1 . How to Make Family Fishing Trips Fun for All

There’s something truly special about fishing trips, especially when they involve the whole family.     1     But how can we make fishing trips enjoyable and memorable for all family members?

The first step in planning a family-friendly fishing trip is selecting the right destination. It’s important to consider places that are safe, easily accessible, and suitable for families. Destinations like lakeside cabins, or coastal towns are often perfect spots that offer great fishing opportunities.     2    

For many families, fishing trips are not just about catching fish. They’re also about teaching and learning new skills together. When it comes to introducing beginners, especially children, to fishing, it’s important to keep the techniques simple. Begin by familiarizing everyone with the basic parts of a fishing pole and reel (卷轴). Show them how to hold the pole, cast the line, and reel it in.     3     Encourage them to enjoy the experience and the surrounding nature while waiting for a catch.

    4     But it’s still important to have other activities planned. This could include exploring nearby trails, having a picnic, or playing simple outdoor games. These activities ensure that the trip remains engaging for family members who might not be as interested in fishing.

Safety should always be a top priority on fishing trips. This includes making sure everyone has a life jacket.     5     Also, having a first aid kit on hand is essential for dealing with any minor injuries or accidents.

By choosing the right destination, preparing adequately, engaging in various activities, and prioritizing safety, your fishing trips can become a cherished family tradition.

2 . Going on vacation every week might sound like the very unattainable dream.    1    . All you need to do is get in the habit of treating your weekend like a vacation, suggests Cassie Mogilner Holmes, a professor at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management. We asked experts to share their favorite tips for adopting a vacation mindset at home.

    2    . Some people have to bear weekend schedules packed with work. You could still make the best of a Thursday evening, Holmes suggests. Or, spare an hour on Sunday morning for chores, but protect the rest of the weekend as your vacation time.

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Decision scientist Nika Kabiri recommends doing something totally new so you can disconnect from the same old routines governing your life. Among her favorite ideas: Drive to a part of town you’ve never been to before, go for a city walk, and grab lunch at the first cute café you see. Or take a bike or boat tour of your city.    4    

Treating your weekend like a vacation doesn’t mean it needs to be a delicate affair. If your “vacation” encounters a few unexpected affairs or lasts for only a few hours, don’t be annoyed.    5    .Don’t put pressure on yourself to have this “perfect vacation”. It’s meant to be fun. Plus, there’s always another one just a few days away.

4 . Have you ever paused to see clouds when you rush to your destination? There’s a group of passionate “treasure finders” dedicated to observing and capturing the beauty in the sky cloud spotters.

Cloud spotters take a more serious approach to make sense of the sky.     1    

Ji Yun, 36, is an expert in cloud spotting. He set up a WeChat group to gather together people with similar hobbies in 2013. As the number of group members continued to grow, Ji and several cloud enthusiasts created dozens of online groups for different regions in China, forming the Sky Enthusiasts Association in 2019.     2    

Power comes in numbers. Three years after the association was formed, cloud enthusiasts from all over China had collected every kind of cloud in the International Cloud Atlas, a reference by the World Meteorological Organization.

    3     Cloud spotting, in fact, is an invitation to be amazed by something so common every day that we’ve become blind to. “You’re not going to be worrying too much about what formation it is and why it looks the way it does.” Gavin Pretor-Pinney, founder of the Cloud Appreciation Society, told Atlas Obscura.

Indeed, Jiang Xinwei in Jilin finds cloud spotting relaxing. Even though she is going through her toughest school year in grade 12, Jiang maintains this hobby as a short break from her heavy schoolwork. “Observing the clouds has become a habit for me,” the 17-year-old said. “    4    .”

“Clouds change in the blink of an eye.     5     ” said Jiang Na, a 25-year-old cloud spotter in Beijing.

5 . Over a period of intervention of creative activities, the mean appetite score increased from 49 to 60 in the poorly developed children and was associated with increased food consumption. Specifically, both egg and milk consumption increased.     1    

Creative activities like baking, knitting, paper folding or building blocks contribute to an overall sense of well-being. There’s a stress relief that people get from having some kind of an outlet and a way to express themselves.     2     Children become more involved and stay energetic and focused.

    3     It often relies on very exact measurements. You have to add ingredients in the correct order or your profiteroles(泡芙) won’t rise, or your cookies will be unpleasantly wet and soft. Having complete focus on a recipe and not allowing yourself to be distracted by your thoughts can have a calm and relaxing effect.

In other words, most of the decisions have already been made for you.     4     It keeps your mind away from the stressors and anxieties of your life outside the kitchen.

Basically, baking is a minor achievement that you can use to visualize a happy moment in the future, when the cookies, bread, or cake is finished, delicious, and being shared with family or friends.     5     You feel like you’ve done something good for the world, which perhaps increases your meaning in life and connection with other people.

There are endless fresh and creative activities for kids like baking. They take wisdom to develop and employ.

6 . Spending time with your families outdoors can help develop meaningful bonds, encourage love and affection, reduce stress, and can improve academic performance in children. Since you can enjoy nature and all the benefits,     1    

Go to a park. Do an online search to find local parks. Whether it’s a smaller local park or a larger national park, a day-trip is an excellent way to spend a couple of hours outdoors with your family.     2    

    3     Instead of going to a theme park, consider going fishing, hiking or camping instead. Enjoy the natural beauty with your family instead. Some great nature-oriented vacations in the United States include the Grand Canyon, Kauai, Jackson Hole, and Lake Tahoe.

Play a game or sport outdoors. Discover which games that your children like to play the most, and make it a habit of playing them outside.     4     Outdoor sports and games include basketball, baseball, football, soccer, and lacrosse.

Take walks with the family.     5     Plan a 20-minute walk and have everyone in the family turn off their cell phones. The more you walk together, the more natural it will feel and it will encourage everyone in the family to spend more time outdoors. A great time to schedule a walk is right after dinner or before you take your children to school.

7 . How to Survive Your Weekends Alone Without Losing It

There can be many, many stories behind weekends spent alone. In the 4 years that I’ve been living on my own now, I’ve managed to spend 208 weekends alone.     1     . Here’s an honest and practical guide so that you, too, can deal with your weekends, alone.

Go to a free concert

Coffee shops, libraries and local venues often host free concerts, so see if there is anything going on in your area this weekend. You can really listen to the music, rather than worrying about where your friends are.

Visit a bookstore

If you live near a library or bookstore with seating, take a trip there for a fun day alone.     2     . This is the perfect weekend plan if you are a little low on money.

Take a shopping trip alone

Ease down your shopping stress.     3     , and you can end up missing out on the best clothes. Take a leisurely trip alone and take your time trying everything on: you are likely to have a great day and find something you love.

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The best part about watching television alone is that you can watch whatever you want. As a couch potato, you put on your cozy clothes and get some snacks, no matter how shameful and embarrassing it is.

Go on a long walk or a hike

Going for a long walk and experiencing nature is often more enjoyable if you are alone, as it is peaceful, quiet, and relaxing. You can stop to appreciate every beautiful flower you pass and you can take a break whenever you want.     5     .

8 . What is forest bathing? This Japanese practice, known in Japan as shinrin yoku, is a process of relaxation. The simple method of being calm and quiet in the woods, observing nature around you while breathing deeply can help both adults and children relieve stress and boost health and well being in a natural way.     1    

Find a spot. Depending where you are, find a good source of nature. One doesn’t need to journey deep into a forest for these benefits. Just look for any green area.     2     Forests with conifers (针叶树) are thought to be particularly beneficial. For people who don’t have access to a forest, using essential tree oils in your home can provide benefits, too.

Engage all your senses. Let nature enter through your ears, eyes, nose, mouth, hands, and feet.     3     Drink in the flavor of the forest and release your sense of joy and calm.

Don’t hurry. Slow walking is recommended for beginners. And it’s good to spend as much time as possible. You’ll notice positive effects after twenty minutes, but a longer visit, ideally four hours, is better.

    4     Try doing yoga in the woods, or Tai Chi. Take a picnic. Write a poem. Study plants. You can take an adventure alone, or with a companion.

Appreciate the silence.     5     If you’re lucky, you’ll find a wooded area that’s free from human-produced sound. Spend a few quiet moments with a favorite tree. If nothing else, when we connect with nature we are reminded that we are part of a larger whole. And that can lead us to be less selfish and to think more of others.

9 . Camping is a fun and exciting experience, but to stay organized and safe, you must carefully prepare for the trip.

    1     . If it is just you or your family, things will become easier. However, if you are taking a group of friends, you’d better make sure you get insurance information and health information before you start. If someone is injured on the trip, the insurance information will make a huge difference in the care they receive.     2    . For example, for those who are suffering basic diseases, make sure they have enough medicines available.

Then decide how long you will stay and figure out where you will be camping. If you do not know this, you will go through the trouble of purchasing and packing a tent when you were supposed to sleep in a cabin.

    3     . The food should be enough for three meals and an optional snack per day, as well as lots of water. Basically, ensure food safety. Foods like dairy products and meat go bad easily.     4    .

At last, gather all of the other things on the “Things You’ll Need" list and try to pack them in a small, lightweight bag.     5    . Materials to deal with burns, cuts, and bumps should be prepared in it.

10 . A Few Top Reasons to Get Your Child Play Golf

One such sport that usually does not come to your mind, but has several benefits in the long run for your child is golf.     1     But, before you take your child to the golf field, make sure you have bought your kids golf set.

Reasons why you must introduce your child to golf are as follows.

Golf is for anyone and everyone. Golf is one such sport that can be played by anyone. It does not matter if your child is short or tall, skinny or a little overweight, slow or fast. Golf is for everyone, irrespective of sizes and shapes. Also, golf can be played at any age.     2    

Golf has less risk of injuries. Unlike sports, such as football, baseball, cricket or soccer, golf is a safe game with a minimal to almost negligible risk of injury.     3     Additionally, the golf course is a safe environment for children.

Golf helps create lifelong friends.     4     When learning to play as kids, the children bond over the lessons of golf and later the lessons of life and stick together forever, irrespective of distances. Also, golf tournaments can take your kids to different countries and thus help them learn and appreciate players culturally different from themselves, but united by the game.

    5     Just like the ups and downs of golf, life too has its share of ups and downs. When your child learns to handle the high points and low points or rather the bogeys and birdies of the game of golf, he or she is picking up skills and lessons to help face similar situations in life.

And above all, the most important sport lesson that golf provides, is that of having fun and enjoying oneself.