The reality of modern life is that we spend most of our weeks in a frantic race for schedules, to-do-lists, deadlines and chores. The exhausting Monday to Friday vortex takes its toll on our energy as we try to maximize our efficiency and productivity. More than ever, rebooting our batteries over the weekend is a must: those 48 hours should be a time to tune out from all the stress and tune into things we love. Here are 4 ways to make your weekends more relaxing.
Disconnect from work and reconnect with those you love.
A good work-life balance is essential to physical and mental health, as well as overall well-being. On weekends, make a point to disconnect from work. Instead, reconnect with yourself and the people who matter in your life.
Invest time in your favorite hobbies.
Whether it’s meditating, reading or exercising, investing time in your favorite hobbies over the weekend allows you to disengage from work, ultimately helping you recover from your week.
Minimize household tasks.
Reconsider your weekly routine to avoid getting stuck with house cleaning and shopping on weekends. Consider online grocery shopping, clean up a little every day (one room per day is a good way), share the workload with family members and learn to accept some disorder from time to time. Author Erin Rooney Doland also recommends spreading homework time during the week and setting duration limits to accomplish chores.
Sleep in only if you really need to.
Sleeping in for few extra hours on the weekend isn’t the best way to catch up on sleep missed during the week. A study from Harvard Medical School demonstrated that it’s impossible to catch up on sleep to improve body performance. So this weekend, instead of dreaming about eliminating your sleep debt, start planning a regular sleeping routine for a more restful weekend and a better week ahead.
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References:
https://academic.oup.com/sleep/article/40/10/zsx135/4056064
https://sleep.med.harvard.edu/news/337/A+Catch+Up+Night+Of+Sleep+Not+Enough+to+Compensate
http://erin.doland.org/about.php Unclutter Your Life in One Week (2009, Gallery Books).
