It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Well, not exactly but you know what I mean — of the new year. Birds are chirping and blue skies are smiling at us. Have you spent some time outside yet?
Sunshine feels good on our skin and it’s good for us, too. It’s important we get outside when we can and become more acquainted with the town we live in.
Here are my top five things to do with a little free time this spring:
Get out your bike
I’ve got my bike sitting in my apartment and it just needs a little tune-up. After that, it’s ready to cruise down the streets and paths around town. (I’m talking about a bicycle, but motorcycles are a blast too.)
I enjoy the freedom of flying through the wind at whatever speed I’m feeling. There’s always a lack of wind going uphill so to start the season, I always plan an easiest route.
If you can find a friend, family member or neighbor with a bike as well, then take a half hour adventure. Dairy Queen is only a 20-minute ride.
If you don’t have a bike, find one at the bike store, online or ask someone to borrow theirs. If you go out even once a week, or every other week, it will still make you feel quite alive.
Take a walk
Walking home from work is probably my favorite part of the day. So is walking to the store for a coffee, but anywho, it’s a valuable time.
I listen to music and clear my mind. When you’re walking, you don’t have much time to get on your phone, play a game or check your email. If you spend too much time looking down while you walk, you might look ridiculous. Look up.
I see so much when I walk. I see other walkers. I see kids on bikes. I meet dogs and their owners. Did you know that almost all the sidewalks are labeled by a John Cleasby? I don’t know who Cleasby is, but he’s left his mark.
I also found myself roaming around the old Maytag headquarters. What I found was wonderful — a football field- sized banquet hall-type room, surrounded in windows with tall ceilings — vacant. It was a treasure that needs to be used and one I’d never seen.
Visit a park
I can’t help but think of all the activities or sports I could be playing instead of sitting at work, but later this spring ,make it a point to get out and do one of those little activities.
I’m dying to hit a bucket of balls on the range, or go out and play tennis, or maybe throw the disc golf around. Maybe you just want to get outside and play catch. Or if none of that is for you, there’s always grilling.
Last summer, my friends and I went to Maytag Park and grilled a few times. It was the best use of my evening I could have spent. Just don’t go when it’s windy because it might not be so successful.
Whatever you can do and as little or often as you, enjoy your free time and enjoy the sweet newness of spring. Soon it will be “too hot summer,” “not-enough-time-fall” and then you know, “too cold winter.