Staycation Ideas for the Holy Week

For those planning on staying at home for the long weekend, here are some suggestions for you to still feel relaxed yet productive at the same time.

1. De-clutter. The feeling of accomplishment I experience every time my closet and other cabinets have been recently decluttered is priceless. My stuff look fresh, my closets are more organized, and I have things to donate.

2. Rotate your kids' stuff. This is the best time to keep those countless books and toys that your children no longer find fun to play with, and the time to bring out the "new" toys you've been putting off letting them use. Rotation indeed does wonders. They find it fun to see old toys in a different light.

3. Movie Marathon. Watch movies online, or download them, or buy/borrow DVDs. Time to catch up on those TV Series your friends have been talking about!

4. Try out new dishes. Either you cook your old specialties, or try out new recipes.

5. Put away your child's books from the previous schoolyear. And donate them to those in need.

6. Clean up your computer. Uninstall those apps you no longer use, declutter your hard drive, and organize those files.

7. Do some gardening. My husband's been wanting to start a pocket garden for the longest time. I wonder if he'd do it this year.

8. Bond with your kids. Play games, bake, have a musical afternoon, read stories, go to the neighborhood playground. The possibilities abound!

9. Catch up on your friends' lives. Either through facebook, or give them a call. Know what's going on in each other's lives.

10. Do a spring cleaning. Or for Filipinos, we call it "general cleaning." Time to clean those electric fans, the aircon filter, change bedsheets and curtains, clean up the attic, throw away those unused shoes and maybe even repair those furnitures!

11. Make some memories. Have those millions of photos printed and face your photo album backlogs. In my case, I bought www.photobookphilippines.com vouchers online for our family travel pictures.

12. Be techie, make videos for the family. With more time now, you can try your hand at putting up and editing your family travel and events videos. It's fun to share them on social media, too.

13. Most importantly, pray and reflect. Read the Bible and know what God wants to let you know. Start a Gratitude Jar, or a Gratitude Journal and be thankful for what you are blessed with. Have unhurried Devotional Times and bask in the presence of God.

14. Plan your Easter Sunday family party. Or prepare contents for the plastic eggs for your kids' Easter Egg Hunt!