Shopkick and Moburst Win Award for Most Effective Video Campaign

We’re excited to share that Shopkick’s TikTok campaign with Moburst, an award-winning mobile success agency, took the win for “Most Effective Video Campaign” at this year’s Mobile Marketing Magazine Awards!

The Mobile Marketing Magazine Awards celebrate the accomplishments of digital marketing teams across the world that are making an impact through the power of mobile. 

During the pandemic, Moburst and Shopkick worked together to accelerate Shopkick’s mission to make everyday shopping fun, rewarding, and meaningful. When the launch of our first TikTok awareness campaign didn’t resonate the way we’d hoped, the team quickly pivoted to create more authentic and informative content, rather than traditional ads that mobile users often scroll past. This new strategy was a major success and helped us share just how fun and easy Shopkicking can be with consumers across the country!

Thank you and congrats to our partners at Moburst – we look forward to exploring new opportunities together and creating awesome content for Shopkickers everywhere!

Celebrate Scavenger Hunt Day with Shopkick

What was your favorite book when you were growing up? If you’re like us, Roald Dahl’s classic “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” likely topped your book list. Willy Wonka’s world of wonder and chocolate and colorful candy was one we wanted to inhabit. And, who didn’t dream of finding a golden ticket? Well, your dream may become a reality because golden tickets and millions of kicks will be up for grabs next week!

Monday, May 24 is National Scavenger Hunt Day, and Shopkick is celebrating the best way we know how – with a week-long scavenger hunt filled with nostalgia and plenty of kicks! We’re launching a scan mission at Walmart stores throughout the country where you can scan a select grouping of products in order to earn 100 bonus kicks. 

But, there’s more! 

(Because, of course there is.)

To give you even more of an incentive to go on your own scavenger hunt in honor of National Scavenger Hunt Day, allow us to unveil the biggest news of all…

We’re hiding a limited number of Shopkick golden tickets in stores throughout the country worth $500 in kicks (each)! Your job is to find one and mail it in by May 31 to receive your prize! 

We aren’t sharing the locations (what kind of scavenger hunt would!?), but we can share a few hints. One city is located in Colorado, another is in Florida, and one more is in Florida…!

So, what are you waiting for? Get your search on!

P.S: If you’re looking for even more chances to win kicks, we’re also giving away 35,000 kicks to select Shopkickers who share their Shopkick Scavenger Hunt journey! Simply snap a photo or video of you (and your crew!) completing the Shopkick Scavenger Hunt and upload it to the app. We’ll announce the winners once our week of scavenger hunt fun is complete!

Create Your Own Baseball Ballpark Inspired Menu

There’s a sport for every season, and the spring and summer are dominated by baseball. In fact, we think one of the best ways to spend a warm summer weeknight or sunny Saturday or Sunday is at a ballpark. We’re eager to cheer on our favorite teams, root for our favorite players, and sometimes jump in on the fun with friends as we play our own nine innings.

One of the reasons why we think we enjoy baseball so much, other than the fact that it’s a classic American sport, is because the food is delicious. Hotdogs, fries, ice cream, and popcorn are all ballpark menu staples. We thought we would round up 10 of our favorite recipes so you and your family and friends can enjoy the baseball menu fun from home!   

Cherry-Vanilla Soda Syrup:

Rather than sharing a cocktail, we thought we would start things off with a drink you and your kids can all enjoy together! The Kitchn shared a recipe for homemade Cherry-Vanilla Soda Syrup that calls for five ingredients, including the soda you will mix it with. It sounds like a fun take on a Cherry Coke or Pepsi!

Pretzel Bites:

Pretzels are a classic food at a ballpark, so try making your own! What’s Gabby Cooking shared an easy recipe for pretzel bites that you can pair with mustard or your favorite sauce of choice. Gabby also shares other pretzel recipes on her site, like these Garlic Herb Parmesan Pretzel Twists.

Pigs in a Blanket:

Instead of serving classic hotdogs, mix things up and opt to make pigs in a blanket! When a recipe is called the Best Ever Pigs in a Blanket, there’s a high probability it’s the one you should use. 

Olive Oil and Parmesan Popcorn:

We have a feeling you will turn to this popcorn recipe often, even when you’re not watching baseball! It calls for olive oil, grated parmesan cheese, and Italian seasoning. Gimme Some Oven is definitely on to something! 

Garlic Fries:

Try your hand at making homemade French fries or purchase a ready-made pack – either option will work well! Once your fries are prepped, you will toss them in a garlic, butter, parmesan, and parsley mixture before baking them to create Garlic Fries.

Walking Tacos:  

This recipe is called Walking Tacos, and it involves prepping all of the classics of a great taco, like meat, tomatoes, beans, and all of the toppings. Once everything is ready, open a bag of corn chips, and pop your taco favorites inside!  

Honey Buffalo Meatball Sliders:

Typically, meatballs are most often served with sauce. But, this recipe calls for hot sauce, apricot preserves, blue cheese, and ranch dressing, so it offers a fun twist. If you try making Honey Buffalo Meatball Sliders, let us know what you think!

Deep-Dish Sausage Pizza:

Pizza is a game day classic, and if you want to feel as though you’re visiting Chicago deep-dish pizza is a must! This recipe will walk you through the steps to make your own crust as you craft Deep-Dish Sausage Pizza. We can’t wait to try it!

Turkey Burger: 

It’s not a baseball game menu if there isn’t at least one burger recipe included! We spotted this recipe for turkey burgers, and we’re excited to try the Mexican version, which calls for topping the turkey burger with guacamole and salsa.

Strawberry Ice Cream: 

To cap off your ballpark at-home menu, dessert is a must! Have you ever made your own ice cream? Celebrate baseball and strawberry season with this egg-less Strawberry Ice Cream recipe. Serve with chocolate sauce, extra strawberries, and waffle cones.

What will you include on your baseball menu for your next watch party at home? Let us know on Facebook!

8 Ways to Decorate Easter Eggs

We’ve made it to spring, Shopkickers! Who else is ready for warmer weather, more time spent outside, and blooming flowers? Though you may not be able to see us, our hands are raised up high! As we prepare to welcome this new season once again, we’re also eagerly awaiting the return of one of our favorite holiday traditions: decorating Easter eggs.

For years, one of the only ways to give your eggs a little extra flair was to dunk them in dye. While this classic way to decorate is still exactly that – a classic – there are now countless ways to make your Easter eggs standout. From using nail polish to adding stickers, we’re sharing eight ways to decorate Easter eggs below. We think you will find there’s an Easter craft for families of all ages!

Shaving Cream: 

Have you ever dyed Easter eggs using shaving cream? We see these eggs floating around the web every year, and we’re eager to give them a try! You add drops of food coloring to shaving cream, twist the egg in the mixture, let dry, then wipe away the shaving cream. The result is a cool marbled look! P.S: You can also use whipped cream instead of shaving cream. 

Natural Dye: 

Sure you can use store bought dye, but for an extra challenge you can create your own Easter egg dye from the colors found naturally in foods! You will want to follow this tutorial that describes the colors found in specific foods and drinks (see: wine). Once you’ve chosen your colors, bring water, salt, vinegar, and your food or beverage of choice to a boil. Once done, strain, cool, and dye! 

Stickers: 

If you’re looking for a no-mess Easter craft, this is the one for you! Although you can definitely dye your eggs first, there’s no need because stickers add plenty of whimsy on their own. Simply purchase stickers or use some from your at-home stash and place them on Easter eggs. If you want to add more creativity, you can follow this tutorial where your kids can color their own stickers! 

Nail Polish: 

Did you know you can dye Easter eggs with nail polish? We didn’t either! This article walks you through the steps, and they’re simple. You’ll add a few drops of nail polish to a cup of water, swirl around, dunk your egg, and let it dry. The result will be a marbled Easter egg made with a beauty product you likely already have at home. 

Glitter: 

As long as you don’t mind a little mess, decorate your Easter eggs with glitter! Similar to other decorating ideas, you can still dye your Easter eggs first, or you can let the glitter shine entirely on its own. The steps to add glitter are simple: place glue on your egg, sprinkle on glitter, let dry, and enjoy! 

Temporary Tattoos: 

Temporary tattoos are not only for people, they’re for Easter eggs too! And, these are so quick and easy to make! You will want to source temporary tattoos (you can find them at Amazon). After you hard boil your eggs and allow them to cool, you will add your tattoos to your eggs by placing them face down, dabbing on water to allow the design to transfer, and pulling the paper away. Voila! 

Baby Chicks:

Chicks are synonymous with Easter, and this tutorial shares how to turn your eggs into darling baby characters! The steps involve first dying your eggs yellow, then dip dying. After that, it’s all about creating a mini beak and drawing on clothes and details with a Sharpie. We think older kids will really enjoy this Easter craft!

Tie Dye: 

Tie dye is everywhere, so add the trend to your Easter eggs! You will need paper towels, dye, and a spray bottle filled with water to create this Easter craft. The process of creating your tie dyed eggs is so similar to making a t-shirt. We hope you give this method a try!

How will you decorate your Easter eggs this year? Share your craft day with us on Facebook!

Win 125,000 Kicks with Shopkick

We think your week is about to get even better…because we’re giving away 125,000 kicks to four Shopkickers! We know we’re looking for big and small ways to celebrate during 2021, and we know you are too. So, we’re bringing the fun the best way we know how – by giving you a (big) bump for your next shopping trip (or series of trips).

Our Shopkickers are the people, just like you, who engage with us and each other. You’re eager to share the products you’re discovering, the recipes you’re loving, the ways you’re saving money, how you’re earning kicks, where you’re redeeming your kicks, and so much more. Our app keeps getting better, and that’s because of you! 

So, we want to see how you Shopkick!

Entering is easy: 

  1. Snap a photo or video showcasing how you use Shopkick in your everyday life. This could be a video of you discovering lookbooks or a photo of you shopping in stores or online. We’re open to anything and everything – it’s all about you and your experience!
  2. Upload your photo or video in the app or from your desktop. Click here and follow the steps!
  3. Share the 125,000 kicks giveaway news with your friends, family, and followers on social media by using the hashtag #ShopkickPays
  4. Make sure to enter by 11:59 PST on Sunday, March 21. 

We’ll be revealing the four 125,000 kicks winners on Tuesday, March 23! We can’t wait to see your entries and all of the ways you earn kicks. Good luck!

Cozy Winter Soup Recipes

What are your favorite meals to enjoy during the winter? This season, we’re leaning into all things cozy more than ever before. And, for us, that means soup is our most popular meal on our family menus! We’re fans because soup tastes delicious on cold days. Plus, it’s easy to pair with other simple menu items (hint: grilled cheese). Not to mention, a single soup recipe also typically makes multiple servings, which means leftovers you can enjoy later in the week or freeze for future meals. Below, you’ll find five winter soup recipes that will quickly become family favorites in your household!

Sausage Meatball Soup:

There’s no other way to say this other than to say this soup is incredible. It’s hearty and filling, and just like The Kitchn says, there’s something so fun about finding a mini meatball on your spoon! The core ingredients are sausage, spinach, and Ditalini pasta, and the additional ingredients provide plenty of flavor. The result is a soup you will truly enjoy well beyond the final serving!

Tip: When we made this soup, we added an extra cup of pasta to make it even more hearty. We were not disappointed!

Vegetarian Kale Soup:

This soup combines many foods you have likely enjoyed before – kale, potatoes, and cannellini beans – into a recipe that you can cook in one single step! Outside of peeling and chopping, the only other work you will need to do is to pop everything in the pot and simmer for 25 minutes. This is perfect for a relatively quick weeknight meal!

Cozy Chicken and Dumplings:

When a soup has more than 3,500 positive reviews, it’s one you simply must make! Chicken noodle soup is a forever favorite, and chicken and dumpling soup offers a wonderful alterative. To cook this soup, you will need chicken and dumplings you will make yourself (the steps are doable). Add vegetables and heavy cream (plus, a bit more), and you will have a hearty winter soup recipe with plenty of leftovers. 

French Onion Soup:

For some reason, French onion soup sounds like an excellent idea for Sunday night dinner! It offers warmth with plenty of flavor, and you could also serve it as a first course to a larger dinner. Just in case you need more convincing, this recipe calls for Gruyere cheese. Need we say more?

Tomato Soup:

This tomato soup is billed as “the best ever” by Taste of Home, and we’re on board! Various types of tomatoes are needed for obvious reasons, but the surprises come from the carrots that are also required! We’re intrigued, and we’re also planning to whip up grilled cheese for the ultimate pairing. Keep this in mind for your next snow day!

What’s your favorite soup recipe to cook? Share it with us on Facebook!

What to Buy, Make, Bake, Sip, and Watch for Valentine’s Day

We’re celebrating all of the holidays this year, and Valentine’s Day is this Sunday, February 14! Though not everyone enjoys seeing all of the red, pink, and white, we are completely on board with any holiday that celebrates love and positivity. Whether you are searching for simple and fun Valentine’s Day cards your kids can DIY for family, friends, and classmates or a fun movie to watch as a family, we have you covered below. We’re sharing what to buy, make, bake, sip, and watch to celebrate Valentine’s Day at home!

Buy:

The winter can feel long, and flowers are a quick way to brighten any mood or space. Stop by the grocery store and treat yourself to a bouquet or add one to your cart for a Covid-safe delivery to a loved family member.

Make:

Rather than purchasing Valentine’s Day cards this year, why not turn them into a fun craft? We’ve found excellent sources for your kids to make their own cards. Messy Little Monster, Oh Joy!, and  Studio DIY (these are fun for adults, too!) all shared printable Valentine’s Day cards. Also, The Pioneer Woman shared nearly 40 cards you can DIY! 

Bake: 

We have been craving sugar cookies, and Ashley Brooke Designs shared a recipe that is allergy-friendly. Learn how to make her gluten-free and dairy-free sugar cookies! Because half of the fun of sugar cookies is decorating them, don’t forget the icing, sprinkles, and cookie cutters.

Sip:

We’re almost certain you have a go-to cocktail, but when was the last time you made a mocktail? Serve Valentine’s Day drinks your kids can enjoy too when you make one of these recipes from Parenting – we have to say the Shirley Temple with Pop Rocks caught our eye! We also spotted this Hibiscus Mocktini from Real Simple.

Watch:

Once your cookies are out of the oven and your mocktails are set, you’re ready to watch a movie! A rom-com is a must for Valentine’s Day. The Today Show launched a bracket with their top picks. If you’re looking for more kid or teen-friendly flicks, what about turning on “The Parent Trap”, “The Princess Diaries”, or “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before”? The final suggestion is based on a beloved YA book series with the same name by Jenny Han – teens love it! 

How are you spending your Valentine’s Day? Let us know how you plan to celebrate on Facebook!

How to Create a Kansas City and Tampa Inspired Super Bowl Menu

The Super Bowl kicks off this Sunday, February 7, as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers face off against the Kansas City Chiefs! In between choosing the team we will cheer on, learning more about the first poet to perform at a Super Bowl (we’re looking at you, Amanda Gorman), and replaying all of The Weeknd’s hit songs prior to the Super Bowl Halftime Show, we’re in the middle of planning our menus. So, what should you drink and eat on Sunday? Here are the key menu items to include if you want to honor Tampa and Kansas City!

KANSAS CITY:

Drink:

Kansas is known for a classic drink most often enjoyed in the morning – coffee! Think about brewing your go-to brand and enjoying it hot or with ice. If you would prefer to sip on something alcoholic, you’ll want to turn to beer. Kansas is known for their breweries!

Appetizer:

You can never have too many appetizers, so we recommend adding barbecue ribs, fried chicken, and onion rings to your menu. The first two don’t need any additional explanation, but onion rings make the list because they’re often included in a famous sandwich called the Z-Man, which involves brisket with barbecue sauce, provolone cheese, and the infamous onion rings.   

Main Course: 

This main course may sound like an odd pairing, but chili and cinnamon rolls are a favorite in Kansas! You’ll tick off your sweet and savory boxes with this course. 

Dessert:

Of course, a Super Bowl menu wouldn’t be complete without dessert, so you’ll want to turn to pie! This is where your Kansas City and Tampa menus can easily overlap because pie is a popular choice in Florida too.

TAMPA: 

Drink:

For non-alcoholic fun, you will want to start your Super Bowl celebrating by toasting with glasses of orange juice – a Florida favorite. If you do want to add an alcoholic drink to your menu, a Mojito is the way to go!

Appetizer:

Tampa is home to a number of great spots to stop for tacos, so salsa is a must for your first course. Rather than serving a traditional recipe, make it mango!

Main Course:

Cuban sandwiches are a Tampa favorite, so it gets the nod for the main course! A Cuban sandwich is made by combining salami, ham, pork, cheese, and fixings together (here’s a great recipe!). Think about cutting the sandwich into halves or quarters to make things more bite-sized.

Dessert: 

As we mentioned above, celebrate Tampa and Kansas City together by serving pie for dessert. Key Lime pie is a favorite in the Sunshine State!

What’s on your Super Bowl menu? Share with us on Facebook!

5 Simple January Delights

With the year mark of the pandemic quickly approaching and January’s long winter days feeling slightly longer, we’ve noticed families are searching for new, small ways to celebrate. After all, many times it’s the small things that can make us smile the most! If your family is also looking for fun ways to make sure the days don’t seemingly blend together, we’re here to help. Below, we’re sharing five simple things you can do with your family that are sure to make everyone’s day feel a little extra special.

1. Picnic Indoors:

Picnics remind us of warm spring and summer days, but they’re equally as enjoyable during the winter. Whip up a fun menu of picnic foods (this article is sure to help!) and make sure to pack all of the picnic necessities (take a peek at this piece!). Then cart everything to your family room and setup your picnic inside. You might be eating steps away from your kitchen, but even the small change of scenery will help to create a memorable experience for everyone.

2. Go Ice Skating:

Research the locations where you and your family can go ice skating in your hometown! Cities often put ice skating rinks into place downtown, so see if there’s one where you live. You can also visit an indoor rink to skate without some of the elements. Ice skating is a great way to get everyone moving, potentially try something new, and stay socially distant.

3. Plan a Sunday Brunch:

Make your Sunday extra special and plan a complete brunch menu! This article has plenty of recipes to inspire your menu. If you want your meal to feel even more celebratory, create invitations to invite your kids to the fun. Then ask them to make decorations. A Sunday brunch together might become a weekly favorite!

4. Make Someone Smile:

If you find that you’re feeling down, one of the best things to do is to reach out to someone else. In this case, consider doing a random act of kindness. Send a note, purchase coffee for the person behind you, or buy flowers for a friend. There are plenty more ideas for you to consider here!

5. Sip a Warm Drink:

The winter is the season to lean into all things cozy, and warm drinks are a must-have! Try making hot chocolate, sample coffee or tea you have never tried before, or make your own hot apple cider. Once you have your drink of choice, sink into your couch to watch a movie, catch up on a show, or read a book!

How are you spending your January? Let us know your family’s favorite simple activity on Facebook!

3 Goals You Can Reach in 2021: Part 3

In case you’re just joining us, we’ve been detailing how to take steps toward nine of the most common goals people set every year in January. We’ve talked about how to workout and read more, how to stick to a budget, and how to lessen screen time (even during a pandemic!). There’s more for you to explore here and here. 

As a reminder, we’re sharing simple steps you can start doing today to make goals a reality rather than something you simply write down. Today, we’re going to talk about the final three goals of the most popular annual goals: how to be more eco-friendly, how to stay organized, and how to try new recipes. Let’s keep the goal setting going! 

Be More Eco-friendly: 

Supporting and being kinder to our environment is an ongoing endeavor, rather than something we can solve in one swift motion. But, if we all make even small changes, they do add up! So, consider the ways your family lives, and think about ways you might be able to make revisions. Here are a few ideas:

Recycle: Many communities pick up recycling each week or there are centers within driving distance where you can drop off your recycling. Rather than tossing water bottles, soda bottles, jars, newspapers, and more into the trash, consider rinsing them and placing them into a recycling can instead.

Reusable Bottles & Dinnerware: Consider choosing to use a reusable water bottle throughout your day rather than single use plastic. You can also opt to skip using paper plates and plastic utensils and instead turn to everyday dinnerware that can be washed and used again and again. 

Use Reusable Bags: When you make a trip to the grocery store, how many plastic bags do you typically leave carrying? Likely a lot, which is totally normal! Purchase a few reusable bags you can use each week to cut back on waste. The great thing about reusable bags is they can typically fit more than an average plastic bag, which means you’ll need to make fewer trips back and forth to your car to bring everything inside.

Get Organized:

Whenever the word “organize” is mentioned, typically feelings of overwhelm follow. But, they don’t have to! Rather than thinking you need to completely organize and overhaul your space at once, why not break things down into steps? Here are a few ideas:

Tackle One Area: This might look like a room, or it might look like a drawer! There aren’t rules about how slow or fast you need to organize.

Set a Timer: Think about seeing what you can get done in a block of time. Five, 10, 15, or 60 minutes will definitely allow you to make a dent or complete an entire project! 

Look to the Pros: There are plenty of articles about organization, and some of them are definitely worth the read! We like this piece by Real Simple about how organization pros create order. The tips are 100% doable!

Tidy: Whether it’s at the end of the day or one day a week, think about tidying up your space. Organization doesn’t work unless you do, and your new process will take time to get used to. The key thing is remembering how you feel when everything is in order!

Try New Recipes:

If you’re becoming tired of your meal rotation, it’s likely time to mix it up. Consider trying even one new recipe each week. 

Think about collecting recipes to try and pinning them onto a board on Pinterest. Move the ones you love to a new board after you’ve made them, and delete the ones you know you never want to make again. You can also mix things up by trying rotating through new recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack, so your list is never completely filled with recipes that have many steps (dinner recipes, we’re looking at you!).   

We also post plenty of recipes in the app!

Now that we’ve reached the end of our review of some of the most popular goals and resolutions, which ones are on your list? Let us know on Facebook!

3 Goals You Can Achieve: Part 2

We’ve almost officially reached the middle of January! So, how are you doing with your goals? Have you set goals for the year, or are you still working through what you would like to accomplish this year? Keep in mind, there truly isn’t anything magical about January 1. You can set a goal and start taking small steps toward achieving it at any time!

Last week, we shared the first part of our goal setting series where we’re walking through some of the most popular goals people set each year. The fun part is we’re sharing simple steps you can do today to start working toward reaching each goal, rather than solely having them written down without a game plan. Today, we’re digging into how to read more, how to stick to a budget, and how to spend time with family and friends (yes, even during COVID-19; stay with us!). Keep reading, and make sure to tune back in next week for the third – and final – part of our series!

Read More: 

If books are on your mind, we’re here to help! This goal definitely relates to spending less time on screens, but we thought it deserved its own section. 

Consider starting slow by setting a goal to read 1 book/month. Then try to read 10-20 pages per day or set aside 15-30 minute windows of time to read. The best thing to do is to find a consistent window of time each day to carve out this routine! 

Another idea is to read books that have been turned into movies or TV shows (we compiled a list that you can find here!). Knowing you can experience how a creative team took a book from the page to the screen can be a great motivator to finish a book.

If you’re looking for great books to enjoy throughout the year, Good Housekeeping released a list of the most anticipated books of 2021!

Stick to a Budget: 

There are plenty of articles and tips about how to create and stick to a budget, but we’re here to share simple ways you can stay on track! 

One place to easily spend more each week than you may have originally intended is at the grocery store. So, make a list before you shop. Then stick to your list even as you wander down the aisles. Another idea? Don’t shop when you’re hungry! Because we’ve done it, we can confirm the rumors are true: you do, in fact, purchase more if you shop while dreaming about your next meal or snack.

Another simple thing to do to keep your budget on track is to use Shopkick to your advantage! In between interacting with us on Instagram and Facebook, pop onto the app and explore the Discover page – glance through lookbooks, watch videos, and see how you can earn kicks on your next shopping trip. Once you reach your chosen kick goal, redeem your kicks for a gift card that you can use when you next pick up the essentials on your list. Shopkick is free to use! What budget tip could be better?   

Spend More Time with Family & Friends:  

COVID-19 has definitely changed how we spend time with family and friends and, of course, how often we can gather together. But, that shouldn’t stop you from checking in on your favorite people! Many of us are suffering from Zoom fatigue once we reach the end of the day or week, so we highly recommend taking what some might call an “old fashioned” approach: pick up the phone. 

Plan a time to catch up with a friend or family member, and make it a weekly date! To feel even more connected, you can both plan to engage in the same activity, whether that’s talking while you’re taking individual walks, driving home from work, or catching up on chores (a phone call makes laundry more fun!). A call with someone you love will brighten your day!

We’re here to cheer you on! Keep sharing your progress with us on Facebook as we all work toward achieving our goals (and more) in 2021.

How to Jumpstart Your 2021 Goals: Part 1

The first week of the new year often provides many of us with a much-needed boost of energy after a relaxing week and a half of family time and never quite knowing what day it is. We’re excited to embrace schedules again, and many of us are also ready to start tackling our goals.

We’re more than optimistic about everything we hope 2021 has in store, but we’ve also been feeling a bit more cautious as we set our intentions for the new year. If you’re feeling uncertain about planning big things for the year ahead due to Covid-19 or you’re not quite sure how to start working toward your goals, we thought we would break down some of the most common goals or resolutions so often set on January 1 in a two-part series. 

Today, we’re detailing ways to travel, lessen screen time, or workout more in 2021. And, we’ll be back next week with our second installment of our goals series! 

Let’s kickoff 2021 with positivity and put your goals into action together! 

Travel:

Throughout 2020, travel looked different for many of us, and we have a feeling that will continue for much of 2021. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t explore! 

Look into hiking trails to experience, nearby towns you have never explored, museums and zoos that have long been on your list to visit, and lakes and beaches to frequent as the weather warms up again. Although each option may be close to home, we do believe you can still create plenty of memories with your family! 

If you’re still missing your favorite city or attraction, take a peek on tourism websites to see which museums and sites are offering virtual tours (here + here for ideas!)

Lessen Screen Time:

Our days are spent on Zoom, and we’re reaching for our phones more than ever before. Many people have a desire to lessen screen time for themselves and their kids, and it’s definitely possible!

Consider creating specific windows with start and end times for being on a screen. You can set limits on your smartphone for specific apps, and your phone will notify you when you’ve hit your limit. The key is then walking away! Another idea is to cultivate a new hobby that’s away from your screen – reading, crafting, or working on a home improvement project are all popular. Lastly, think about schedule game nights with your family.

The best way to start a new habit to stop an old one is to find things you are more excited to do than anything you can experience on a screen. It’s possible! 

Workout:

Many people set fitness goals as a new year begins, so the key is to get moving! But, sometimes the next question is how?

One idea is to start simple – create a window to take a 15-30 minute walk outside. Even if the temperatures are less than ideal (it’s winter after all!), wrap up with a coat, hat, and gloves. Once you get moving, you will warm up; we promise! Create a playlist, find a podcast you enjoy, or choose an audiobook to listen to while you walk. 

If your goal is to take workout classes, search for ones you might enjoy on YouTube (here’s a list of great online classes). You can also sign up for an app, like Peloton, for less than $15/month to take a variety of classes.

Think about asking a friend (or many!) to join you on your fitness journey. Then, text each other to check in to see who has completed their workout for the day. Accountability groups can work wonders to keep you on track!  

What step can you take today to start working toward your goals? Keep the encouragement going on Facebook!