- Make it a spa-cation
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It’s been a long, tiresome year with COVID-19, bills, and work-from-home. This spring season, treat yo’ self to a little self-care spa at home. With a bit of preparation and the right indulgences, you can create quite a refuge right at home that will make you feel relaxed and refreshed.
To feel oh-so-pampered and take a break from the overwhelming pandemic routine, be sure to unplug. Try to take a mini-break from electronics — of course, with the exception of streaming soothing sounds of an acoustic guitar or other ambient music. Additionally, to mimic the mood of quietness or stillness, dim the lights at your home or light some scented candles. The candle aromas can truly turn your living space into a spa-like haven. Don’t shy away from drawing a luxurious bath with bath salts and essential oils. While soaking, indulge yourself in a spa-like facial with a face mask or a facial massager, which delivers professional-level skincare from the comfort of home. Finish off with a blissful eye facial to relax your strained eyes, depuff under-eye bags, and target dark circles. Finally, slip on a heated towel or bathrobe post-soak to remain warm and toasty.
- Plan games with friends & family
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Want to get some fun and levity in an environment of healthy competition? Online and offline board games can help beat the pandemic blues. Whether you are a game night connoisseur or just getting started, here are some of my favourite picks for you:
Among Us
Among Us is a multiplayer (4 to 10 player) game where players are dropped onto a spaceship. Each player is designated a private role as an “imposter” or a “crewmate.” The objective of the crewmate is to run around the spaceship and finish up a few tasks while avoiding getting killed by the imposters. To successfully finish the game, crewmates must either complete all their tasks or vote out all the imposters. It is a great find if you are just looking to have some fun, get competitive, and find out who in your group is the best at deception!
Codenames
Codenames is a two-team (group) game. Each group can select their own Codemaster. They give one-word clues to their teammates, trying to get them to select specific words from the grid of words. If you like association games like Taboo, this game is for you.
Love Letters
Love Letters is a perfect game of risk and deduction for 2 to 4 players. From the deck with 16 cards, each player starts with only one card in hand; one card is removed from play. The goal of the game is to get your love letter into Princess Annette’s hand while deflecting it from the competitors.
…. and much much more! If you are into games based on strategy, deception, negotiation, and a little bit of luck, then be sure to check out these: Avalon, Spyfall, Coup, Catan, Secret Hitler, Picolo, Heads Up, Charades, Scattergories, Houseparty, and The Ultimate Werewolf.
- Go on an artist’s retreat
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Art not only inspires creativity, but is also a great form of therapy. To have an awesome artsy-cation, try to gather age-appropriate art materials. Get the joy of painting by following along on a Bob Ross painting tutorial, or just go wild with watercolours! You can also scour Pinterest for more organized and long-term projects. Let’s get itsy-bitsy artsy-crafty!