Saturday Plans to Cheer You Up When Youre Feeling Down
It’s Saturday, and it’s time to cheer yourself up! You’ve worked hard all week, and now it’s time to treat yourself to all the things you love. If you need ideas for what to do, here are some ideas to include in your Saturday plans.
Treat Yourself to a Shopping Spree
Many people enjoy ‘retail therapy,’ and there are good reasons. According to a study done by Psychology and Marketing in 2011, our bodies release dopamine when we look forward to a reward. Dopamine is released by the body when trying to achieve something – and we see the shopping trip as a challenge to be met.
Our bodies also see choosing new items at the store as a restoration of control in our lives. During the week, we may be subject to our clients’ whims or be forced to take orders from our bosses. The choices are yours when shopping, from the stores you visit to your purchases.
If you’ve been putting off a large purchase, such as furniture or a car, your Saturday plans might include that purchase. If finances are a concern, consider a loan from credit union businesses. Since credit unions are not-for-profit organizations, they sometimes accept borrowers with less-than-stellar credit.
Make the Decision to Upgrade Your Computer
Have you been having computer problems? You may not know whether you should reboot or if it’s time to upgrade your computer. Most desktop PCs are expected to last at least three years but can endure up to five years with good maintenance. Modern computers typically have components designed to be swapped when obsolete.
For example, you could add more memory to your computer and be able to open more tabs. You might also switch your graphics, so you can play video games at a sharper resolution. If your computer feels warmer and sounds noisier, a new computer cooler could eliminate those problems. Taking your PC to a tech store to be analyzed by a computer expert could be part of your Saturday plans.
Perhaps your computer is running fine, but the computer’s housing needs replacement. Recent developments in computer electronic enclosures have produced enclosures with better thermal regulators. Suppose your computer has been feeling too warm recently. In that case, you should search for an electronic enclosure company for ideas about the type of electronic enclosure you may wish to use.
Give Your Car a New Paint Job
When you look at your car, do you feel pride or disappointment? Suppose you are disappointed in the way your car looks. In that case, consider finding a company that provides car painting services. It’s a good idea to paint your car if it has many scratches or dents. Even small breaks in the surface of a car’s paint can lead to rust, which will corrode the metal of your car.
If you’re considering selling your car soon, that’s another excellent reason to get it repainted. If a vehicle has an intact exterior, that will increase the resale value of your car. The price you receive for selling your vehicle will likely be significantly more than repainting your car. In such a case, the cost of repainting is a sound investment.
To completely repaint a car, it takes between 40 and 80 hours. If you decide to include repainting your car on your list of Saturday plans, you can expect to be driving a loaner car for the next week. However, since repainting will bring you a better-looking car, it can be worth the slight inconvenience of temporarily driving a car that’s not yours.
Play a New Video Game
Whether you’re a dedicated gamer or a casual user of video games, spending part of your weekend playing a new video game could be the mood lift you need. According to CNN dot com, a video game study by Oxford University reported participants who spent time playing video games felt happier after the games. So, video games can be a good way for your Saturday plans to cheer you up.
Parents who disparage their kids’ use of video games may be surprised to know some video games may have educational benefits. For example, games involving archeological adventurers (like the Lara Croft: Tomb Raider series) may pique a child’s interest in archaeology. Games that require problem-solving skills (such as Tetris) provide valuable problem-solving skills that can be academically valuable. If your kids can learn something while having fun with video games, why wouldn’t you also be able to add some learning to your fun?
If you need to learn something and are willing to spend part of your Saturday learning it, you may be able to do so with ‘VR’ (virtual reality). VR education is an expanding field for children and for adults. One of the most common uses of VR education is withheld activities, where the game can introduce you to a significant place in a child’s school lesson – or a place you’d like to visit. For example, you could use a VR program such as Duolingo to help you learn a new language.
Enjoy an Afternoon Ice Cream Date
Whether you’re planning a shopping trip or not, one place you can go to cheer yourself up is an ice cream shop. And, as long as you’re going, why not bring someone with you? Bring a spouse, a date, a child, or a friend. Ice cream is delicious, and science shows it also brings people joy.
According to cook list dot com, a study at the Institute of Psychiatry showed eating ice cream stimulates the part of the brain that registers pleasurable feelings. That part of the brain is called the orbitofrontal cortex. Baskin-Robbins, a national ice cream company, surveyed its customers and found that chocolate ice cream was the flavor they said made them feel the happiest.
Although ice cream is fun, and an ice cream date is a good choice for your Saturday plans, people who enjoy it and other sweet foods must be aware of its tendency to cause cavities. Sweet foods can break down the enamel of your teeth. Enjoy your ice cream in moderation – unless you and your date want to spend one of your next Saturdays visiting your dentists.
Hang Out with Friends at a Bar
When the stresses of life begin to build, many people choose to relieve stress by going to a bar. While most people think of a bar as a place to drink lots of alcoholic beverages, it doesn’t have to mean that. You may decide to have a drink, but keep it in moderation. After all, you don’t want to call a DUI lawyer as part of your Saturday plans.
Invite friends to hang out with you in your local bar. There may be a bar nearby with a karaoke machine or bar trivia. Relaxing and enjoying such activities can raise your spirits and help you relax. If you’re open to a possible romance, you might enjoy flirting with that hottie two tables over.
If you decide to drink alcohol, alternate alcoholic drinks with water or soda, and eat some food. This practice will help to slow down the effect of alcohol. To be safe, if you feel buzzed – even a little, ask a friend to drive you or take an Uber home. You’ll be glad you stayed safe.
Schedule a Pampering Spa Day
Sometimes, your stress level may be so high you need to pamper yourself. Including a spa day in your Saturday plans may be the perfect way to take care of that. Spas can help you relax and reduce some of your body’s discomfort.
During a full day of spa treatments, you might get a manicure, a pedicure, and a massage. Some clients enjoy a sauna or steam room, while others prefer a jacuzzi or hot tub for relaxation. If you choose a medical spa, you might also get other services like hair removal, body waxing, or IV vitamin therapy.
When you consider placing a spa day on your list of Saturday plans, you may hesitate because you need childcare services. Some spas offer childcare services at the facility, while others can refer you to responsible childcare workers nearby. If not, when saving up for a spa day, save money to pay for a babysitter so you can have the pampering you deserve.
Go On a Refreshing Bike Ride
When you’re feeling down, sometimes it may feel like you need to clear your head of all that’s troubling you. There’s no better way to clear your head than to get outside and exercise, and one way to do that is a bike ride. Biking is excellent exercise for your leg muscles and core, allowing you to see several miles of beautiful scenery.
As with any exercise, bike riding releases endorphins – (the ‘feel good’ chemical released when the human body experiences pleasure). Another benefit of biking is the intensity of paying attention to the road helps us focus on bicycling – and not on whatever was stressing you out. Adding bike riding to your Saturday plans will help you keep in shape.
While biking, it’s just as essential to abide by traffic laws as it would be if driving a car. Most importantly, always wear a helmet when riding a bike. Other important bike safety rules include riding single file on the side of the road, facing oncoming traffic, and using hand signals when you turn. If you get into an accident with a car or another bike, contact an accident attorney as soon as possible.
Take Your Dog on a Fun Walk
If you have a dog, you already know how great they are at reducing stress. When you come home to a dog at the end of a day, their enthusiastic meeting can pick you up when you’re feeling down. Another way you and your pet can relieve your stress is to go for a walk.
Although walking your dog may seem like a routine task for you, it could be very therapeutic if you select a scenic place ahead of time. Driving your dog out to a lake or a place with scenic trails can be a great item on your list of Saturday plans. Walking is also a good source of physical exercise, and walking releases endorphins like biking does.
Because you love your dog, you may have to spend part of a weekend taking them to a pet doctor. But, if that’s the case, be sure to also schedule a trip to a local dog park. Watching your dog run and play with other dogs can be very entertaining, and it’s another reason working with your pet can increase your capacity for happiness.
Rent a Boat for a Leisurely Ride
When people try to reduce their stress by imagining their ‘happy place,’ many choose a place with water. Research shows people living near the water report 22% fewer incidences of depression. Wallace J. Nichols, author of the book, ‘Blue Mind,’ explains the effect of boating as disconnecting from our computer screens and ‘plugging our minds into’ our connection to the rhythmic waves of the ocean. 11
Since Nichols wrote his book during the pandemic, he included many statistics regarding being safe when on the water. He concluded that the COVID-19 virus died after two minutes of exposure to sunlight, including a humidity of 80% and direct sunlight. In addition to the time on the water, being outside in sunny weather means exposure to vitamin D, which also reduces stress.
Go to a local park with a lake and look for a sign that says, ‘ Boat Rental.’ You’ll spend a lovely afternoon enjoying the water. By the end of the day, you’ll be glad you included renting a boat in your Saturday plans.
Any activities listed above would be a great choice to cheer you up during your weekend plans. If none of them appeal to you, pick another activity you love and spend some time doing it. The important thing to do to cheer yourself up is to let yourself do something you enjoy. Make yourself – and the things you most love – part of your Saturday plans.