Does this sound like you? Friday rolls around and you’re relieved to have a couple of days of freedom. No deadlines. Just you and your whims.

You have high hopes at first: maybe you’ll go out for a jog and finally jumpstart your fitness program for the umpteenth time, or maybe you’ll make plans to go out with friends.

But inevitably, you spend the weekend lumped out on the couch, half brain dead from your TV binge and feeling a little guilty for not being a little more productive with your free time. Work-life balance seems like a far-off dream.

Sounds like you need inspiration for your weekends. Try these projects for a satisfying way to stay on the move, work your brain in a new way and to stave off stress. The projects themselves are fun and easy, and your efforts will pay off well into the future.

Spruce Up Your Porch, Balcony or Patio

Container plants are a virtually effortless way to add cheerful color to your outdoor space. You don’t have to do back-breaking shoveling, but it’s a fantastic opportunity to spend some time meditating in nature.

Choose flowers that attract hummingbirds and butterflies for beautiful visitors in the middle of summer, and set up a bird feeder and simple fountain to invite an even greater variety of wildlife.

You might already have containers around the house that can be repurposed as cute planters. Anything that can hold some dirt is fair game. Watering cans, wagons, modified chairs, baskets, old drawers and even an old pair of rain boots can add charm and character to your porch, balcony or patio.

In less than a day and on a modest budget, you can create a peaceful place to unwind at the end of the day or to sip your coffee in the morning. Enjoying flowers and watching birds frolic is good for the soul and will help you stay recharged mentally.

Create a Home Theater for Pennies on the Dollar

Home theaters are no longer reserved for the rich and famous. You too can enjoy big Screen entertainment without taking out a loan to do so.

The most important feature is the screen quality. Flat screen HD TVs are expensive, but you can create a projector that will allow you to magnify the screen on your smartphone or laptop for as little as $5. A box, a lens and a flat white surface are all you need to make it happen. For complete instructions, click here.

On nice summer evenings, you can also set up the projector outside. Can’t do that with a fancy flat screen TV!

Speakers have come a long way in recent years and are now compact and affordable, so you can get surround sound without breaking the bank. To complete your home theater, all you need is a comfy recliner and plenty of snacks.  

Build a Playground for Adults

Do you remember playing basketball with your friends, jumping rope, playing hopscotch and generally playing around on a hardtop surface? Who says that’s just for kids?

Install a simple patio in the middle of your yard to give yourself plenty of room to cut loose on the weekends and have fun. (Bonus! You’ll have less grass to mow and maintain.)

It sounds complicated, but it really isn’t, once you do a little bit of research to avoid mistakes installing concrete.

Once the concrete has been poured and cured, you can start customizing your play space. Paint various playground games on the concrete, such as hopscotch, Chutes and Ladders, Twister, a “dart” board, chess board, or maze. Be sure to follow-up with a sealer to keep the paint in tip-top shape!

Install basketball hoops, a tether ball, a removeable tennis net, a badminton net, a frisbee goal, and more. Bust out your old roller skates, skate board, skip-it, pogo stick … anything that needs a hard surface is fair game.

You can play by yourself of course, but once your friends and family find out about your super cool playground (not to mention your home theater!), your house will be the new hot spot. You’ll stay fit without even thinking about it, just like when you were a kid!

Find Your Happy Place

In truth, if you enjoy being a couch potato, that’s A-OK. Do what makes you happy. But if you need a project to keep you busy, these should provide you with plenty of inspiration.

The post 3 Simple Things to Keep You Fit, Refreshed and Entertained appeared first on Shopping Kim.