Four Free Things

Fiction is a nice break from
the harsh realities of nonfiction.

Four Free Things is a (mostly) weekly feature here on The Green Gazelle. Each Friday, I share four free or almost free things I plan to do over the weekend next week. Share the free or cheap things you've got planned in the comments section of this post.

This weekend's theme is PRODUCTIVITY!

1. Read.
I just picked up a fiction book in the middle of the four nonfiction books I am attempting to get through. Such a nice change of pace. I'd like to try to read this novel for at least 5-10 minutes every night before bed.

2. Thank Yous
I've got a few thank yous I want to write, and plenty of blank thank you cards in my stash. I didn't grow up writing thank you cards—my family just didn't do that—so the discovery that it was an expectation of adults has taken some getting used to. But I do enjoy it, even if I don't always remember to do it, and this weekend I'm going to get a few sent out.

3. More Catch Up
This queen of procrastination hasn't even come close to catching up on my to-do list. Time to get cracking!

4. Reset My Sleep Schedule
I don't know why I think I'm twenty-something and can stay up late, but I am not and I can't. I tend to start to get ready for bed at ten. This often involves walking the dogs, doing the dishes, reading, etc. and it is usually nearly midnight before I drift off to sleep. And the next morning? You guessed it—I bound out of bed with a smile on my face and proceed to be a productive joy to be around. Oh, wait. Nope, that's not me.

This weekend, I'm going to make a goal to be in bed at 9. After reading in bed, I should have no problem falling asleep by 10. That way I can get a full 8 hours of sleep and still be up at 6, and start my day out on a good note rather than a sleepy one.

What are you doing in the next seven days that won't cost you an arm and a leg? Any productivity tasks you are planning to cross off your to-do list?