Active Lifestyle

Labor Day has come and gone, marking the official end of summer. The kids are back in school, summer hours at jobs have ceased and everyone is back to the grind. It is very easy to slip into daydreams of swimming pools and yearnings for cookouts, but there is also much to look forward to now that we’ve said goodbye to our shorts and flip-flops! A big part of living a healthy lifestyle is a happy state of mind and positive forward movement. I’ve compiled some tricks and tips to help you make your peace with summer’s end and create exuberance for the last quarter of 2009!:

* Plan a getaway: Planning a future getaway can help give you something to look forward to. As you plan your vacation, visualize yourself at your destination. Whether it’s with your family or friends, make it fun and interactive for everyone involved. The fun can start with the prep!  Check out our list of Green and Healthy Travel options here.

* Host a movie or game night: Rent a great flick and invite your friends over for some good food and drinks. The visuals will get your mind off the cold and dreary and onto the engaging storyline or tournament. Make it a recurring event. This way you always have a fun evening on the books to help you get through your week.

* Schedule play dates for your kids: Just like the movie or game night, kids need fun activities to look forward to help them through their week, especially when they are starting a new year with a new set of responsibilities. We can’t expect them to be excited about homework, but it’s easy to get them excited about doing things with their friends.

* A day at the spa: Taking a little time to pamper yourself is always a great idea. We all need to de-stress, unwind and reset. If you can’t afford a spa treatment, invite your friends over for mani/pedis, facials and gossip.  (In fact our friends at Chill Out LA are hosting a spa party next week at eco-friendly Dtox Spa in Atwater Village.  Check out the invite here.)

* Engage in fall cleaning: Find therapy and enjoyment in putting away your summer clothes and decor while prepping for fall. Freshen up the house with new colorful accents; go through your closets and toss out things you don’t wear anymore; and open up the windows and let in fresh cool air. You may find a ton of stuff to sell at a garage sale so a few extra bucks will definitely make you smile. Or perhaps you start to dig up holiday decorations and your favorite sweater, getting you all the more excited for the months to come (check out our ydt “Green Your Closet Video“ if you need more motivation.)

* Make the new routine fun: No matter if it’s just you or you and your brood, make the new routines fun. Help you and your loved ones look forward to mornings and other scheduled events by starting a fun tradition. For instance, make Monday “Manic Monday” so get your family ready for the week to some fun and silly tunes. There’s Taco Tuesday and so on.

* Goal-set: Nothing gets you more pumped than working toward a goal. Writing it down and making sure it’s something that is attainable in the time you have allotted can really put a spring in your step. Looking to shed a few pounds before the holidays to make room for fruitcake? Needing to save up to buy that ring for your girl and propose on New Year’s Eve? No matter what your goal, write it up and post it somewhere to keep your eye on the prize.

* Start a hobby or class: One way to get your groove back is to delve into something new. No matter what tickles your fancy: dance, knitting, kung fu or learning a language, starting a new hobby is a great way to get your brain excited and out of the boring routine, but also a terrific way to make new friends!  We’ve got a great list of DIY hot spots around L.A. here.

* Look forward to the holidays ahead: I happen to be a holiday nut so as soon as Labor Day is over, I’m stoked for crisp air, pumpkins in abundance and planning my Halloween costume! If you have kids or not, look for fun activities that center around the season. Harvest festivals, county fairs and colder weather events pick up now so make a point to gather up your family and friends and make the most of autumn.

I know it’s tough to bid farewell to hot weather, carefree weekends and swim suits but there’s still plenty to look forward to this fall.

Tags: Back to School Blues, DIY, Fall Travel, Goal Setting, green your closet, Hobbies, Spa Party