With our busy schedules, we look forward to Friday like it’s Christmas morning. Five o’clock hits, and we can’t wait to be off work, have our glass of wine poured and ready to enjoy our Saturday and Sunday. But when Sunday evening rolls around, we swear it was just Friday. Those 48 blissful hours fly by, and before we know it, we are hitting the snooze button on Monday morning. To make the most of the weekend, we need to ensure each moment is enjoyed and feel stimulated by the activities we revel in. To help you make the most out of your weekend, we are offering up six ways to feel rejuvenated and enjoy your weekend.
1. Have Something to Look Forward to
This may sound obvious, but you need to have something to look forward to other than the fact that it is a weekend. Make reservations at your favorite restaurant for Saturday night, purchase concert tickets, or plan a day vacation somewhere nearby! If you make plans for the weekend early in the week, you’ll spend your weekdays daydreaming about your fun activities that are just a few sleeps away! Don’t worry, on-the-fly plans are great to have too, as human beings we love spontaneity. But, make sure you have one solid event in the books!
2. Go on Adventures
We may not be able to jet set somewhere every weekend, but planning small adventures on your days off will give you a small fix until your next vacation. Taking mini adventures around your city or having a staycation is a great way to keep things exciting. This is a good reminder that “ life can’t just happen on vacations, so invite in some serendipity,” according to productivity expert Laura Vanderkam.
3. Have an Ongoing List of Dreams
You know all of those things you say you want to experience? Well, the weekend is the perfect time to do it. Instead of binge-watching your favorite shows on Netflix, dive into one of those things you have only been dreaming of starting. It could be as small as starting that French lesson you have been putting off or preparing a meal from your favorite cookbook to taking off to Italy to eat pasta. If you aren’t sure what your list entails, take some time to brainstorm all of the things you want to do in your life and write them down. Each weekend, try to check off something new!
4. Plan for Monday on Friday
When Friday evening rolls around, the last thing you want to do is think about Monday. But, preparing ahead of time will make the weekend more enjoyable and ward off any blues that come when we reach Sunday evening. Rule of thumb for Sunday: do not work. Complete all of your pressing tasks on Friday including checking and responding to emails and making any necessary phone calls that you would normally do on Monday morning. This way you can spend your Sunday enjoying the last bit of time off you have rather than stressing about what to do on Monday morning.
5. Unplug
Okay, it is unrealistic to be without your phone for the entire weekend. Instead, set aside a few hours to put your phone down and enjoy the company around you or the free time you have. We can get so consumed doing brainless activities like scrolling through Instagram and responding to every text message that comes in; we forget to decompress from this device that controls our days and zaps our energy. Recharge your phone and yourself by leaving your phone at home and taking a yoga class, or leave your phone in the car and grab brunch with your friends.
6. Have a Party
With your busy workweek, it can be easy to lose touch with friends, which, you may not realize, has a negative impact on your mental health! Getting together with your favorite people over for cocktails and food is a great way to have fun, maintain your social life, and rejuvenate from a busy week. Keep the menu simple, put on some good music, have your favorite bottle of wine and a do it yourself cocktail recipe for easy entertaining. There’s nothing better than getting lost in good conversations around a casual dining table with good friends and family.
