Staying Motivated in the Summer

Photo by Mateusz Dach

Warm weather and sunshine can mean only one thing: summer is here! If you’re like most people, the desire to get outside and have some fun is overwhelming, but as an adult, you may have other responsibilities you have to take care of.

Whether you’re a student attending CCC or PVLA classes or have to work during the summer (or both!), staying motivated can be a challenge. Here are some things that may help:

1. Plan Your Day with Intention

There are things you’ll have to do during the day, which may include attending class and/or going to work. You may not be able to get out of doing these things, but there are other times during the day you can save for fun.

After blocking out time during the day to take care of responsibilities, block out time for something fun. That may be an hour hanging out in the yard with your kids, or spending the evening around a fire pit, or a weekend at the lake. No matter what you decide to do, do them with intention—and don’t feel guilty about having fun!

2. Treat Study Time Like a Part-Time Job

Finding time during the summer to study is essential, but it shouldn’t be your entire focus. If you treat it like a part-time job, you’ll show up to study at your scheduled time, and when that time is up, you’re off the clock. Your day is free for you to do the other things you planned.

3. Get Some Exercise

Summer can get hectic fast, but you need to take care of yourself. Make sure to schedule in some exercise time—and keep in mind that it doesn’t necessarily have to be at the gym (although it certainly can be!). Take a hike with your family, or plan a kayak trip. Get out to the local park and climb on the equipment. Whatever you decide to do, make sure it gets your heartrate up and leaves you feeling good!

4. Reward Yourself

Being an adult can be challenging, and finding a balance between work and play can be hard. There are things you have to do and things you want to do. When you accomplish a have-to-do task, make sure you give yourself a reward. This might include taking a 5-minute nap or indulging in an ice cream treat. You get to decide what reward you deserve.

Keeping Kids Busy Over the Summer

Photo by zhang kaiyv

School ended last week, which means summer has officially started. This can be both a blessing and curse with having kids at home, but we have some ideas that can help you and them stay sane over the next few months.

Visit the Local Library

A good way to keep kids engaged over the summer is to visit the Columbus Public Library. Not only do they have a selection of amazing books to choose from, but they also have a variety of activities to keep the entire family engaged.

Whether you have a young child, a tween, or a young adult, there is something for everyone. Check their calendar often this summer for fun happenings for the entire family!

Visit the Children’s Museum

In addition to checking out the local library, you also might spend some time at the Columbus Area Children’s Museum--as they are both in the same building!

Some of the exhibits you can engage with here include Kidstown, Farm Adventure, the Loup River Water Table, and a Sensory Room, among others. 

According to the website, “The Columbus Area Children’s Museum is a wonderland of learning disguised as fun. CACM’s exhibits lets kid’s imaginations soar as they roleplay in shops and adventures mirroring those found in Columbus, sparking an understanding of community and commerce.”

Plan a visit today!

Sign Kids Up for Youth Programs

From swimming lessons to summer camps, the Columbus YMCA has a variety of events to keep you and your kids busy during the summer. Visit their Upcoming Events to discover what options they have to offer.

Columbus Public Schools even has some summer camps for you to consider, and you can find the right one for your kiddo by visiting their webpage. 

Centro Hispano is also offering a Camp Centro to keep kids engaged during the summer. More information can be found on this events page. 

Get Engaged with the Columbus Community

In addition to events that are focused specifically on kids, there are also numerous family-friendly events that will be put on by the City of Columbus during the summer. For a list of all the fun that can be had, please check out the Columbus Chamber’s webpage. You’re sure to find something that everyone will enjoy!

Find Some Time to Rest

While heading out into the community and exploring what Columbus has to offer can be incredibly fun, don’t forget to schedule some time for rest. That might include sitting on the couch with your favorite book, or having a fire on your back patio (assuming there are no fire bans in place!). 

You can make the evening even more special by making s’mores or grilling with friends. You might also plan a family movie night, or lay on a blanket in the backyard and count the stars.

Fun for All  

Summer is here, and with that comes a lot of fun. There is a lot to do in our amazing community, and we hope you’ll venture out to explore, but also remember to enjoy some quiet moments when you can.

Public Appearances

Can you believe that it’s August already? And the second week on top of that? Time sure does fly…

We have been busy at the PVLA with classes, including Conversational English, Citizenship, and Book Club, and our computer class is also up and running. If you’re interested in joining, let us know!

In addition, we are going to be making some public appearances over the weekend. We will have a booth at Columbus Days. Not only are we going to be sharing information about our services, but we’re also going to be playing some games and selling raffle tickets for Taste of Columbus.

In case you haven’t heard, we’re the host organization this year.

Whether you’re looking for some fun, want some more information about what we do, or want to try your luck at winning, come down to Frankfurt Square and say hi!