It’s not too late to plan for the long weekend ☀️

Plus, a question for you

View this email online Kaz Fantone/NPR Hannah Sampson has two rules for every trip she goes on: She always visits a bookstore (ideally one that sells used books), and she always tries some local ice cream.  Beyond books and ice cream, Sampson, a staff writer at The Washington Post who covers travel news for By The Way, has tips on making the most of a long weekend trip.  If getting out of town this weekend isn't in the cards for you, here are a couple of other ideas to consider:  🌻 Plan a staycation: Sampson recommends planning a "tourist" adventure even if you aren’t leaving home this weekend. Write down a list of activities or places nearby you've wanted to explore but haven’t had the time to check out. Or, go on your usual walk but try and see it with a new lens. Really paying attention to a familiar place, like noticing flowers at a park or learning about local history, can help you play tourist without leaving town.  🏠 Tackle your home: Clean that junk drawer or reorganize your kitchen cabinets. If you're too tired to clean, use this tidying method that’s quick and won't wear you out. If you do feel ready for a deeper clean, remember to go from top to bottom so you're not dusting onto freshly mopped floors.   🎨 Start a creative habit: Creativity is good for your health, but focus more on the process than the final product. Just mess around and see what creative activity engages you. Maybe it's something you did as a kid, like making bracelets or coloring. Some more ideas (not an exhaustive list): sewing, cooking, writing, singing or baking. But don't feel like you have to stick to one thing – the art therapists from our episode on a creative habit told Life Kit you still get the same benefits of reducing stress and anxiety no matter the activity.  🫶 Spend quality time with loved ones: Call a friend who lives far away, try this playtime ritual with a little one, or express your gratitude to someone you've been thinking about. Maybe this weekend is a time to remember lost loved ones – to grieve and celebrate those who aren't with us.  However you spend it, enjoy your weekend (whether it’s long or not). -Clare Marie Schneider, Life Kit producer and editor    We want to hear from you! What are your tips for enjoying a long weekend? How do you make the most of an extra day off at home or a short trip away? Email us with your full name by Monday, May 29. We may feature your response in an upcoming newsletter or on our website.   Newsletter continues after sponsor message Your tips on making friends  Last week, we asked readers for tips on making friends in a new place. Here are two of your ideas: (responses have been edited for length and clarity) Try volunteering: "Find a local group that is doing work you admire and volunteer! I volunteered for a community cleanup day in 2019, and now I'm a co-director of the group; I've met loads of people in the community through our organization's work." – Lindsay Koehler  Create a welcoming space: "I have moved many times over my lifetime. This last time was to an apartment. To make it clear that I was interested in meeting people, I sat on my patio and waved to people as they walked by. The interested ones would come over to my patio to talk. I decorated my patio with flowers (real and artificial) and added a couple of weird things. At holiday times, I decorated accordingly. Some people would come to my patio to see what I was doing or ask questions about my decorations. I met a best friend because I had a hummingbird feeder." – Barbara Doebele Access Sponsor-Free Episodes Want to support our show? Try a subscription to Life Kit+ and get all the tips and tricks you love sponsor-free! Learn more at plus.npr.org/lifekit.  Learn More Stream your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: LifeKit@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Daily News, Code Switch, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Life Kit emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy