The weekend almost always passes in a blur of activities. However, if you put a little thought into it, weekends can be fun and productive.
Here are some clever ideas that we think are bound to bring some variety into mundane off days as well as recharge and energize you.
It is winter and it's sunny, which makes it the best time to go on a picnic. Use the free weekend days to gather a few friends and cousins and catch up with your loved ones while basking in the sun. Pack a fun food basket and off you go. There possibly can't be a better way to spend a Saturday.
Go digital
If you are feeling a little energetic and are up for some nostalgic times, then gather up all your old photos and scan them over a weekend. You'll not only be preserving precious memories, that otherwise might get lost over the years, but a trip down the memory lane will recharge you no end. Trust us, we've tried.
Clean your community
Yes, our streets can be dirty. With trash almost lining the roadside the city is sometimes an unpleasant sight. But why do we always complain and do nothing about it? It's time to take the matters into our own hands. Just think about it, if we all tended to our communities, the city would be so much cleaner. Gather a few likeminded neighbors, roll up your sleeves and get working.
Bake away
Learn to bake or if you know how, bake away. Distribute the treats among family and friends and watch their eyes light up with surprise. You can also bake an entire week's worth of tea time snacks and be sorted for a full week. Google some interesting recipes, and put your skills to test. For those who love food and cooking, this is a perfect (and productive) way to spend the weekend.
Give your home a facelift
The weekend is the best time to revamp your home. Throughout the week, as we rush from one activity to another, we tend to neglect our living space so make up for it by not just a little cleaning and tidying up but by rearranging your furniture, or painting the front door a fun color etc to give your home the facelift it deserves.
Teach yourself a trick or two
Learn to hula hoop or to juggle, or even a card trick. Make a paper crane. Teach yourself how mend a flat tire. Learn to crochet. The list is endless. Basically the idea here is to learn something new. If you are looking for something serious, did you know that you can get a college-level education on virtually hundreds of topics for free online? Great options include Coursera, Khan Academy, and edX, a partnership between Harvard and MIT.
Sew a quilt
Now this is really, really fun. All you need is a bunch of spare cloth (old shirts will even work, as will old curtains and sheets), some needles, thread, scissors, and some friends. Just get together, cut out squares of interesting cloth, and start sewing. You can stuff the inside with soft excess cloth, like t-shirts and such, instead of buying batting, and you'll create a warm and interesting quilt over time.
Make a time capsule
Find a small box, and fill it with little memorabilia. You can even include a digital flash drive with photos or a video you and your family make for your "future selves" to watch. Seal the box and write a date on the outside saying when you're allowed to open it. You'll have fun compiling a slice of your daily life, and you'll enjoy reflecting on those items in the future even more, when your lives and the world have changed.
Hold a garage sale
We know this might sound like an odd idea and it will require some preparation. But it's a great way to spend a weekend as well as earn some money. Gather things that you don't want or need and encourage your friends to do the same. Then decide on a time and venue, promote the event through social media and you're good to go. Garage sales are a great way to turn excess clutter into extra cash.
Explore a blog, watch some videos
There's just so much interesting stuff online. Get lost in the world of Internet and discover interesting content. Watch some fun videos on YouTube. You can also allow yourself some time to get lost down a Wikipedia rabbit hole – when you look up a tidbit of history, then start clicking deeper and deeper to learn more about related events and interesting historical subplots. You'll be wiser and informed and hence will feel a lot smarter.
Go on a self-guided walking tour
Research the interesting historic and cultural sites in your town, then go on a walking tour. Pack a light lunch and a bottle of water, and just go wandering around. We think Patan is the perfect place to do this as the alleyways are aplenty and very, very interesting. This can easily be a full day activity. Do it alone or with friends. It's a lot of fun either way.