Bye-Bye Boredom!

Hi there, everyone!

I hope your summer is off to a great start. I really love this time of year. Sunshine and warm weather and longer days make for a lovely combo. It's funny how many people my age say they're always bored. It's weird hearing them say "I just can't wait for summer" all school year, but as soon as summer finally comes, their tunes change and they begin to say "I'm so bored. There's nothing to do." If you find yourself saying these things, I'm here to help you out. I want you to enjoy as much of the season as possible and have a lot of fun. Here's a list of my favorite activities:

1.) Go for a walk, bike ride, jog, etc.
Whatever it is, get outside and enjoy the fresh air and sun. Exercise is not only good for your body, but also your mind. We all need fresh air. Every evening, I take a walk around my neighborhood and admire my neighbors' pretty flowers/landscaping, the cute ducks in the ponds, and it's always nice to see your neighbors and say hello.

2.) Volunteer
Whether you volunteer to help clean up parks, care for the animals in your local shelter, or help a neighbor with their house/garden/pets while they're on vacation, you will feel great about yourself and other people will thank you. The most joy comes from helping others with a cheerful attitude. I've volunteered to help my neighbor with her garden while she's away, and seeing how happy she is, makes me happy as well. She's even dropped off some of her crops as a way to say thanks. Caring for something or somebody other than yourself is the ultimate way to feel satisfied.

3.) Try cooking and/or baking.
I'll admit that I am not the best cook. I do love baking, and have been baking a lot recently. I'm learning to be a better cook as well and I'm having a ton of fun in the process. I use websites like epicurious.com, and food.com as well as Pinterest to find easy recipes I can try. I love learning new things and working with my hands, so it's been a great way for me to stay entertained and learn a little bit each time I cook and bake.

4.) Visit a museum
I have a special place in my heart for museums. Call me a nerd, but I find a lot of them fascinating because I love history and learning. There's so much I still don't know about, and if I keep my mind curious, then it is really hard for me to be bored.

5.) Spend time at your local library.
I am so grateful that my house is only a couple of minutes away from the library. It's a great place to wander around and get lost in amazing literature. Even if you don't like reading now, I encourage you to just go to the library, pick up a book that looks interesting to you, and start reading. Reading for fun is a habit that is essential. Reading teaches you and helps you practice things like critical thinking, creativity, empathy, and so much more. If you don't have a library card, it is super easy to get one and you'll soon find yourself constantly checking out great books.

Well, that's all for now. Go out there and have some fun! Happy summer adventures!

XOXO

Chloe