Date night is the most exciting night of the week…unless you are short on funds. Take me and my fiancé for example. While we are budgeting for our wedding, we have made it a point to cut back on our spending when it comes to our weekend entertainment together. But just because we are saving our money, doesn’t mean we can’t plan fun things to do together. In fact, we have found that some of the best dates are the ones that are not only simple; they’re affordable. But don’t take my word for it. Try it for yourself. Here are three dates that won’t break the bank.
1. Make a home-cooked meal
I’ve been on a Pinterest kick lately—using it at every opportunity I can, especially for dinner ideas. Hop on Pinterest (create an account if you don’t currently have one) and start scrolling for dishes you and your date are craving to try. Make sure you are both happy with your choice. Once you find a dish, start your date by shopping for the ingredients together (Note: On Pinterest, you can even search for meals on a budget!). Then, take your goods to the kitchen and divvy up who is prepping which part of the dish. Whether none, one or both of you are cooks, this date exercises the teamwork in your relationship. If one of you is savvier in the kitchen than the other, have that person take the lead and help guide the other. Or, if you prefer only one cook in the kitchen, make a deal that the cook doesn’t have to clean. Once your dinner is ready, head to the dinner table with some candles, and soft music in the background. You’d be surprised how intimate a dinner at home could be without television. Now, enjoy delicious food, great company and the comfort of being at home all in one night.
2. Run for fun
Whether you are physically active or not, this experience will have you and your date feeling great from start to finish. This date will most likely need to be planned out at least a week in advance, but it will be worth it. Search online for a 5k race in your local or surrounding community, or find a cause that you and your date are passionate about (I recently ran in a memorial 5k that raised money for scholarships at a local university). Once you register for your race (prices vary for registration, but early registers usually pay a lower price), you and your date can decide if you want to run or walk the race together. If you are a competitive couple, you might choose to race each other, and it doesn’t hurt to throw in some friendly wagers (e.g. a kiss to the first to finish, or dinner on the loser). Or, you can choose to walk it together. This will be a good time to not only get in a workout, but also time to talk and enjoy the scenery together. At the end of the race, you will both be greeted with a crowd of people cheering you on until you cross the finish line. This will make you both feel like winners—not to mention the good you’ll have done by having your registration fees go towards a worthy cause.
3. Picnic in the park…or the beach…or the lake…
Sometimes, removing yourselves from the usual spots can be a breath of fresh air. Pack up some of your favorite snacks and take your date to a spot you haven’t been to before. When my fiancé and I first started dating, we would take blankets, music and cupcakes from our favorite shop, down to the beach. We had a secluded spot where no one could interrupt us. We could sit there on the sand for hours just talking, laughing and listening to new music we wanted to share with each other. The best part was hearing the sound of the ocean waves crash against the sand and fizzle out. This spot eventually became the place where he proposed.
Sometimes, it’s not about how much money you spend or the extravagant places you will go—it’s about the memories you make together. Minor changes to your daily routine can feel like a whole new experience. So whether the change is as small as turning off the T.V. during dinner, or taking your lunch to the park across the street, treat each date like it’s the first. And while it’s nice to be wined and dined (don’t get me wrong, this girl enjoys being spoiled), it’s important to embrace quality time together.
Do you have any ideas for dates-on-a-dime? Then join the conversation. Leave a comment below or use #planetbeach on our next Facebook, Twitter or Instagram post. We’d love to hear from you!
Losing weight can be one of the most challenging experiences, whether you’re a first-timer, or a veteran. First, you have to adapt to a new diet (and by diet, I mean a meal plan), which can often lead to withdrawals from drive-thrus and Chinese takeout. Next, you have to incorporate physical activity into your weekly schedule—and let’s be honest, it’s easier to watch Netflix for two hours and conveniently lose track of the time you should have spent at the gym. Finally, you have to face stepping on the scale to weigh in—and unlike that guy who keeps calling for a second date—this is one number you can’t avoid.
Needless to say, the weight loss process can be very discouraging. I’ve been on my weight loss journey for what seems like my entire life. But for the past year, I have successfully lost more than 40 lbs. and still losing. I would like to attribute all of my success to my hard work in eating healthy and exercising, but to be honest, most of it was because I stayed motivated.
Motivation can be the difference between losing and gaining, so here are some helpful tips on how to stay motivated during the weight loss process.
Start small
Keeping your goals small and realistic is the best way to see results and keep momentum in your motivation. What sounds less stressful: “My goal is to lose 25 pounds,” or “My goal is to lose 5 pounds”? Your overall goal might be to lose 25 pounds, but try focusing on the smaller steps in between your “big” goal. Set a small, realistic goal that you will be able to achieve in a short amount of time. Wouldn’t it be nice to see results after just a week of starting your weight loss journey? By setting a goal that can easily be achieved, your confidence in yourself will increase and you will be motivated to continue your program in order to see more results.
Set a specific goal
Most people think that in order to be successful at losing weight, you have to commit to losing a specific amount of weight. While that may work for some, others will find it beneficial to set a goal that shows their progress in other ways. For example, try making it a goal to walk or run in your first 5k hosted by your local community for charity, or make it a goal to fit in a pair of jeans one size smaller than your current pant size. In addition to setting a specific goal weight, these goals will raise your motivation as you accomplish them along the way.
Give yourself a deadline and stick to it
Having an open-ended deadline for your goals can lead to procrastination. “The party I’m attending isn’t until sometime next month. I have plenty of time to go to the gym and fit into my dress!”—sound familiar? When setting mini-goals for yourself as described above, it’s important to set deadlines for those goals, too! This gives you something to work towards. For example, “By Friday, I will have logged five miles of walking.” Or, if you have made it a big goal to lose eight pounds in a month, make it a mini-goal of two pounds each week, and set a weekly deadline for yourself: “By the end of the week, I will have lost two pounds.” These deadlines will hold you accountable to your goals and motivate you to take little steps rather than huge leaps.
If you don’t meet it, don’t sweat it
If you don’t meet your goal weight by said date, don’t beat yourself up about it! Trust me. There were plenty of times I have stepped on the scale and didn’t reach the number I was working towards. Yes, it was a little discouraging at first, but then I realized that even if I weigh less than the last time I weighed in, even by .01 of a pound, I’m making progress. Other times I was preparing to weigh in, I knew the scale was going to show that I had gained weight. Instead of avoiding the scale that week, I faced the reality of the situation and used my results as fuel for the coming week. Accountability is part of the process and can serve as a motivating factor for anyone who wants to make up for “lost time.”
These are just a few examples of how you can stay motivated during the weight loss process. My journey will be different from yours, and yours will be different from others, but one thing we all have in common is that we are all trying to make a change in our lives for the better. If you have any suggestions or positive ways to stay motivated while trying to lose weight, please leave a comment below or use #planetbeach on your next Facebook, Twitter or Instagram post. We’d love to hear from you!
Do you find yourself sweating bullets when you have to speak in front of a group of people? Do your palms get clammy and shake at the thought? You’re not alone. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 74 percent of people suffer from speech anxiety. Some symptoms of speech anxiety include shaking, sweating and rapid heartbeat.
I have experienced speech anxiety more times than I can count. During my time in college, I competed on a national level speech and debate team. For THREE YEARS, I would wake up at 5 a.m. on the weekends and prepare to speak in front of various audience sizes in competition. What was I thinking?! Well to be honest, it was one of the best times of my life. That experience prepared me for my professional career and has helped me to master the art of public speaking. With all of the knowledge I have accumulated over the years, I feel that it will help to share some of my personal preparation tips for public speaking. Give these a try and you’ll be on your way to becoming the perfect public speaker!
1. Prepare your speech
Whether you are hosting a meeting for work, a presentation for class or even (and especially) a eulogy, you should never just “wing it.” If given the opportunity, prepare your speech or even your thoughts by writing it down verbatim, or preparing a detailed outline. Chances are you will forget a very important thought if you don’t write it down beforehand. Take the time to organize your thoughts on paper. This will be a lifesaver when you get in front of your audience and draw a blank on what you were planning to say.
2. Practice, Practice, Practice!
Once you have planned out what you are going to say, stand up and practice how you are going to say it. I think people underestimate the power of practicing. Practicing what you are going to say will help you to get out some of those nervous jitters you will have the day of your presentation and will allow you to fix any wording that might not be clear to your audience. You should also stand up and practice in front of the mirror to see what you look like to your audience. Some people develop nervous ticks when public speaking. Catch those bad habits while practicing in the mirror and make adjustments when necessary.
3. Get a good night of sleep
Public speaking can use up a lot of your physical energy as your body starts to react to the nerves. Logging seven to eight hours of sleep the night before will prepare you for that. Plus, you don’t want to be in front of a group of people who can clearly identify the physical signs of lack of sleep (ex. Dark under-eye circles, puffy eyes, blood shot eyes, etc.).
4. To eat or not to eat…that is the question
Eating a light, healthy breakfast will give you some added energy to start your day—duh, that’s why it’s the most important meal of the day. However, if you are anything like me where just the thought of food too early in the morning will give you a stomach ache, stay far, far away from food. Sometimes my nerves would get the best of me and instead of reaping the benefits of eating breakfast, I would be focused on not vomiting in front of the people I’m speaking to. Gross, I know, but let this be a lesson for you to consider. Also, if you are a coffee drinker, try to skip it until after you speak. The caffeine in the coffee will contribute to any body-shaking you might experience if nerves take over.
5. Look good, feel great
When you are preparing to speak publically, it is important for you to look your best. Think about all of those times you knew you looked amazing, didn’t you feel confident about yourself? Don’t create added stress by worrying about how you look. Plan out (and try on if necessary) your outfit the night before. This will not only leave you feeling happy about how you look, but it will eliminate any last minute hassle the morning of, where you frantically ask yourself, “What should I wear?!”
6. Do NOT image your audience naked
Have you ever had someone tell you to just “imagine your audience naked” when you were preparing to speak in front of a group of people? Please, do not imagine your audience naked, in their underwear, in funny costumes, or whatever else you may have been advised to do. Instead, focus on having engaging conversation with each person in the room. Make eye-contact and treat each person like they are a personal guest of yours in your home. If you are speaking to a large group of people in a large auditorium setting, speak to the person sitting the furthest away to ensure everyone in between is receiving the same message. This will keep your audience engaged and they will enjoy listening to you speak.
Public speaking doesn’t come easy. It takes practice and confidence, and these are just a few tips that can help you towards preparing yourself for your next public speaking experience. If you have any suggestions or positive ways to prepare for a public speaking situation, please leave a comment below or use #planetbeach on your next Facebook, Twitter or Instagram post. We’d love to hear from you!