
Summer holidays are officially upon us! It is time to sit back, relax and do all things that make us merry. With Christmas a stone’s throw away, we’ve compiled a list of some Top 10 items that you can consider doing to keep busy and sane over the holidays. Remember that an active mind always attracts fruitful benefits and here at Lebone, we hold the strong belief that this time off can be used effectively if we invest adequately to things that better our lives.
- Catch up on leisure reading
Reading is a life-long skill and maybe there are a couple of reads that you had lined up this year and couldn’t get enough time to go through them for various reasons, now is the time. Escape to a world of fantasy, suspense, drama, adventure or learn about an iconic hero’s story – no matter your choice of reading taste, this is the right time to catch up on your reading.
- Limit time spent on social media
So much of our time during the year goes into social media – be it on Facebook, Instagram, twitter, you name them that we neglect time for ourselves. It can consume much of your given 24 hours in each day when one takes a closer look. Many of us take our phones everywhere we go – be it at the breakfast table, at the dining area, to churches, school, work, to the restrooms and even to bed. Many people resort to checking their phones as the first thing they do once waking up, crazy right? Holidays must mean some time off the phones and net. Phones and the unnecessary attention devoted to them for social media has negative psychological impacts and now is the time to limit its hold on us. Prioritize time, instead for you.
- Plan for the 2021 academic year
There is never a befitting time than now to plan ahead for the academic year. Write down your goals and targets for the new year where your grades are concerned. Better yet, write down also how you plan on achieving those. Make a list of stationary items that you require and try to get those essentials now when there isn’t much a demand of them. What literature works and textbooks will you require to succeed next year? This is the ideal time to research those and better still, acquire them in preparation. Clear you mind and head space for the demanding year ahead.
- Take a break, get some fresh air – walk outside
Clear your head, breathe, take it easy and chill out. Rest as much as you can because there are benefits to this. Talk long walks outside to take in all the beauty that nature has in store. Take the time to admire God’s creation, the clean air outside that we breathe, the majestic mountains, humanity and the precious time you now have to bask in all of this splendor. Learn how to meditate as well.
- Take on a new hobby
Ever had the thought to start a new hobby? Be it exercising, singing or learning a new language? Now is the time to do all those and more. You will be surprised at how vast the options are out there, from other people and free, available online, to enable you to start and master a new hobby. Make a Wishlist and take that first brave step forwards towards a brand new you in time for the new year. You will never know where this new hobby that you decide to take on now will take you in the future.
- Volunteer at a shelter/home
Take some time to familiarize yourself with the various non-governmental organizations (NPOs) in and around your community. Ask what kind of help they need and where you can fit in and avail yourself for it. Be it helping to read stories aloud at a children’s shelter, dishing out some wholesome meals for the needy or rallying your friends to help donate some clothing items or books to nearby shelters and centers. This is the perfect time to add more value to your social impact aspirations. Helping out at shelters or homes during this time can come in quite handy.
- Declutter your mind & space
So much has happened this year and it is important to reflect on it all to refresh and reboot. This is the time to take stock of what happened and what needs to be done to ensure that you hit the ground running in 2021. Self-introspection is key at this point in time and finding a quiet time and space to do just that is all you need. Make changes to your plans, record all areas of growth and opportunities and also where you may have fallen short. Declutter your room, your home and your overall personal space. Help out to spring clean, tidy up the garden area, re-organize items around the house and get rid of any mess or clutter that may be obscuring your peace, comfort and focus. You’ve got all the time now in the world.
- Avoid large gatherings/rage parties
As much as festivities are joyous times for families across the globe, this year comes with its own setback – Covid-19. The novel corona virus has negatively impacted the world and has turned our normal lives upside down. This means a new way of celebrating and feasting. This year requires of us to be careful how we engage and interact with our loved ones. Its important for us to limit our attendance of large gatherings and rage parties where complying to the regulations as stipulated is concerning. Rage parties are usually the talk of the town during this time and most young people attend these. There have been instances where transmission of the virus has occurred affecting 1300 Gauteng teens who attended a matric rage in Durban earlier this month. Take care and limit your interactions with others to be safe these holidays.
- Connect with your mentor and other mentees outside of Lebone
At Lebone, we are an extended family that cares for one another. Take the time out to connect with your mentor and other mentees during this time. Reach out to them for any assistance that you may require or any assistance you may wish to offer. It’s the perfect time to reconnect, engage and catch up with your fellow Lebone warriors of light. Go for it!
- Do something you’ve put aside for too long!
All of us have items that we said we’d like to do or achieve when we started the year, right? Whether it would be writing a story, get on a rollercoaster – do an adventure activity that gets the blood pumping? Maybe you are one of those lucky enough to have achieved all if not most of them but more often than not, there just isn’t enough time to get to do something you’ve longed to do. Maybe some DIY tasks that need to be attended to? Review your to do list and get down to work. There is still enough time to do all those things before the year ends.
Have a Merry Christmas and a blessed new year from all of us here at Lebone Rivoningo Developments.
Please also take good care of yourselves and those around you.
#HappyHolidays
#WeAreLebone
Written by ST Mzili