.png){kind=logo}
By Karen Rae, Founder of Balanced Life by Karen Rae® and Creator of The Signature Balanced Life Planner®
The chaos of Black Friday has been a part of American culture for decades. However, a slow change seems to be happening, and more and more people are choosing to skip this celebration of consumerism and instead decide to go outside or spend time at home with family.
Benefits of Skipping Black Friday
The benefits of skipping Black Friday are huge. First of all, the best way to save money is not to go shopping in the first place. That means, no matter how tempting the Black Friday deals are, all the sales in the world can't save you as much money as just not going shopping. It's as simple as that.
Forbes found that in 2018, the average Black Friday shopper spent $413. While many people use the shopping day to buy holiday gifts, others take this opportunity to buy themselves something as well. Add in some too-good-to-miss-deals and impulse buys, and Black Friday shopping really starts to add up. Apart from the apparent financial loss, all the shopping frenzy, chaos and stress can be bad for your health, so let’s look at some alternative activities that will be good for your well-being and wallet.
Organize a Fitness Friyay
Instead of going through your usual strength workout and cardio, take advantage of the holiday vibe and try something different, such as a new online workout video, spin class or even just some new equipment in the gym. That happy feeling you'll get is just one of the many benefits of trying new things.
Try Meditation
You know how you always say you want to start meditating, but you just can't seem to get to it? Today may be the perfect day to do it for real. It's cold (or hot) outside, you probably don't have the motivation to go anywhere or do anything that requires much effort and there's probably not much going on in your hometown anyway. Download an app such as Headspace or Calm and try it. You can even find relevant topics to meditate on, like gratitude, stress reduction or relationship building.
Take a Day for You (No, It's Not Selfish)
Thanksgiving is all about giving thanks to others and being grateful for the things that you have, so why not make Black Friday a celebration of you? Prioritizing yourself is always important, but especially during the holidays. Light some candles, take a bath, have a spa day at home, binge watch all your favorite Netflix shows you didn't have time for and eat some leftover pie!
Find a Family Fun Center
Family entertainment centers, or family fun centers, provide play opportunities and activities that will thrill your children and provide you a fun way to get some exercise. Depending on where you live, there are numerous activities available, such as indoor bounce houses, ninja training courses, trampolines, indoor climbing, bowling and bouldering, batting cages, indoor swings, ziplines and, yes, even traditional playgrounds and slides.
Practice Gratitude
Continue the Thanksgiving celebration by making a list of everything positive in your life. If you’re with friends or family, have them also make their own lists and read them aloud to each other.
Karen Rae is a lifestyle expert, personal development coach, and Mompreneur based out of St. Petersburg, FL. She’s been featured in Authority Magazine, The Hollywood Times, ABC Live Action News, and on BLOOM, Tampa Bay’s only daily 1-hour TV show focusing on health & lifestyle.
If you’re interested (curious) about how COVID 19 led Karen to take her life back and start inspiring hope and change worldwide click here and sign up to receive Karen's FREE TIPS on how to have work-life balance, renew your faith, get and stay fit, improve your relationships, and MORE.
JOIN the Balanced Life Challenge Group on Facebook for connection, personal growth, and empowerment; a private Facebook group made up of like-minded individuals who will inspire you, push you, make you laugh, and encourage you to DREAM BIGGER!
SHARE YOUR Balanced Life STORY USING #BalancedLifeKR
WE’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!
Comments