early. There’s no time like when you’re heading into a stressful month to make a small change that makes you feel good.
- If you saved last year’s Christmas cards – bring them out for the kids to cut up and make ornaments to decorate their rooms.
- Visit your local nursing home or veteran’s hospital and spread some cheer! While you are there, get a list from the staff of the resident’s needs and add a few of those to your shopping list.
- Call the local shelter and get a wish list for one or two of the children.
- Have a bonfire, roast marshmallows, sip hot cocoa, and watch the Leonid meteor shower .
- Read aloud. The spoken word is magical.
- Organize a Christmas carol flash mob in an unexpected place. The coffee shop. The library. The Post Office.
- Repot your root-bound houseplants.
- Go on a pine cone treasure hunt–see how many different kinds you can find.
- Make hot cocoa from scratch.
- Teach someone something. Quick and easy crochet, make papier-mache, or pottery.
- Get your creativity on and make your own Advent Calendar.
- Sort through your closet with someone younger. You might not plan on wearing some of those 80s gems again, but your younger chum might think they’re crazy cool.
- Go to the gym and work off yesterday’s feast.
- Invite friends over to play a game of Risk. Stock provisions, this might take most of the day but it will be worth it.
- Get out one of those shoebox of family photos to sort and organize. There are stories in that box that only you know, and they ought to be shared.
- Volunteer at a local homeless shelter.
- Build a pillow fort. The bigger the better.
- Re-gift that sweater that you will never wear to someone in need.
- Curl up with a good book.
- Gather with friends or family and make Christmas cookies.
- Get your gifts wrapped and ready to go under the tree. Challenge yourself to use green and creative wrapping to make the gift extra fun.
- Make a gift list if you still have shopping to do. Maybe try using a new to do list app.
- Put up your outside holiday decor before the snow flies.
- Spend a couple of hours at a used or rare book store, browsing through their selection. You never know what you might find!
- Visit a local art and craft center where you can create pottery, sketch, or paint. Go with a friend or family member, relax, and have fun! You could even use your finished project as a Christmas gift.
- Go on a wine tasting road trip! Find wineries in your area, plan a route, and make a day of it.
- Get into your most comfortable clothes, grab a vintage quilt or throw, some pillows, and binge-watch your favorite television shows. Don’t forget the snacks!
- Do some shopping online and avoid the crowds.
- Or better yet….do absolutely nothing – you’ve earned it!
