Extreme Self Care

Each year, millions of Americans head out to their local campgrounds. Camping in the great outdoors is any camper’s dream; however, not everyone is able to camp at a campground or state park. If you find it difficult or impossible to go camping, you may want to consider backyard camping. You may very well find that it is the perfect backyard activity, especially in the evening.

Although camping in your backyard may not seem glamorous, it can be a fun and exciting adventure. In fact, it is an adventure that thousands of families enjoy each year. Backyard camping is popular for a wide variety of different reasons. One of those reasons includes the ease of camping. If you are an avid camper, it is likely that you may know alto well how hard to can be to make it to your campsite. Not only do you have to worry about getting yourself to the campsite, but all of your supplies as well. And, imagine if you forgot anything! In most cases, backyard camping cuts down on the hassle of most camping trips.

Backyard camping is also popular because it allows campers to camp is a safe area. Unfortunately most campers, while camping on public grounds, are unfamiliar with their surroundings. Not only may they be unfamiliar with the land, but they may also be unfamiliar with other campers. Unfortunately, in today’s society it is just too much of a risk for some individuals. If physical safety is a concern of yours, that concern can almost completely be eliminated with backyard camping. Not only will you know the area, but you also know who or what should be in your neighborhood.

As previously mentioned, backyard campouts are popular among those with children, especially young children. When it comes to camping, there are many children who are not at the right age to go. Whether it is due to unfamiliar territory, uncomfortable sleeping spaces, or being away from what they know, there are many children that are unable to handle a camping trip. However, as a parent, that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be able to enjoy camping. With backyard camping, everything should workout for everybody. Not only will be camping in the outdoors, but you will also be near your home, in case you need anything for your children.

While backyard campouts are ideal for those with small children, campouts are also fun for everyone else. Many individuals, including adults without children, enjoy backyard camping because it is convenient, safe, and free. Most public campgrounds, in the United States, charge a fee for campers. While this fee will vary from location to location, it can get quite expensive. That is why backyard camping is so popular in the United States.

If you are interested in having a backyard campout, you will have to decide which supplies you will need. Depending on your preference, you may be able to sleep in a tent or underneath the stars. In addition to sleeping equipment, you may want to think about backyard toys, food, drinks, and snacks.

By preparing for your backyard campout, you should have everything that you need. Proper planning will also prevent you from having to go inside your home. Avoiding your home as much as possible, even though you are in the backyard, is a great way to make the most out of your backyard camping adventure.

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Stop watching the news right before bed - this doesn’t allow you to relax. If you want to see the news, watch it early in the morning or the evening or just scan a newspaper.

We’re all so worried we’ll miss something but everyone is ‘plugged in’ so even when you miss the news, people say to you, ‘Hey, did you hear about…’

Internet, T.V., iTunes, etc. Put a limit on the amount of time you’ll watch or listen before you do this if time is an issue. For example, if you love surfing the net, tell yourself you’ll research for no more than 30 minutes; set a timer if you must. This can really save you. Once I surfed the net for a whole afternoon and then I missed great weather and a chance to get outside and do things.

Set your techno rules. Only check email two or three times a day and spend 15 minutes per time and you’ll save at least an hour a day, possibly longer. Tell people when they can phone you and have time when you can’t be reached so you set a buffer of time to relax and ‘chill.’

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Take time to think – thoughts are the source of power.

Take time to play – play is the secret of perpetual youth.

Take time to read – reading is the fountain of wisdom.

Take time to pray – prayer can be a rock of strength in time of
need.

Take time to love – loving is what makes living worthwhile.

Take time to be friendly – friendships give life a delicious
flavor.

Take time to laugh – laughter is the music of the soul.

Take time to give – sharing brings joy to your heart.

Take time to work – work is the price of success.

Take time to dream – dreams show you what is possible.

Take time to do your work well – pride in your work nourishes the
mind and the spirit.

Take time to show appreciation – it’s the frosting on the cake of
life.

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The goal is to reduce headaches, eliminate the need for complicated tracking schemes, and reduce the time you spend on your budget and finances to about 15-20 minutes per week.

Create a simple spreadsheet for your budget, if you haven’t already, and start by listing your income and your monthly expenses. Estimate, in round numbers, how much you spend on each expense every month. You can adjust later, but it’s better to err on the side of too high a number, rather than putting a low number and breaking your budget.

60 Percent Solution. There are many ways to structure your budget, but the simplest I’ve found is the 60% solution. Basically, this budget asks you to fit your regular monthly expenses within 60% of your gross income, so that you have room for savings (long-term and short-term), retirement and spending money (”fun money”). These are the things that most often break a budget, because most people don’t budget for them. Now, your percentage will vary, but the percentages given here are just rough guidelines:

60 percent: Monthly expenses — such as housing, food, utilities, insurance, Internet, transportation. This is the part most commonly thought of as a budget.

10 percent: Retirement — and if you’re doing it right, this is being automatically deducted from your paycheck for a 401(k) investment.

10 percent: Long-term savings or debt reduction. It’s best to invest this in something such as stocks or an index fund, and this can serve as your emergency fund. But if you are in debt (not including a home mortgage), I would advise that you use this portion of the budget to pay off your debts, and even draw some from the other categories such as retirement to increase this to about 20 percent for now. Once your debts are paid off, you can switch this to long-term savings. You still need to have an emergency fund, but while you’re in debt-reduction mode you can either create a small, temporary emergency fund out of the money from this category or the next.

10 percent: Short-term savings — this is for periodic expenses, such as auto maintenance or repairs, medical expenses (not including insurance premiums), appliances, home maintenance, birthday and Christmas gifts. For this savings account, be sure to spend the money when you need it — that’s what it’s for. When these expenses come up, you will have the money for them, instead of trying to pull them from other budget categories.

10 percent: Fun money — you can spend this on eating out, movies, comic books — whatever you want. Guilt free.

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Have you ever met someone who was so positive about life, you wish you felt that way as well? You can. Positive thinking is a powerful tool. Our minds control all of our thought processes and can be the catalyst for living a happy and positive existence or live life with a doom and gloom attitude.

Here are several ways to not only improve your mindset, but your life as well.

* If you are faced with a negative thought, change it to a positive one. Remember the movie, “Pollyanna?” Her father taught her the “glad game.” She encouraged the town to find things to be glad about. Eventually, they did and were happier than ever before.

* Surround your life with positive people. Go to events which bring you joy or have special meaning. Invoke positive memories whenever you can.

* There is a saying, “It’s the simple things in life that make me happy.” Find those simple pleasures, no matter how small or insignificant they may be. They are yours to enjoy.

* Laughter is the best medicine, especially for a heavy heart. Be around people who make you laugh; it’s quite contagious.

* Love yourself; nurture the inner you; love others, and most of all be kind. Greet the doorman in the morning, or give a hug to someone who needs it most.

* Help someone less fortunate than yourself. Volunteer your time at a nursing home or hospital. When you give, you receive ten-fold.

Remember, what you do affects others. If you are negative, people will shy away from you. However if you are positive, you will be surrounded by people who wish to be in your company all the time. Congratulate yourself on jobs well done! Positive thinking breeds positive results.

Begin your day in a positive manner. Nothing is worse then getting up in a grumpy mood. It not only sets the tone for the days’ events, but impacts your family as well. Place flowers around your home; open the curtains and let the sun shine in. Also, add more light to your home if needed. Light has a direct effect on one’s mood.

Changing the way in which you view life can make all the difference. Try not to think about the negative aspects, but focus on the positive blessings in your life. Turn off the bad news, and channel your thoughts in the direction of goodness. It may be cliché, but take time out to smell the roses. Give thanks for all you have; and be generous to those who have nothing.

Take a look at the smiles on your children’s faces. Nothing in the world can negatively impact the feelings those smiles invoke. Live life to the fullest and enjoy every precious moment of it.

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I’ve found a great new blog! Steve Aitchison of the UK, writes a really neat blog called Change Your Thoughts. He recently posted an article with links to 22 videos from the top motivational speakers in the world which you can view online for free! Speakers include everyone from Oprah to Wayne Dyer to Deepak Chopra. Also included are Tony Robbins, The Secret and even Steve Jobs and J K Rowling!

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