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Cheap outdoor living ideas


20 Low-Cost Backyard Living Ideas for your Outdoor Living Areas

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Outdoor living is at it’s finest in the summer and fall here in Michigan. However, no matter where you live, I have some simple tips for you today to spruce up your space on a budget! Enjoyable backyard living requires only a few strategic elements. Elevate your outdoor living areas with these 20 simple and low-cost ideas!

This post may contain affiliate images where I earn a small commission on your purchases at no additional cost to you.

Custom Outdoor Living

We purchased our home with 38 acres because of the land. The house had tons of potential, but wasn’t really my style. Over the years, if you’ve followed along for any length of time, you’ve seen me transform the inside of our home.

Thankfully, the outside of our home had a great foundation for custom outdoor living already! The previous owners were thoughtful about their outdoor living design.

There are beautiful stamped concrete patios and walkways, and a large custom fire pit.

The front of our outside spaces have beautiful landscaping that I’ve tweaked slightly over the last few years. But for the most part, we’ve enjoyed the outdoor design our home already had.

Since the groundwork was already laid for enjoyable outdoor living, I’ve just had to add my touches to it!

Here are a few updates we have done outdoors so far.

And our newest adventure: painting the exterior of our home!

I’ll share all the details on that process in coming posts. Make sure to subscribe to the blog to be notified when they go live! You’ll also get access to my free 3 part e-course where I help you start the process of designing your haven.

How do you create an outdoor living space on a budget?

Low-Cost Backyard Living Ideas for your Outdoor Living Areas

Whether you have a custom outdoor living area or a blank slate backyard to design, these 20 low-cost backyard living ideas will help you elevate your space on a budget.

Not all changes to your outdoor living areas need to be dramatic and huge makeovers. Small tweaks can go a long way in creating an enjoyable outdoor space for your family and friends.

Set the Stage for Backyard Living

The first thing you can do to elevate your outdoor spaces is to set the stage for indoor outdoor living.

Cost: Free.

If you have zero dollars to invest in your yard, then put in some sweat equity. It will go a long way to simply do regular maintenance on your yard. First and foremost, this includes mowing and weeding.

Yuck. I get it. I have about 6 acres of landscaped outdoor spaces to maintain and it can be brutal to keep up with.

However, if you do nothing else, maintaining your lawn, shrubs and weeds will create a presentable yard and give your home some curb appeal.

This is the first step. Next, consider adding these standard landscaping elements.

Add Evergreen Shrubs

Once you’re ready to make a small investment in the appearance of your home, add some evergreen shrubs. Evergreens can be kept neat and tidy to give your outdoor landscaping structure and color. Even in the winter, these will help your exterior pop.

Add Landscaped Flowers

Next, add in some landscaped flowers. Whether you like a wildflower look or more proper groupings, adding perennial flowers to your landscape brings so much simple beauty to your home.

You can also see how I use annuals and perennials to spruce up my front door for a welcoming entry all summer long.

These three tips are very basic landscape suggestions that can cost anywhere from a couple hundred dollars to thousands of dollars, if you have it professionally done.

My suggestion would be to start small. Invest in a few perennials every year to keep these updates low-cost and watch your home’s exterior blossom over the years! (Pun intended)

How do you build a good outdoor area?

Create Zones for your Backyard Living Spaces

The first mistake homeowners make is treating their outdoor space as one large open area. While this can be useful for large gatherings, it more often creates a space that has no purpose.

To build an outdoor area that you will want to spend time in, you need to give it a purpose.

Create zones within your backyard. Each zone can serve a different purpose.

In my outdoor areas, we have five main zones.
  1. Back patio for grilling and dining
  2. Deck (Currently undeveloped but soon I want this space to have comfortable outdoor furniture)
  3. Fire pit for camp fires/smores nights
  4. Front field for kid’s activities like soccer, swing set, volleyball, and trampoline fun
  5. Pond pad for lounge chairs

Granted, we have a large property, so it is possible to have this many zones. If you have a smaller outdoor space, choose what is important to you for backyard living. Then, put plans into action!

Perhaps you really want to be able to eat outdoors. Set up a dining area with an affordable outdoor table. Or maybe you want to be able to have camp fires. Create a simple fire pit with some camp chairs and a fire ring.

Zones don’t have to be over-the-top or magazine worthy spaces. They just have to serve a purpose!

How do I decorate my Outdoor Living Space?

Once you’ve laid the groundwork for backyard living and created purposeful zones in your outdoor spaces, it’s time to decorate!

Personally, I am not huge on outdoor decorations. I’ve seen some absolutely gorgeous outdoor settings with lavish decor and tons of amenities.

Instead, I’m a pretty simple gal. I really just want to create a space that welcomes people to use it and doesn’t take a lot of upkeep.

That’s where the remaining 15 low-cost backyard living ideas come in!

My favorite simple and budget-friendly outdoor decoration ideas

  1. Hang baskets of flowers or ferns.
  2. Add a simple table runner to make a dining table feel extra special.
  3. Use fresh flowers (even just picked from your yard) on an outdoor coffee table or dining table.
  4. Hang outdoor string lights to create a magical feel.
  5. Lay an outdoor rug to help define your outdoor zones.
  6. Place a simple bench in a garden to sit and enjoy the space.
  7. Use an outdoor grill cart to make camp fire entertaining easier and have a place to put necessities.
  8. Purchase comfortable seating so you WANT to spend time outdoors.
  9. Intentionally place sun protection to avoid unusable spaces in warm months.
  10. Don’t forget, add bug control and pest repellant for enjoyable backyard living.
    • Use various herbs and plants like citronella and catnip in planters around your patio.
    • Install lightweight netting or outdoor curtains around covered patios.
    • This mosquito shield has been a huge help in our damp backyard.
    • Strategically place heavy duty bug zappers. I like this insect trap for it’s appearance and effectiveness in large spaces.
  11. Use a portable serving station when necessary to make serving food easier.
  12. Go for the good dishes when having guests over to elevate the feel of a backyard party.
  13. Or, paper plates all the way, for casual and convenient entertaining. (See how neither option is wrong and both serve a different purpose?)
  14. Stock up on affordable yard games. These are some of our family favorites that work for large parties as well.
    • Bocce Ball
    • Corn Hole
    • Volleyball
    • Ladder Ball
    • Badminton
    • Spikeball
    • Simple sprinklers and yard water slides go a long way with the kiddos (and select adults).
  15. Create a theme. Have a little fun with your outdoor decorations by selecting a theme to stick to in each zone. Maybe one is a tropical paradise, another is a desert oasis, and another is a rustic camp site. Run with whatever your imagination creates!

Create a Backyard Living Space that Meets Your Family’s Needs

And last, but not least, create a space for your family’s needs. Have a brainstorming session with the whole family to see how you want to enjoy your outdoor spaces. If you don’t like to play lawn games, then don’t buy any!

So often we tend to look to what others are doing to recreate in our spaces. But, someone else might not enjoy the same things as your family.

It’s so important to design around your needs and set intentional goals to meet those needs. That is the foundation of my book, where I teach you the basics of creating a haven.

Maybe you need to carve out a very small space to put a comfortable reading chair. Or maybe you need a space for a small garden for fresh ingredients. Perhaps you need a concrete slab for your kiddos to play basketball.

Everyone has different needs and the way you design your outdoor living spaces should be personal to those needs.

Your Next Step

I hope that these 20 low-cost backyard living ideas have been helpful to spark some creative thinking for your own outdoor space!

My goal is always to give you ideas that span years instead of seasons. I hope you can take these ideas and create a space that is sustainable and enjoyable for years to come!

Make sure to write down a few short and long term action steps that you might have thought of as you read this article.

Thanks so much for stopping by the blog today! I hope you’ll subscribe to follow along with me for more ideas and inspiration to come. And make sure to follow along on Instagram where I share DIYs, decorating and projects in real time!

Outdoor Decor Sources for Backyard Living

You can find my most asked about outdoor decor sources via the affiliate images below! Simply click a product image to shop.

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Seasonal Simplicity Outdoor Tour

I love sharing ideas from other bloggers as well! Today I’m joining 28 other bloggers all sharing their outdoor spaces. There is something for everyone whether you live in the city, suburbs or country! Visit them via the links below.

This week I’m joining some of my talented blogging friends for the Summer Seasonal Simplicity Series: Outdoor Spaces Tours! Be sure to check out all of the beautiful inspiration by visiting the links under the images below.

Sharing Tuesday…

Inspiration for Moms // She Gave it a Go // Grace in My Space // Deeply Southern Home

Life is a Party // Nina Hendrick // Happy Happy Nester // Craftberry Bush

Maison de Cinq // Hallstrom Home // House by Hoff // My Sweet Savannah

Sharing Wednesday….

The Happy Housie // Joanna Anastasia // Cassie Bustamante // The Tattered Pew

Life is Better At Home // Tatertots and Jello // Finding Silver Pennies // Lemon Thistle

A Pretty Life // Dans le Lakehouse // Clean & Scentsible // Willow Street Interiors

39 Budget-Wise Ways to Create Outdoor Rooms

Have a humdrum porch? A basic patio or a neglected deck? Some simple additions—a hanging swing, mood lighting, a vintage find or two—are all it takes to transform an ordinary outdoor space into an open-air living room that adds value and comfort to your home year-round.

1. Rustic swing

Encourage guests and family members to sway on a slatted-wood porch swing. This one is hung with sturdy ropes, rather than chains, for a natural look. Make sure the rope is rated to hold at least 600 pounds, and check regularly for wear.

2. Mood lighting

Candle lanterns hung from a hook in the ceiling or placed on tables or railings lend a subtle nighttime glow. They're also easy to move where you need them and require no wiring.

3. Indoor appeal

If your porch is covered, bring living room furnishings, such as this wool rug and rocker, outside. Set back from the porch's open edges, they'll be safe from the weather.

4. Patios

To turn a basic concrete or stone pad into an inviting outdoor room, start by creating a sense of enclosure—your home's exterior walls or even a row of potted plants will do the trick—and, ideally, some overhead protection. Then use colorful accents to add personality.

4. Dramatic entrance

Judy White/Garden Photos

Hinge an old garden gate between a pair of wood posts to define your patio entry. Ornate wrought-iron gates like this one are about $75 to $250 at salvage yards, a fraction of the cost of a new, hand-forged gate.

5. Dual-purpose planter

Perch a metal farm trough atop chunky balusters to create a raised planter or, filled with ice, a party-perfect bar. Vintage troughs like the one here can be pricey, so pick up a new trough that will develop a patina over time.

6. Mirror, mirror

Reflect light and create the illusion of a window into another room with a wall-hung mirror. Make your own by fitting a cast-off divided-light window with mirror glass.

7. Green canopy

Grow climbing vines, such as grapes, over an existing pergola to provide extra protection from the sun and rain.

8. Bold backdrop

Judy White/Garden Photos

Turn a blah wall into a focal point. Red stain and barrel tiles give this concrete garden enclosure a Southwest feel.

Marley Roof Tiles in classic red, about $5 each; Northern Roof Tiles

9.

Container plants

A small patio becomes a verdant oasis with potted plants. Low-water options, such as sedum and Russian sage, require little care.

10. Paver grid

Give a thrifty pea-gravel patio a style boost and create activity-specific zones by edging areas with pavers.

About $5 per square foot; at home centers

11. Living arch

Norm Plate

Create an arbor with plants trained up the side and out onto the overhanging eaves of a shed or outbuilding. Anchor plants, and contain aggressive species, by growing them in pots.

12. Flagstone floor

A dozen stones arranged in a free-form pattern can easily turn a small patch of grass into an intimate dining area. Grow grass between the stones (shown) or choose a traffic-resistant groundcover. Flagstone prices vary by type, but expect to pay about $3 to $6 per square foot at stone yards.

13. Impromptu table for two

A bistro set is inexpensive and small enough to fit on a tiny patio. Choose sturdy but lightweight sets for maximum movability.

14. Front-entry courtyard

Eric Roth

Carve out a seating area in the front yard by enclosing a swath with a DIY sitting wall made from mortared fieldstone.

About $300 per ton, enough for 60 square feet.

15. Herringbone brick floor

This zigzagging design helps lock bricks in place and is more dynamic than the typical running bond. Make the pattern with any rectangular brick or paver.

16. Walls with dimension

Add texture to siding with trellises, and draw attention to windows with boxes filled with bright blooms.

17. Decks

Mark Lohman

Taking your deck from dull to dramatic can be as simple as integrating colors, materials, furnishings, and plantings that smooth the transition from indoors to out.

17. Bench border

If your deck is low enough not to require a railing, build a bench around the perimeter to provide seating and a sense of enclosure. You could build a version on just one side using leftover deck boards for the seat and pressure-treated 26s (about $5 for an 8-foot board; at home centers) for the supporting structure.

18. Stained to match

Use paint or stain to seamlessly match your outdoor elements with one another.

19. Wall art

Add a furnished feel by hanging ornaments, such as a fountain, on your home's exterior wall.

20. Bright and cheery

John Ellis

Make a big impact in a small space with intense color. Here, a turquoise-painted picnic table and coral-colored accents make an energetic combo.

Table paint: Behr's Premium Plus Ultra Exterior Semi-Gloss Enamel in Spring Stream, about $36 per gallon; The Home Depot

21. Lots of levels

Create the illusion of greater space by keeping the eye moving up and down. A stepped deck design like this is one way to do it, but you can also create levels by clustering tall and low container plants and ornaments together.

22. Soothing sound

Turn an urn, a birdbath, or a pretty pot into a gurgling fountain. All you need is a water pump to fit inside (Beckett 60 GPH Submersible Fountain Pump, about $18; The Home Depot), a GFCI outlet to plug the pump into, and a basin below where the water can collect and be recirculated.

23. Lattice panels

Jerry Pavia

Screen wind and lend privacy to your deck with thrifty treated-wood or plastic lattice walls. Flowering climbers soften their look and add color.

Similar to shown: Master Mark 2-by-8-foot plastic lattice panel, about $15; Ace Hardware Superstore

24. Soft surroundings

Top an existing built-in banquette, such as this corner unit, or a storage trunk with cushions and throw pillows to create relaxed seating. Look for weatherproof fabrics so that you won't have to bring everything inside at the threat of rain.

25. Easy canopy

Thomas J. Story

Erect a "roof" by draping a canvas drop cloth between four bamboo poles anchored in heavy planters.

Similar to shown: Super Heavy Canvas Drop Cloth, 9 by 12 feet, about $25; My Tarp.

26. Repurposed table

For an industrial-chic look on a budget, co-opt commercial kitchen gear. Try a stainless-steel prep surface that doubles as an all-weather dining table.

27. Movable seats

They're not just for extra party guests. Wood folding chairs are stylish and simple-to-stow everyday seats.

28. Porches

Tria Giovan

The key to comfort on the porch, whether it's off the entry or an upstairs master, is outfitting it to take advantage of the shade, views, and privacy it can offer. Just pick colors and furnishings to suit the style of your house so that the porch feels like an organic extension.

28. Surfaces with patina

Preserve a weathered painted finish rather than strip it. Mottled concrete floor and ceiling can add unmistakable vintage appeal.

Seal old paint under a water-based clear coat appropriate for the material. About $20 to $30 per gallon; at home centers

29. Pleasing opposites

If your backdrop is rough or rustic, add a hint of formal elegance, such as this manicured boxwood in a classical urn, for a balanced and purposely eclectic look.

30. Hanging baskets

Pretty up and add privacy on the porch by strategically hanging planted baskets from the eaves. For maximum impact, choose lush and trailing plants.

31. Shutter divider

Jean Allsopp

Use salvaged shutters to form a richly textured partition. This one sections off a large upstairs porch.

Find louvered pairs at flea markets for about $25.

32. Air supply

Install a ceiling fan to cool your porch and keep bugs at bay. This fan, with its built-in light, also adds an ambient overhead glow at night.

33. Soothing palette

Cool tones, like the watery blues on the porch floor and seat cushions, create a serene effect.

34. Evergreen screen

Linda Oyama Bryan

If proximity to neighbors is an issue, plant a row of evergreens along the exposed side of the porch.

35. Coordinated colors

Get a manicured look with a controlled color scheme. Here, all the furniture is the same shade of cranberry. And the upholstery, pillows, and rug echo the cranberry, as well as the home's muted green shutters and khaki body color.

36. Stylish synthetics

For low-maintenance furniture that looks new longer, choose materials that stand up to the elements. Resin wicker looks and feels like its traditional cousins but tends to cost less, and you can simply hose it down when it gets dirty.

37. Rope hammock

Van Chaplin

String one up and rock yourself to sleep. Use galvanized threaded eyebolts to secure it to wall studs, and leave room to sway.

Similar to shown: Cotton Hammock, about $109; L.L.Bean

38. Hanging bed

Tria Giovan

It's like a porch swing only deeper and easier to stretch out on. Rather than buy a bed swing, available with or without a backrest, make a wood platform for a twin mattress and suspend it with chains.

39. Laid-back lounger

Tria Giovan

Prop pillows against the arms and a cushion on the seat to turn a backless bench into a daybed.

Similar to shown: Generous 4-foot Backless Teak Garden Bench with Scrolled Arms, about $400; Plow & Hearth

45 things to do on the weekend without spending a dime

1. Search social media and forums for events

In the hobby and leisure sections, you can find information about events, many of which are free.

Someone arranges a bike ride or a hike to the nearest forest lakes and invites everyone. Someone is organizing a bead weaving workshop in the park. In megacities, the range of free events is very wide.

2. Check out the local library

There are book club meetings, children's readings, lectures and other activities. And all - for free or for a symbolic fee, which will be spent on paying for tea or coffee and a small treat.

In addition, visiting local libraries is a great way to meet intelligent neighbors and make friends with the same interests.

3. Go to the public playground

School stadium, park gym or beach volleyball court, it doesn't matter. On a weekend in good weather, there are many who want to play something. And they will almost certainly miss the players. Join now!

4. Learn to knit

Of course, this tip is for those who have a couple of knitting needles or hooks and some yarn lying around at home. Try knitting a simple scarf or blanket for a friend's child. Handmade items are unique and cost much more than the yarn from which they are crocheted. People who sell knitting, let's say on Etsy, will confirm this to you.

How to learn to knit and crochet: detailed instructions for beginners →

5. Get to know your neighbors

Some investment may be required here. For example, to whip up cookies or a pie.

30 recipes for delicious cookies with chocolate, coconut, nuts and more →

5 quick and delicious tea cakes →

Go with your neighbors with pastries or invite them to your place. These people can become not only good friends for you, but also a valuable resource. Once you establish a good relationship with them, you can count on looking after your home during your travels or helping you make repairs.

6. By the way, experiment in the kitchen

Becoming a guru in cooking quick and easy meals is not difficult and not at all expensive. Most likely, you already have the necessary ingredients in your refrigerator and you don’t even have to buy anything else. A nice bonus: being carried away by kitchen experiments, at the same time you will receive breakfasts and lunches in the office for several days in advance.

Delicious and inexpensive: 10 economy meals that everyone can handle →

7. Get rid of unnecessary things

That occupation, for which there is always not enough time on weekdays. Sort old clothes, books, CDs into categories: throw away, donate, sell. Take pictures of things from the last category, choosing a presentable background for them, and put them up for sale on any relevant Internet resource.

66 things you should get rid of during the next cleaning →

8. Play board games

A great option for those who do not live alone or have many friends. Perhaps someone also does not know what to do on the weekend, and will be happy to keep you company.

8 classic board games that boost intelligence →

9. Listen to podcasts

It's a way to get the most out of your weekend, and it's completely free.

Best Lifehacker Podcasts →

10 Podcasts for Learning English →

10. Make a detailed list of goals

For the near and far future. With a schedule.

How to set goals and achieve them: a simple instruction →

11. Think about what you will leave to your heirs

These reflections are not the most festive, but they are necessary. None of us knows exactly when he will leave. Therefore, it is important to understand what you will leave behind for loved ones. If you have loans, who will close them and how? If you own real estate, who will get it? Who will take care of your dog? To whom would you like to bequeath your comic book collection?

Quite often such reflections lead to the fact that people realize the need to make a will. By the way, this is a smart move. But you need to think carefully about it.

How to make a will and manage your property wisely →

Cleaning like the last time: a new Swedish approach to tidying up →

12. Maintain your home

It's easy. Go from room to room and fix all the flaws you see. Candy wrappers on the coffee table? Throw away. Mirror with fingerprints and stains of unknown origin? We wipe. Dim lighting? We change light bulbs. And so on.

13. Go for a walk

Pack a delicious snack in your backpack, grab your camera, make sure your smartphone is charged, and set out to explore the area.

If you live in the city center, look into the arches, enter the old courtyards, look up the brick walls - there you will surely find something that can be called cultural heritage. Let it be dilapidated and forgotten.

If you live on the outskirts, near a forest, river or lake, you will have an even more exciting ecotrip. Take a blanket with you to be able to have a full-fledged little picnic.

Scientists have proven that walking makes people more creative →

14. Learn to juggle or perform magic tricks

In the future, this will help you defuse the atmosphere in the office, impress new acquaintances or please your friends with a little show.

15. Take pictures

Look for beautiful pictures around and take more pictures. At home, analyzing the results of the photo hunt, you will most likely find something beautiful. For example, a picture that can become a unique greeting card for a loved one or serve as the basis for creating photo wallpapers.

17 best photo editors for different platforms →

16. Go to a free museum or zoo

In large cities, museums with free access for everyone are often organized at universities, libraries and educational spaces.

The zoo is more difficult. However, in your city there may be a similar social initiative - just google it.

17. Learn the basics of a new or related profession

There are many educational platforms on the Web that provide free access to serious university courses. It can be, for example, the famous Coursera or online lectures from famous universities in the world.

How to learn programming from scratch →

18. Start managing your family budget

Choose the most convenient online options available, customize to your needs and start a new stage in your life - the stage of a rational approach to finances.

9 most convenient family budgeting programs →

20 free courses that will teach you to understand finance →

19. Find a way to cut costs

then there was a minute to analyze the spending! Reconsider the costs, find those on which you could save, or even completely abandon them.

How to spend less and save more: simple rules that we forget →

20. Make something interesting

T-shirts and jeans worn to holes do not have to be thrown away. Make them, for example, a patchwork-style rug - just sew together scraps of fabrics of different colors. Economical and angry.

30 creative ideas for reworking old denim →

18 DIY ideas that will delight your pets →

21. Learn to make origami

You will need several sheets of colored or white paper. Origami trains fine motor skills, improves concentration and can give you some very useful things at the end.

4 ways to make a paper rose →

22. Make a YouTube video

Share your origami skill with the world. Or maybe you're doing makeup. Any of your knowledge and skills will do. Perhaps this video will be the beginning of your personal YouTube channel.

How to create a captivating YouTube video: 11 secrets to success →

23. Play football. Even if you are alone

Just go out into the yard, find a suitable wall and hone your ability to take penalties on an imaginary goal.

24. Create a Time Capsule

Find a small box and then walk around the house, collecting items that may represent your current reality. These can be:

Put it all in a box, wrap it with tape and attach a sticker with today's date, as well as an instruction to open exactly five or ten years later. So a piece of your daily life will go into the future.

25. Dig into your personal archives

Remove from the mezzanine boxes with your children's drawings (or drawings of your grown-up children), school notebooks and albums with old photographs. Delving into the past is a great way to better understand yourself in the present.

26. Scan old photos

An option for those who have a scanner at home. Digitizing paper memories is a great way to protect them from the relentless time. If you don't have a scanner, just take a picture of old pictures and save them to the cloud.

12 cloud storages to look out for →

27. Throw a film festival

Invite a few friends, asking each of them to bring a disc or flash drive with their favorite movie. And then review the whole thing.

What to see on the weekend →

28. Seduce your partner

It's fun, romantic and cool. It also helps strengthen relationships. And yes, completely free.

Double pleasure: 20 best sex positions for both partners →

29. Learn the basics of yoga

All you need is a little space and a blanket (gymnastic mat). The bonus is a tangible benefit for the figure.

Yoga for the abdomen: 5 simple poses that will help you regain your slimness →

30. Play a game with augmented reality

Your smartphone can turn the world outside the home into a huge attraction full of adventures.

5 augmented reality apps without Pokemon →

31. Go out for Saturday work

This will make the area where you live cleaner, and you will enjoy useful activities. Just stock up on a trash bag and work gloves. By the way, you can invite your neighbors to participate in such an event. It unites.

Plogging: what is this trend and why is it so popular →

32. Rearrange the furniture in the room

To freshen up the atmosphere, sometimes it is enough just to turn the table and change the position of the bed. It's also a good workout for the muscles.

How to make the perfect living room by rearranging the furniture →

33. Get a good night's sleep

Jokes aside. If you're active, chances are you don't get enough healthy sleep during the week. Weekends are a great time to catch up.

Sleeping on the weekend is a matter of life and death. Scientists tell why →

34. Call a friend or family member with whom you have not communicated for a long time

If you are in a quarrel, even better. Free time is a resource that helps build relationships. Ask if the person needs your help? Or maybe he doesn't mind coming to visit you?

How and when to ask for forgiveness in order to receive it →

35.

Make a list of non-urgent tasks

Things to do when you have free time. For example, wash windows. Paint the walls in the hallway. Disassemble the rubbish on the balcony. Take a picture and hang out for sale some unnecessary thing.

Start your list on a large piece of paper, then magnetize it to your refrigerator. So it will be convenient for you to cross out cases and add new ones.

By the way, do you have free time right now? Spend it on a few things.

36. Be a volunteer

There are many people and organizations that need your help. You can look for a place to apply your efforts on city forums and social networks.

How to distinguish real benefactors from scammers →

37. Disassemble documents

It often happens that important papers - passports, all kinds of certificates, loan and deposit agreements - are stored in a bunch in one box. Simply because their owner does not have time to organize the document space.

Hooray! This weekend time you have! Organize your documents by organizing them into separate folders and files.

38. Master some meditation technique

Meditation helps to “clear the mind”, relieve stress, learn to recognize and appreciate the current moment of life.

7 Simple Techniques for Quick Meditation →

39. Go in for sports

For example, jump rope for exactly five minutes, and then do plank for one minute. Make a promise to yourself to repeat this set (or any other set of exercises you choose) tomorrow. Let it become one of your habits.

What will happen to you if you do plank every day →

. But suddenly?

41. Go where your eyes look

In the literal sense: leave the house and go along the path that your eyes fell on and which seems to be the most attractive. We often fail to notice a lot of interesting things just because we walk only on familiar familiar paths. Break this stereotype.

42. Travel with Google Maps

See countries and coasts you've been to before. Find your hotel. View prices and territories for nearby hotels. Follow where the road unknown to you leads and what the beach looks like, which you never got to. Check out Sri Lanka. Or to Japan. Or find Stonehenge. Exploring the world can be so much fun that you can easily spend hours doing it.

43. Treat yourself to a spa treatment

Or just take a long, long bath with aromatic oils.

44. Watch a few seasons of the TV show that everyone has missed

Did you miss Game of Thrones or Westworld or House of Cards? You have a chance to enjoy the adventures of the heroes without the tedium of waiting between episodes.

16 series worth watching →

45. Study the starry sky

Spend daylight hours preparing: download applications with information about celestial bodies and galaxies, figure out where you can find a secluded place away from too bright lights. And in the evening, go to the park or the stadium, lay out the mat, lie on your back and look at the sky. This exercise helps to understand how big and beautiful the Universe around us is and how, in fact, our earthly problems are ridiculous.

8 fascinating books about the universe and space →

5 best Android apps for exploring the night sky →

Read also 🧐

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November 12, 2016 Relations

People are so accustomed to living online that even evenings with loved ones disappear into the virtual space, leaving no trace of memories. Forget about the Internet for a few hours and get a lot of fun by arranging an unusual date.

Romantics

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1. A classic of the genre. Light candles, prepare fragrant tea and talk about everything in the world. In the cycle of life, there is so little time left for spiritual conversations with a loved one.

2. Romantic astronomy. Gaze at the stars with a constellation chart or telescope. Dream up, creating your own original combinations of stars.

3. Theme dinner. Try to cook a French or Italian dish, and then eat a joint culinary masterpiece, washed down with a glass of good wine.

4. Evening for body and soul. Find a spa program for two. Aroma massage with essential oils, body wrap with honey, vanilla-scented sauna and delicious tea… What could be better?

5. Photo history. Arrange a creative home photo session. You will need a camera (or a smartphone with a good camera), a tripod, and a creative mood!

6. Back to the past. Review the wedding video and joint photos. These beautiful, bonding moments will remind you how much you love each other and how wonderful it is to be one family.

7. First date again. Imagine that you are two strangers who really liked each other and decided to go to a cafe together. Try not to leave the role for a while. You can rediscover each other.

8. Family portrait. Both pleasant and useful. Such a canvas can encourage the study of the genealogy and the compilation of a family history book for future generations.

9. Reincarnation. In each person lives a personality unknown and unexpected for us. Try to reincarnate into the personality that you always wanted to try on. Dressing up, changing your demeanor, and even creating a new biography will help you with this.

10. Renewal of the senses. Get a honeymoon hotel room, dress up for the occasion, hire a luxury taxi and spend time like newlyweds. May there be only you, love and happiness in the whole world!

Game lovers

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1. Evening in the anti-cafe. A great way to change the situation, play enough, have fun and meet interesting people.

2. Game night. Fight on the game console for the title of the best gamer or form a strong team of two fighters. Passing exciting levels will color the evening with vivid emotions.

3. Board games. Start with the classic ones (chess, checkers, backgammon), and then move on to Monopoly, Tower, Battle of the Sexes and a hundred more funny, mystical, serious, logic games.

4. Dungeons and Dragons. This is an amazing fantasy tabletop role-playing game that you can get lost in for more than one hour. You can search for D&D organizers in your city and simply join the team. Playing on your own will require reading the manual, having character sheets, and a set of dice with a given number of sides.

5. Play store. This is a paradise for gamers. Here you can not only try out a lot of new games that have just appeared on sale, but also replenish your home collection.

6. Puzzles and games on paper. Forgotten, but not lost their relevance "Tic-tac-toe on an endless field", "Labyrinth", "Sea battle", "Points", "Balda", "Football 8 × 12".

7. Intellectual battles. Discover, for example, the logic game of Go with deep strategic content, one of the five core disciplines of the World Mind Games.

8. Puzzles. Instead of classic puzzles with thousands of elements, you can try to collect spherical or figured puzzles.

9. Entertainment games. Create in advance a selection of fun games suitable for fun. For example, the popular pantomime game "Crocodile" will charge you with a positive mood for the whole evening.

10. Passage of quests. Original stories, entourage, interesting tasks, riddles, puzzles and the opportunity to be anyone. Choose any quest you like.

Active and restless

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1. Sports event. Go to any sporting event in your city and cheer for any selected team.

2. Step forward. Going in for sports together is inexpressible. Be sure to go for a trial workout in the gym, swim in the pool or try yourself in martial arts.

3. Shopping. As you know, you can walk more than one kilometer in a shopping center. Both useful and pleasant. At the same time, look for gifts for relatives and friends.

4. Dance lesson. Passionate bachata, classical waltz, fiery salsa, rumba, foxtrot or tango - communicate in body language and have fun.

5. Trying something new. A great option for a date is to attend a class together in a new type of physical activity for you, such as yoga or stretching.

6. Fitness for two. Evening jog, warming up on the machines, doing stretching exercises and preparing a light dinner together is the perfect plan for an active, healthy and enjoyable evening.

7. Forward with the wind. Go for a bike ride, go rollerblading or try your hand at a skateboard. On the way, you can fly a kite and admire the beautiful scenery. Open up new horizons of possibilities.

8. Dance simulator. If you absolutely do not want to leave the house, then you can plunge into the world of movements with animated dancers to popular music tracks. Move along with your partner, learning dance elements and earning points.

9. Alone with nature. Make an interesting urban walking route. Visit places where you have never been before.

10. Picnic. Arrange a camping trip with an overnight stay in a tent under the stars and long conversations by the fire. Let it take only one day, but it will remain in memory for many years.

Connoisseurs of peace and tranquility

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1. Rustling pages. Read your favorite books, wrapping yourself up in a cozy blanket and making hot berry tea.

2. At the peak of calm. Take a thermos, sandwiches, warm blankets and spend the evening on the roof of a high-rise building, watching life boil far below.

3. Library evening. Spend time in the library with a cup of coffee. You may be able to get to an evening of poetry or a bard song.

4. Movie night. Find out in advance in which cafe the movie night will be held. This is a great opportunity to take a break from the hustle and bustle and travel through fictional worlds.

5. Trip out of town. Autumn forest, a secluded house with a fireplace and you two. You can walk, fish, take pictures, warm your legs by the fire and enjoy the slow pace of life.

6. Riding lesson. Communication with horses relaxes, relieves stress and brings real happiness. No wonder hippotherapy works wonders.

7. Swimming with dolphins. An evening with these fantastic creatures will give you a real childhood joy and an excellent photo session as a keepsake.

8. Bird feeding. Stock up on bird treats and head to the nearest park. And take a walk, and breathe the air, and make the birds pleasant.

9. Cultural program. An excellent solution for everyone who does not like fuss is visiting a performance, opera, ballet.

10. Live music. You can book a table in a jazz club or a blues club. An unforgettable evening is guaranteed.

Inquisitive

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1. Lead us, Susanin. Map the sights in your city or area. Find as much information as you can about them in advance and take a walking tour in the evening, telling each other about what you have learned.

2. Explore the microworld. Borrow a microscope from friends or acquaintances for the evening. You can make at least fifty discoveries at a time.

3. Be scientists. Doing chemistry experiments or creating your own watercolors at home will bring a lot of fun.

4. Handmade gifts. This could include making your own soap, custom candles, or a family recipe for one amazing dessert. And the resulting masterpiece can be presented to your loved ones.

5. Taste. Go to a cafe where you have never been and order a dish from Indian, Japanese, Korean or any other cuisine.

6. Industrial tourism. If you want to know how real chocolate is produced, wine or Coca-Cola drinks are made, visit the corresponding enterprise with a tour. It will be really informative and interesting.

7. Tricks. Have an evening of wonders and try some unusual magic or math tricks. You can learn the secrets of magic the day before the joint evening.

8. Learning together. Finally start learning the foreign language you like. Together it is much more fun and productive.

9. Lectures. An excellent find for the curious will be visiting open popular science lectures, which are often held in higher educational institutions. This also includes chamber meetings with interesting creative people.

10. Origami. The art of origami is the folding of unusual paper figures. For example, on the eve of Halloween, you can try to fold a creepy hand with claws or a gravestone.

Extreme lovers

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1. Making a tattoo. A romantic adventure filled with adrenaline. The tattoo will become your little, original secret.

2. Image change. Change the style, hairstyles and hair color in the beauty salon. Look at life in a new way.

3. Climbing. The first lesson on the climbing wall can turn into a common passion with subsequent trips to overcome real rocky terrain.

4. Ghostbusters. Stay overnight in a place steeped in scary legends and mystical fame. Try to capture otherworldly inhabitants on camera and feel the true nature of fear.

5. Two warriors. Play paintball or laser tag - high-tech games that take place in real time and space. Modern weapons, well-equipped training grounds, scenarios of famous computer games and movies will help you unwind and feel like a team.

6. Jailoo tourism. This is a completely new type of tourism, which involves rest in complete isolation from civilization in places where mobile communications do not work and there is no electricity. A good opportunity to test your resourcefulness, endurance and patience.

7. Parkour. Parkour is urban acrobatics. Try to run through the city obstacles, flying over fences and steps, climbing walls and over rooftops. If you are not avid tracers, familiarize yourself with the style in advance and be extremely careful.

8. Animal overexposure. Borrow a cat or dog by contacting animal welfare groups. If your house does not have a permanent pet, then for you it will most likely become an extremely spent period, and the animal will be given the opportunity to feel love and care.

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