10 goals to work towards during the summer

Every month, around the middle or 15th, I send an email to my blog subscribers with an inspirational tip. For the month of June it was ten projects to work on before the end of summer. The previous monthly email tips included self care, how to be happy/content and spring break activities with kids at home, among others. I have also started a Vlog since last month about these inspirational tips, so I am able to reach all my readers- visual, auditory as well as kinesthetic learners. Please check out my YouTube channel here and subscribe, if interested.

For today’s post, here is my list of 10 goals for summer. Read on about ten things to do before the summer is over!

1. Learn the basics of a new language; experiment with few words & phrases 

You can learn for free at www.duolingo.com or if you are little advanced and don’t mind spending some money, you can try out www.rosettastone.com. Right now they are offering three days free trial and have live sessions.

I am trying to learn some Spanish from my older one who has 4 years of foreign language to her credit in school and learning little French from my younger one who just finished her first year of foreign language:)

So here are few Spanish phrases with meaning that I can communicate with:

Hola (hello), De nada (you are welcome), gracias (thank you), lapis (pencil), uno- diez (1-10 counting), azul (blue), adios (bye)

Few French phrases with meaning that I have started learning:

Bonjour (Hello), Au revoir (goodbye), merci (thank you), oui (yes), non (no)

• 2. Try to learn to code

Code.org is a free online website that you may use. Here are few more resources where you can learn coding for free; please check this article by Forbes.

Both my kids experiment with coding. I remember few years ago, my older one had made a greeting card for her dad for his birthday using Java and HTML codes and although it was simple, she felt very accomplished and proud. My younger one is showing interest to learn programming, and will see if she actually learns Java or Python! 🙂

• 3. Learn to Cook something new; follow a new recipe 

I have been experimenting with various sweet dishes from Indian cuisine that I have never cooked before as I am not a sweet fan but these days with staying at home and more time in hand, I have been exploring. My older one has learned and cooked quite a few Italian recipes.

Follow your interest and try something that you may like.

• 4. Do a house project; redecorate or renovate your room

In our previous home, kids and their dad had painted the 2 kids bedrooms over a summer.

Another shorter project was putting up the wall paper in one room. Another year, we did the laminated wood floors change from carpet on our 2nd floor bedrooms. It became too much work, and then called up a handyman to finish. But depending on your interest, passion and convenience, there are so many small or big home projects you can work on. The end results are always rewarding, as it comes out of your own sweat and toil!

• 5. Start and finish a new book series

You can borrow from your local library, or if interested can buy from Amazon. Our recommendations are Harry Potter link here, The chronicles of Narnia link here, Percy Jackson link here, Jack Reaper link here, and Mars Triology link here, among so many others.

• 6. Start or modify your skin care routine

• 7. Explore a new style of clothing 

• 8. Listen to music that you have never listened to, examples may be new artist or alternative genre:

You can try Red Hot Chili Peppers, Arctic Monkeys, Cage the Elephant, or Foo Fighters

• 9. Start a garden in your backyard – with flowers or vegetables or shrubs 

Start a vegetable garden in your backyard or flowers landscape in your front yard, or use potted plants for herbs for outdoors or indoors. Easiest herbs to grow include mint, basil, coriander or sage.

• 10. Focus on being more emotionally aware , ex- journaling or meditation 

We use the GLAD journal every night. Gratitude, learning, accomplishment and delight for the day!

Summary

To summarize, this post was about 10 goals for summer. Make a small list of projects or things you want to accomplish before the summer is over, and stick to doing at least some of them. Believe me you will feel great and in the process, will learn something new or exciting.

Wishing for a great relaxing summer for everyone. Dear readers, please share your plans or mini projects, if any, for summer break by commenting below or sending an email to nishtha@dawnandhope.com!