25 Free Fall Outdoor Activities for Kids

Fall weather makes me want to be outside as much as possible.  The weather is absolutely gorgeous, and I know that winter will be here soon.

Here are 25 free things kids (and adults!) can do to spend time outside in the fall.  All of these might not be 100% free – for instance, some require gasoline to get to a location – but for the most part these will all be pretty much no-cost.

1. Go hiking.  Visit a nature trail in your city or a state park.

2. Go on a fall scavenger hunt.  Make a list of various fall items (acorns, leaves, rocks, etc.) and see who can find everything on their list first.

3. Go on a picnic.  Even if it's only on a blanket in the backyard, a picnic is a nice way to get in some more outdoor time enjoying the weather.

4. Go bird-watching.  Head outside with some binoculars and a bird book and see how many of your native birds you can identify.

5. Go on a walking tour. Map out and visit historical sites in your town.  Pack a lunch and make a day of it.

6. Participate in nature programs.  Some cities and park systems offer free nature programs for children.

Anti-Procrastination Challenge: Shiny Faucets

I saw on Pinterest forever ago that if you rub waxed paper over your faucets it will keep the faucets from getting those ugly water spots on them.

How to Keep a Baby Perfectly Quiet During School Hours

Okay, so I wasn't purposely letting him do this, but it sure kept him occupied for a long time! It worked a whole lot better than all the fancy independent activities for one year olds I've posted in the past!

Live First; Blog Later

It's Monday.  Since I don't blog over the weekend, I try to get back to it on Mondays.  But today is different.  It's an absolutely gorgeous day outside, the kids are starting to feel a little cooped up, and Mommy just vetoed nap time.  Instead of blogging during nap time, I'll be outside running around with a couple of cute kids.  Sometimes that's just the way it needs to be.

How to Help Yourself Work More Efficiently

Do you ever use psychology on yourself to help you work more efficiently?  I do all the time.

For instance, yesterday I worked really hard and got a lot done.  That was easily proved by looking at my to-do list and taking note of all the things that had been checked off.  But at the end of the day I was discouraged.  I felt like the house was a mess and I got nothing done.

This morning I knew I had to think through what it was that was discouraging me and come up with a remedy for it.  If I'm discouraged I do not work well.  I feel like my house is a hopeless case and wonder why I should even bother trying to clean it up.

In reality, it's never as bad as it feels like it is.

I have to use psychology on myself to encourage myself not to give up.  If I give up things really will get bad and it will be an absolute nightmare to catch up.

I have two choices when I'm starting to feel discouraged about the housework.

1. Start with the easiest things first (like I do on Mondays.)  When I do the quick and easy things first (like putting things where they belong as opposed to deep cleaning the bathroom), I can see immediate results and I realize things really weren't as bad as they looked.  I am then encouraged enough to finish up the rest of the housework.

-OR-

2. Get the hardest thing over with right away.  This was what needed to happen today.  I really needed to clean out the refrigerator, to be exact.  I thought about the reason I was discouraged at the end of the day yesterday and realized that although I had gotten a lot of cleaning done, I hadn't accomplished the one thing that was really bothering me.  Knowing how icky the inside of my refrigerator was was messing with my head.  It was making me feel like everything was dirty.  So I broke my rule about getting the dishes done first and started in on the fridge first thing this morning.

As soon as it was done I immediately felt better.  My mind became clear enough to see that the rest of the cleaning could easily be finished up.

Don't worry about the weird container in the back.  The fridge leaks water and we have to keep a container in there to catch it.

What is holding you back from being more productive?  Do you need to do something that will help you see some quick results?  Or do you need to dig in and work on something that's been hanging over your head and discouraging you?

Our emotions affect our productivity more than we realize.  There are no rules that says a house must be cleaned in a certain order.  If you are struggling and feel like you are never going to get it all done, try to figure out what will help you feel better. (Sorry, chocolate doesn't count!)  Take the time to identify what is dragging you down emotionally and work with yourself, not against yourself.

If you’re just joining the Anti-Procrastination challenge, you may want to subscribe to email updates or follow me on Facebook to receive each new challenge!

This post is linked to Time Warp Wife, Above Rubies, Thankful Homemaker, and Growing Home.

Printable Scripture Verse Art

I have way too much fun making this stuff!  The great thing about making printable art is that it is so easy to switch it out.  And when I'm using Scripture verses I can keep new ones fresh in my mind all the time.

Here is one I made up this morning.

Download and print here.

Enjoy!