Our first three-day weekend in two months, and ironically enough, it’s a holiday in honor of that which we are not doing on Monday—working. Sometimes it can be awfully difficult to unwind after back-to-back meetings, the stress of commuting, and the anxious daily grind. That’s why I’ve compiled a short lil’ list of seven tips to help you relax this weekend.
Get out of the city. Go to Michigan or Wisconsin or the Indiana Dunes or downstate Illinois (I’ve always wanted to check out Starved Rock). Whatever you do, just get out of here. No more beeping car horns or smelly subways. Just you, your significant other or friends (or go by yourself if you really want to relax), a car, a cabin, and lots and lots of trees. Or hop on the Mega Bus and go visit your family, leaving your unruly dog with your roommate (I am).
Go to the Jazz Festival. If you really think about it, sadly, it’s one of the last festivals before this city turns into a frozen wasteland of wintery yuck. A stroll around Grant Park while listening to some innovative jazz tunes will do wonders for your spirits. Check out the fest from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. September 4 through 6 (that’s Friday through Sunday) in Grant Park. Best part? It’s free.
Sleep alllllll weekend. Yes. Because you deserve it. Sleep will rejuvenate those weary bones. And while you won’t have much to talk about on Tuesday at the office (except maybe your bizarre dreams), you’ll have spent your time wisely. Hey, it’s healthier than drinking all weekend. Your liver will thank you.
Get a massage. If you can afford it, do it. Anywhere will do. Many hair salons and spas offer this service same-day if you’re lucky. Or if you’re feeling a wee bit adventurous, call The New School for Massage, Bodywork, and Healing’s Student Clinic (800 N Wells) now to schedule a $35 55-minute therapeutic massage. I checked their schedule, and they still have openings for Saturday. Jump on it!
Read a book. This isn’t that daunting of a task, I promise you. We’re not talking Wuthering Heights or Nietzsche’s collected works. Just pick up a mystery or what they call a “beach read,” go to the actual beach or make yourself a cup of tea, and go to town. Something with an effortless storyline, a page-turner—that’s what you need to escape.
Laugh. Call up your funniest friend and make plans. Plan a night out on the town with some partners in crime and get into a little “trouble” (not too much trouble, you hear?). Go rent The Big Lebowski, or go see Funny People. A new study shows that laughter reduces pain. Well, guess what? It also helps you chill out.
Act like a kid again. Make yourself some Kool-Aid, eat some Spaghetti-O’s, buy some Play Doh, and resurrect your GI Joes from your mom’s storage closet. Go to Six Flags and get your picture taken with freakin’ Bugs Bunny. I don’t care. Just lighten up, and be 7-years-old again—ah those were the days, when you didn’t know what “taxes” meant and the most important vaccination was a cootie shot.
Have a great Labor Day weekend, everyone! We’ll be back in the blogosphere on Tuesday.
