25 Alcohol-Free Things To Do With Friends This Summer

alcohol-free things to do with friends

Hanging out with you friends all summer is truly the best, and though you could easily just go grab drinks with your bestie, going sans-alcohol lets you better engage in quality time and focus more on the moments of *joy* that led to your friendship in the first place! Here are our top alcohol-free activities to do for all summer long. 💓

1. Take a trip down memory lane.

Photo by cottonbro studio / PEXELS

Dare to reintroduce that archived Facebook photo album and reminisce over all the memories you’ve made with your bestie.

2. Have a picnic.

Photo by KoolShooters / PEXELS

Post up in the park with some homemade snacks and sweets to enjoy alongside your best friend(s). If you can’t resist a yummy drink, bring along your fave non-alcoholic beverages.

3. Plan a movie marathon night.

Photo by Felipe Cardoso / PEXELS

Your home theater should be equipped with all of your favorite films. And of course, no movie showing is complete without cozy blankets and popcorn!

4. Take a hike.

Photo by Min An / PEXELS

Embark on a scenic hike or nature walk together – and ditch your phone. You want to make the most of this time with your BFF! Look around, capture photos, and explore the beauty of the outdoors.

5. Host a board game night.

Image via Brit + Co.

Operation, anyone? Or are your besties more Monopoly speed? The choice is yours when hosting a board game night. You could even pull out some adult party games. Ensure that your at-home venture is accompanied by delicious treats and zero-proof martinis.

6. Go to a museum.

Photo by Scott Webb / PEXELS

There’s always something new to see at a museum. Whether it’s art or natural science, you know your friend(s) best! This activity will allow you to appreciate our culture – and it just might spark some interesting conversations.

7. Have a spa day at home.

Photo by Anna Shvets / PEXELS

Grab some face masks, nail polish, and cucumber slices to prepare for your exclusive besties-only homegrown spa experience. Tap into some soothing music, dim the lights, and you and your pal(s) on your way to a relaxing time!

8. Take a road trip.

Photo by cottonbro studio / PEXELS

If you and your friend(s) are adventurous at heart, plan a small (or big, it’s up to you!) road trip to a town or city you’ve always been curious about. There’s nothing like the open road to crack open new discoveries and conversations along the way.

9. Send your bestie a care package.

Image via Brit + Co.

If you’re maintaining this best friendship long-distance, you can always mail your friend a care package or thoughtful card! We know they’ll appreciate it, even if it’s from far away.

10. Bake or cook something together.

Image via Brit + Co.

Got a TikTok recipe you’ve been dying to try? Make it with friends! If you’re at a loss for which recipe to pick, don’t worry – we have tons!

11. Try a fitness class.

Image via Brit + Co.

Promote health and having fun by daring to take a free yoga or HIIT class with your bestie(s)! The endorphins are flowing with this one.

12. Volunteer.

Photo by Julia M Cameron / PEXELS

Engaging in a volunteer activity or community service project lets you and your friend(s) make a positive impact together. Plus, you’ll surely make some memories to share for eternity.

13. Go to the farmer's market.

Photo by RDNE Stock project / PEXELS

Exploring a local farmer’s market or vendor fair is one of our *fave* activities, so we’re sure you and your pals will enjoy it, too. Support local farmers and artists by making a purchase, and discover how good the fresh produce is. Just make a grocery list beforehand, though, so you don't go buy-crazy on the jars of local honey and jam.

14. Visit an amusement park.

Photo by Scott Webb / PEXELS

Amusement parks or nearby adventure spots are never short of fun things to do – endure the chaos of a roller coaster together, or stroll the boardwalk to play carnival games!

15. Have a photo shoot.

Image via Brit + Co.

First, choose a picturesque location, plan your outfits, and capture the candid moments (even with your phone!) that come up with your besties.

16. Go to a mocktail bar.

Image via Brit + Co.

Mocktail bars are in fact a thing. Most other bars will also be able to make non-alcoholic drinks for you to sip on something delicious!

17. Make your own mocktails at home.

Photo by Antoni Shkraba / PEXELS

Not up to go out? Become your own mixologist and make some mocktailsat home!

18. Visit a local botanical garden.

Photo by Leeloo Thefirst / PEXELS

Admire the floral beauty that lies within your local botanical garden. Now that the weather is warming up, this is the perfect place to wander around and watch what's in bloom!

19. Attend a live comedy show.

Photo by Monica Silvestre / PEXELS

Get silly with your bestie(s) at a comedy show! TBH, they’ll always throw you for a loop and get the best laughs out of you and your squad!

20. Take a pottery class together.

Photo by RF._.studio / PEXELS

You could make matching mugs or bowls at a pottery studio! How cute, and whatever you make will serve as a reminder of your friendship.

21. Have a karaoke night.

Image via Brit + Co.

Let loose and let your friend(s) hear your singing voice at a karaoke night. You could easily host one at home, but there are also a lot of private karaoke rooms to rent out if you want to venture!

22. Plan a day trip to the beach.

Image via Brit + Co.

We’d never pass up a lazy, leisurely beach day with our gals. Bring a bluetooth speaker for the jams, a book for entertainment SPFfor safety, and make sure everyone’s picture-perfect to take cute pictures together.

23. Host a book club meeting.

Photo by George Milton / PEXELS

Bookworm besties will love this option! Take the time to read something – even if it’s just a short story – and gather with your friends to discuss the best themes, scenes, and writing from the piece.

24. Go mini golfing.

Photo by Anna Tarazevich / PEXELS

Unlock your inner child’s joy at your closest mini golf course! Winning is cool and all, but so is your best friend – so just focus on spending quality time with them.

25. Have a crafting session.

Image via Brit + Co.

Pick a DIY project to tackle with friends! Everyone can split up and buy the necessary materials to make your craft, then get together to unleash some creativity.

Sign up for our newsletter for more fun things to do with your friends this summer!

Life happens. We take new jobs, reach new goals, buy new homes, perhaps get married and have kids — all good news, but sadly sometimes that means moving away from our besties. It can be challenging to stay in touch, especially when you’re in different time zones, but with a little effort and creativity, there’s so much you can do to keep meaningful connections with your long-distance friends beyond a group text or meme share. Here are 10 tips to help you stay close.

I Miss You So Much Card

Send a personalized card with audio or video. Moonpig lets you create unique cards with cute templates, photos, videos, audio clips, and your own handwritten copy! They’ll even mail them for you – saving you a trip to the post office.

Happy Birthday Card

Choose from a selection of more than 20K cards to share with your bestie no matter what is going on in her life – engagements, birthdays, babies, new job, or just because you want to say hello, make her laugh, and show how much you care for her. Moonpig cards cost less than a regular card, and you can find free e-cards as well! Want to send a birthday gift too? You can add a gift card from a bunch of popular retailers like Sephora, Nordstrom and Uber Eats to your card.

Celebrate The Milestones

Staying present in your friends’ lives, even as they change direction, can help keep you connected. Reach out to share your latest news, and congratulate them on the engagements, promotions, weddings, and other milestones. The B+C staff took a moment to share their favorite Moonpig Cards with their favorite friends. Have a reason to celebrate with a group? You can have friends and family sign by creating a Group Card.

Scroll down to get a free card yourself with B+C’s promo discount code for new customers and find more tips to help you stay close.

Schedule Virtual Coffee Dates

Thank You Friend Card

Find a regular time that works for both of you to share your stories over a morning cup. Maybe it’s during your morning walk for coffee, or after work on your commute home. Chatting by phone vs. via social media can help you get into deeper details about your life and theirs. Hearing a real LOL can really make your day too. With Moonpig’s cards, you can add multiple photos so you can share a glimpse into your life lately.

Host A Virtual Happy Hour

Hello You Card

Virtual happy hours sort of came to a halt once the world opened up, but they’re a great way to stay in touch with long-distance friends. Have fun with it with new cocktail recipes that you can share beforehand, and then shake and stir while you chat!

Make Them A Playlist

Bejeweled Birthday Card

Music is a great way to connect and relive the best of times. Look for songs that remind you of your bestie, from the cities you’ve shared to the concerts you’ve danced to all night together to your car karaoke favorites.

Take An Online Class Together

Engagement Card

Whatever you have going on in your lives, finding the time to get creative and healthy together, even if it’s a one-day workshop around something you have in common, will strengthen those bonds that brought you together in the first place. This could be a great gift too – a fitness class, a cooking class, a business class to build your bestie empire, whatever it is it will remind you why you’re friends and why you’re always there to lift each other up.

Send Surprise Care Packages

We’re Expecting Card

If your friend could use a little self care postpartum or just needs a little TLC during this time, send over a care package of her favorite things and little mementos of your time together. Add a Moonpig card too, where you can add an audio or video message via QR code that says you’re thinking about them and wish you could be closer.

Take An Annual Trip Together

Congratulations Card

Annual trips with your besties are so good for the soul. Find a central location where you can all meet without the expense being too much for one person. Gather to celebrate a birthday or other milestone or just because. It’s a great way to feel connected to people you care about most and remind yourself what truly matters in life.

Start A Remote Book Or Recipe Club

Friends Like You Card

Share your favorite books or recipes (or both!) each month and host a virtual monthly book club or dinner club to catch up and talk through some of your highlights of the experiences.

Host A Virtual Trivia Night

Living The Dream Card

Get the squad back together for a silly trivia night based on a theme, such as ‘90s movies, women’s sports, or random trivia about our love lives.

Send Them A Just Because Card

Thinking of You Card

Even sharing the smallest details can help you stay connected and boost your mood. Surprise your friend with a note that you’re just thinking about them. And supersize it! Moonpig has Extra Large Cards too. Nothing feels so good as to know your friend went out of their way to just say hello, in the most thoughtful way possible.

Here’s how Moonpig works:

  1. Click on a card that you love. You have a choice: e-card, standard card by mail, or a large card to really wow them. You can also choose a Group card or Create Your Own Card with Moonpig templates, fonts, and graphics.
  2. Click on Personalize to add your personalized text (take a photo of your handwriting to replicate in the card), photos, stickers, video, and audio, which are shared via QR code.
  3. Choose a gift card from your dad’s favorite retailer if you’d like to sweeten the deal.
  4. And voilà! Moonpig will ship off your card to the lucky recipient. Easy peasy.

Find your friendship card at Moonpig! New customers can use code BRITCOFREE to send some love to long-distance friends today!


Shop Friend Favorites!

New customers! Head to Moonpig for your free card using code BRITCOFREE!

Lead image: Moonpig Happy Birthday Bestie card

Love is in the air – and, as it turns out, on the shelves at Target! We can always count on Target to have the cutest home decor pieces for every holiday, and right now, their Valentine’s Day decor is making us swoon. Target has everything you need to create a festive and cozy vibe (and for way less $!), whether you’re planning a romantic dinner, a Galentine’s Day party, or happily spending the season solo.

Get ready to fall head over heels for these 13 Target Valentine’s Day decor pieces that’ll help you celebrate the season, all for $10 or less.

Target

Cherry Duo Valentine's Day Figurine

This $5 figurine gives us so much joy. It'd be perfect on your desk, bedside table, or car dash to keep the love flowin' this V-Day.

Target

Metallic Hearts Wall Garland

Got a Valentine's party planned? This $10 wall garland is just the thing your space needs to feel a bit more festive.

Target

Valentine's Day Disco Ball

Everyone needs a dash of disco in their life, and this $10 heart-shaped piece makes that possible. We'd keep this one up year-round!

Target

Valentine's Day XO Love Pillow

It's not V-Day without a bunch of X's and O's! Decorate your space appropriately with this cutesy $5 pillow.

Target

Coffee & Croissant Valentine's Day Figurine

This $5 decor piece would also make a great gift to give your partner, BFF, or just the person that completes you.

Target

Light-Up Valentine's Day Hearts

These heart-shaped lights mimic conversation heart candies in the cutest (and cheekiest!) way with various sayings.

Target

3-Wick Sugared Watermelon Candle

This candle makes the season even sweeter with a delicious sugared watermelon scent.

Target

Featherly Friends 'Toots' Valentine's Day Decorative Object

Target's collection of cute spirited birds is everything. This lil' birdie comes complete with a love letter – ooh!

Target

Red Lips Pillow

Need a smooch? This $10 pillow is just what your couch is craving!

Target

Glass Heart Valentine's Candle Holders

Set the mood at the table with this adorable trio of candle stick holders in the perfect V-Day hues!

Target

Cherub Valentine's Day Figurine

This glasses-wearing cherub would look so cute on your desk during the Valentine's season.

Target

Pink & Red Taper Candle Set

These playful candle sticks come in squiggly shapes and are adorably dotted in tiny white hearts for the holiday.

Target

XO Square Valentine's Day Pillow

Perfect for the sofa or your bed, this plush pillow will last your V-Day decor game for years to come!

Subscribe to our newsletter to shop more seasonal decor!

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

Here’s two questions for you to think about. One is probably quite straightforward to the answer, the other… maybe not so much. Here you go:

  • Question 1: Did you celebrate National Best Friends Day on June 8th?
  • Question 2: How good of a friend are you?

National Best Friends Day is a celebration to honor those who hold the title of best friend in our lives. Of course, if you didn’t celebrate the day, or didn’t know about it, that doesn't mean you aren’t a good friend. But perhaps Best Friends Day is a good moment to stop and think about our friends, and especially our best friend. Do we give them what they need? We tend to see the world through the lens of our own personality, our likes and dislikes, and it can be difficult to put ourselves in other people’s shoes. That’s when knowing something about our personality, and how it differs from that of other people, can help.

One really useful framework in building and maintaining relationships goes by the name of “FIRO”, code for “Fundamental Interpersonal Relationships Orientation”. That’s a bit of a mouthful, but it describes what the FIRO does. It measures what you need, and what you show, in your interpersonal relationships. This can help explain why sometimes other people, including our friends, don’t seem to understand us, or give us what we need from them – and why sometimes we don’t understand our friends.

KoolShooters/Pexels

The FIRO framework looks at three different types of interpersonal needs:

  • Inclusion, our need to belong. How much do you need to be part of a group? How much do you want to be included by other people in their groups, and how much do you want to include others in your group?
  • Control, our need for influence. How much to you need to have clear direction and structure in your relationships, both on a one-to-one level and in groups
  • Affection, our need for intimacy. How important is it for you to have close personal relationships with other people at a one-to-one level?

The FIRO looks at two different aspects for each of these areas. First, how much of that need is expressed to others, how much of that behavior we initiate to others. For Inclusion, for example, how much do we try to include other people in our activities – your FIRO Expressed Inclusion score. It also looks at how much we want from others.

Karolina Kaboompics/Pexels

  • For Inclusion: How much do we need other people to include us in their group and involve us in their activities? Wanted Inclusion.
  • For Control: The extent to which we try to influence and control others, and how much we want to be in an environment that provides us with structure and clarity. Expressed Control and Wanted Control.
  • For Affection: How much we try to be warm and friendly to others, and how much we want others to be warm and friendly to us. Expressed and Wanted Affection.

That gives scores; Expressed and Wanted Inclusion,Expressed and Wanted Control,Expressed and Wanted Affection. And we can have a high, medium, or low score for each of these six areas.

Helena Lopes/Pexels

So how can this explain why someone might be misunderstood? Well, this can happen when someone’s expressed and wanted scores are different. Let’s look at an example. Joe has high Expressed Inclusion, but low Wanted Inclusion. He wants to involve lots of people in his activities but doesn’t want them to include him in their activities. He’s likely seen by others as outgoing and sociable, but he also has a real need for privacy.

Because people see his high Expressed Inclusion, his friends are likely to invite or include him more than he wants to be, and he’ll refuse some of those invitations – which might leave them feeling hurt or otherwise harm the friendship. But knowing his FIRO profile will give Joe the language to describe his behavior and keep the friendship alive.

Pavel Danilyuk/Pexels

Of course, our interpersonal needs involve other people too. Let’s look at Joe alongside his friend Joan. Joe has high Expressed Inclusion and low Wanted Inclusion. Joan has low Expressed Inclusion and high Wanted Inclusion. This might make for a good relationship. Joe wants to include Joan (high Expressed Inclusion), and she wants to be included (high Wanted Inclusion). Joan doesn’t much want to include other people in her activities (low Expressed Inclusion), and that’s fine with Joe, who doesn’t much want to be included (low Wanted Inclusion).

However, things might be a little different on Affection. Joe has high Expressed Affection and high Wanted Affection. Joan is low on both. Joe wants to be warm and friendly with Joan, to get a connection, but Joan, with low Wanted Affection, doesn’t want that. And Joe is looking for warm and friendly behavior from Joan, which she probably doesn’t want to express. This may be an area where understanding their FIRO results helps them to understand why their relationship may sometimes be strained, and gives them the knowledge they need to make that relationship work.

Karolina Kaboompics/Pexels

So take a moment to think about your relationships, your friendships. Are there places where your best friend doesn’t seem to understand you, or you them? Are there times when they don’t quite seem to give you what you need, or vice versa? Maybe understanding your interpersonal needs, or knowing your FIRO profile, could help.

Subscribe to our newsletter for more relationship tips!

Header image via KoolShooters/Pexels

In the midst of award show season, everything points to Oscar Sunday. The show, which celebrates achievement in film, is my most-important night of the year and my friends and I go all out. Themed snacks, ballots, and very loud celebrations when our favorite stars and movies win. But before the big day comes, we need to watch all the movies up for awards!

Here's where you can stream all the biggest movies of the year before the Oscars airs on March 2, 2025.

Dune: Part Two — Stream On Max

Niko Tavernise/Warner Bros. Pictures

This sequel opens after Paul has joined the Fremen, and after he escaped the murderous Harkonnen family. Now he's out to avenge his father — and come to terms with his destiny as a savior.

Dune: Part Two is on Max and stars Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Dave Bautista, Stellan Skarsgård, Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem, Charlotte Rampling, Florence Pugh, Austin Butler, Lea Seydoux, and Christopher Walken.

Twisters — Stream on Peacock

Universal Pictures

Twisters follows former storm chaser Kate. When she's roped back into chasing by her friend Javi, Kate meets social media star Tyler, and comes face-to-face with the biggest storms ever.

Twisters is on Peacock and stars Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell, Brandon Perea, Anthony Ramos, Maura Tierney, Sasha Lane, Harry Hadden-Paton, David Corenswet, Daryl McCormack, Tunde Adebimpe, Katy O’Brian, Nik Dodani, Kiernan Shipka, and Paul Scheer.

Emilia Pérez — Stream On Netflix

Netflix

In this musical thriller, Cartel leader Emilia enlists the help of Rita, a lawyer, to help her retire from a life of crime and live out her truth.

Emilia Pérez is on Netflix and stars Karla Sofía Gascón, Zoe Saldaña, Selena Gomez, Adriana Paz, and Edgar Ramírez.

Wicked — Rent On Amazon Prime

Universal Pictures

But this year's biggest musical is definitely Wicked. This alternative origin story for the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good follows the college roommates as they come of age in Oz, and learn the Wizard isn't all as he seems. I can't for Part 2 this year!

Wicked stars Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, and Marissa Bode.

The Substance — Stream On MUBI

MUBI

Elisabeth Sparkle gets fired from her own fitness TV show after she turns 50. But she seems to find a solution when she acquires The Substance...and creates a younger version of herself. The absolutely crazy thriller was one of the buzziest movies of the year — and won Demi Moore her first Golden Globe!

The Substance is on MUBI and stars Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, and Dennis Quaid.

Challengers — Stream On Prime Video

Amazon MGM Studios

In Challengers, former tennis star Tashi coaches her husband Art, but her job gets way more complicated when he ends up in a match against his former best friend (and her ex) Patrick.

Challengers is on Prime Video and MGM+ and stars Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O'Connor.

Inside Out 2 — Stream On Disney+

Walt Disney Studios

Riley's becoming a teenager in Inside Out 2, which means Joy, Sadness, Anger, Envy, Fear, and Disgust have to make way for new emotions like Anxiety and Envy. What could go wrong?

Inside Out 2 is on Disney+ and stars Liza Lapira, Tony Hale, Ayo Edebiri, Maya Hawke, Adèle Exarchopoulos, Paul Walter Hauser, Amy Poehler, Lewis Black, Phyllis Smith, Kensington Tallman, Lilimar, Diane Lane, and Kyle MacLachlan.

Deadpool & Wolverine — Stream On Disney+

Marvel Studios

Deadpool teams up with the one and only Wolverine (well, after meeting dozens throughout the multiverse) after learning the TVA plans on destroying his timeline and his loved ones.

Deadpool & Wolverine is on Disney+ and stars Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, Stefan Kapičić, Brianna Hildebrand, Shioli Kutsuna, Owen Wilson, Matthew Macfadyen, Emma Corrin, Jennifer Garner, Chris Evans, Wesley Snipes, Channing Tatum, Blake Lively, and Dafne Keen.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice  — Stream On Max

Warner Bros.

Lydia Deetz and her daughter Astrid return to Winter River after a family tragedy, and wind up enlisting Beetlejuice's help (if you can even call it that) after Astrid opens a portal to the afterlife.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is on Max and stars Jenna Ortega, Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Willem Dafoe, and Justin Theroux.

Gladiator 2 — Rent On Amazon Prime

Aidan Monaghan/Paramount Pictures

After the death of his wife, Lucius becomes a gladiator with a mission: take revenge on the general responsible for her death.

Gladiator 2 is on Amazon Prime and stars Paul Mescal, Connie Nielsen, Fred Hechinger, Joseph Quinn, Pedro Pascal, and Denzel Washington.

Anora — Rent On Amazon Prime

Neon

When sex worker Anora and politician's son Vanya tie the knot so Vanya can get a green card and escape his father, their lives totally flip upside down — and not just because Vanya's family sets out to end the marriage.

Anora is on Amazon Prime and stars Mikey Madison, Mark Eydelshteyn, Yura Borisov, Karren Karagulian, Vache Tovmasyan, and Aleksei Serebryakov.

Conclave — Stream On Peacock

Focus Features

This movie takes place during a conclave to choose the next pope, and is totally unprepared for the scandals he uncovers along the way.

Conclave is on Peacock and stars Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Sergio Castellitto, and Isabella Rossellini.

A Real Pain — Rent On Amazon Prime

Searchlight Pictures

Two Jewish American cousins who reconnect and embark on a Holocaust tour in Poland after the death of their grandmother. This was one of my favorite movies of the year and I couldn't recommend it more!

A Real Pain is on Amazon Prime and stars Jesse Eisenberg, Kieran Culkin, Will Sharpe, Jennifer Grey, Kurt Egyiawan, Liza Sadovy, and Daniel Oreskes.

The Wild Robot — Rent On Amazon Prime

Universal Pictures

Robot Roz crashes on a deserted island and quickly adopts an orphaned gosling, teaching him to fly and prepping him for the annual migration. Prepare to cry, like, a lot!!

The Wild Robot is on Amazon Prime and stars Lupita Nyong'o, Pedro Pascal, Kit Connor, Catherine O'Hara, Bill Nighy, Stephanie Hsu, and Mark Hamill.

Alien: Romulus — Stream On Hulu

20th Century Studios

A group of young space colonizers are tasked with exploring an abandoned space station and must confront the most terrifying life form in the universe.

Alien: Romulus is on Hulu and stars Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn, and Aileen Wu.

Stay tuned for the official 2025 Oscar nominations and check out 25 New TV Shows You NEED To Watch In 2025!

One of the deep questions I asked myself on January 1 was, "How do you want to feel as a stay-at-home mom who's also a part of the WFH crew?" The first word that popped into my mind wasn't a full sentence; it was 'ease.'

I've spent the greater part of my life as a people pleaser who also has a Type A personality when inspired during work hours. There's nothing wrong with being ambitious, but I don't always know when to turn it off which leads to burnout. Does this sound like you?

If so, we're not doing this anymore bestie. This year we're changing the way we approach work so we're not on a first-name basis with stress 10 months out of the year. I've got tips from the following bada** ladies who know how imperative it is to not let work drain us:

  • Kayla Baum, CEO & Founder of Twello (a workplace wellness company!)
  • Corry Frazier and Melissa Pepin, Founders at The Business Reboot

Keep scrolling for 8 expert-approved tips for how to make work less stressful — & trust me, you need these.

Karin Kaufer

1. Actually Use Your Planner In 2025

We're not buying pretty planners just so they can collect dust on our desks or coffee tables anymore. Corry Frazier and Melissa Pepin want you to get serious because they feel "it starts with planning." They don't mean the kind you eventually flake on either.

"Effective planning is key to maintaining balance and reducing burnout. Whether you're mapping out tasks, meetings, or events, dedicated time for preparation ensures focus and reduces stress," they say. In other words, "the more intentional you are in planning, the more productive you'll be," according to them.

Ever since I've been blocking out my tasks by hour in planner, I've been able to get more done without feeling overwhelmed by splitting my time between writing and being in mommy mode. Frazier and Pepin suggest that you "set weekly planning sessions" that consist of "30-60 minutes each weekend to map out your upcoming week."

This eventually "reduces decision fatigue, fosters a sense of control, and helps you start Monday with clarity and purpose," they add. Yes, this is a sign that you'll be breaking up with the dreaded 'Sunday scaries' if you follow their advice. "You'll feel proactive and grounded rather than reacting to the week as it unfolds," they agree.

Zen Chung

2. Embrace A "Fake Commute" When Working From Home

One of Kayla Baum's tips is to switch up your routine if you're a remote worker. Rolling out of the bed at the last minute before logging on for work sounds appealing until you realize you're uninspired by your days. But, what is a "fake commute?"

"It mimics the structure of a traditional commute to establish a boundary between work and personal life. This could mean taking a walk around the block, doing a 10-minute guided meditation, or even just changing clothes at the end of the day," Baum mentions.

Based on her experience, she's found that "it works because it provides a psychological buffer, helping to separate work and home life." She feels it's "crucial for positive mental health and boosting productivity at work (and at home)."

You can also create a separate work space that's not in your bedroom to get work done! That's helped me tremendously so I'm not sleeping and working in the same area.

Anna Nekrashevich

3. Focus On High-Impact Tasks

Similar to planning your work days as best as you can, Frazier and Pepin want you to "prioritize the tasks that align with your goals." To minimize distractions, they want you to ask yourself:

  • What is the most effective use of my time right now?
"For instance, if you're preparing for a big presentation at work, concentrate on immediate needs rather than getting sidetracked by unrelated projects. This approach helps you conserve energy for what truly matters," they suggest.

Greta Hoffman

4. Stop Making Daily Decisions Hard

Tasks like your morning routine or figuring out what you'll eat don't have to take up a chunk of your time anymore. "Use productivity hacks, such as pre-planning meals or laying out weekly outfits," suggest Frazier and Pepin. They feel that "small routines like this eliminate unnecessary choices" to "make mornings smoother."

According to them, it's "especially helpful for families juggling multiple schedules." I couldn't agree more because I've spent so many frazzled mornings trying to make decisions about what myself and my toddler would wear or eat instead of planning them. With the help of my fiancé, we've cut so much time in half by being prepared ahead of time instead of 'winging it' before work.

Yan Krukau

5. Understand What Your Boundaries Are And Set Them

Worried that you'll be considered 'mean' if you tell your manager or coworkers what your boundaries are at work? Depending on your environment, it's 100% understandable. However, you're human and there's no reason you should be over-performing to your detriment. Frazier and Pepin say, "Set boundaries and communicate clearly. Adopt Brené Brown's mantra: 'To be clear is to be kind.'"

They encourage you to not only "be upfront about your schedule to manage others' expectations," but it's also so you can "avoid over-commitment." Say it with me: I will not make false promises just to appease others. Why?

Frazier and Pepin say, "Don't be afraid to say no to side projects or anything that doesn't align with your goals."

Kaboompics.com

6. Ignore Emails Sent After Your Work Hours

I've been guilty of sending an email after work to acknowledge that I saw something, but I never expect other people to feel obligated to respond until the next business day. On the flip side, I've felt pressured to answer something that feels timely and I've gone to sleep thinking about the sender's potential follow-up email.

"Just because a coworker chooses to work late at night doesn't mean you must answer. One helpful trick is to include your working days and hours in your signature, explaining that responses may be delayed outside of those times," Frazier and Pepin say. They even have a prompt you can use if you're not sure what to type:

  • "My working hours are [Your Working Hours, e.g., 9 AM - 4 PM ET]. Please note that these may differ from your local time zone. I appreciate your understanding and will respond to emails during my working hours."

I can't wait to start utilizing this...for research purposes only 👀.

Tima Miroshnichenko

7. Please, log off from work when it's time.

Unless you're scheduled to work late, take the time to log off from work and not think about it until the next day. Baum says, "Commit to fully logging off once the workday ends—no 'quick email replies' or sneaking in work over the weekend." I'm eyeing you Ms. "I just need to send a quick email" while you're on vacation or spending time with your significant other.

Baum says creating this separation works because "fully disconnecting allows your mind to reset and recharge" which ends up "making you more efficient, creative, and focused during actual work hours." According to her, you'll eventually "improve personal well-being" and "enhance long-term work performance."

As soon as my work day is over, I make a beeline for the shower so I can decompress. After that, I take my time with my skincare routine and keep my phone out of reach so I'm not tempted to look at anything work-related. I'm not always successful, but I've noticed a difference in my mood since making this shift.

Yan Krukau

8. Speak Up When You're Feeling Overwhelmed

And if you're 100% drained because you've been trying to tackle work tasks during and after hours, Frazier and Pepin want you to speak up. "If you're feeling overwhelmed with your workload, approach your manager with honesty and a focus on solutions," they suggest. Here's another prompt of theirs you can use:

  • "I've been noticing that my workload has extended beyond regular hours, and maintaining balance is becoming challenging. Could we discuss prioritizing tasks or adjusting expectations to ensure I can deliver quality work without compromising my well-being?"
What this does is "frame the conversation as collaborative and proactive, encouraging your manager to work with you on a resolution," Frazier and Pepin observe.

Visit more of our work-life articles when you need career advice or how to learn to part ways with burnout for good.