Many people live for the weekend — those two blissful days where the world is your oyster. And while I think that's a sad testament to how everyone is over-worked, I don't see our current work week changing any time soon. So that's why you have to make the most of your two precious days off.
Once Friday evening hits, you have just over 48 hours until Monday morning strikes again. Maybe that's a slightly dramatic way to look at it, but no one can say they don't feel that weekend pressure. We all use the end of the week to catch up on everything that got ignored while we were busy with work and school. It's the time to see your family, meet up with friends, go on a date, cook food, run all your errands, and weekend warrior yourself into oblivion at the gym.
Of course, sometimes a hectic weekend like that is necessary. But why not occasionally treat yourself to a real weekend? A weekend, as Google defines it: the period from Friday evening through Sunday evening, especially regarded as a time for leisure.
Leisure! As in relaxing, partaking in activities of your choosing, or simply doing nothing. It sounds so nice, and almost too good to be true. But it's possible, and even necessary for your mental health. You should feel refreshed come Monday morning, and the best way to do that is by turning your weekend into a mini vacation. Here are some tips for doing just that.
1. For The Love Of God, Don't Check Your Emails
Whenever I have a moment of peace, I immediately grab my phone and check email. It's a habit that becomes ingrained during the week, when one important message is rolling in after the other. But the pattern needs to stop on Friday evening, when work should officially be the last thing from everyone's mind. Turn off your email alerts, and give yourself a break from all the requests, demands, and follow-ups. I promise, it can wait until Monday.
2. Skip The To-Do List
One of the most annoying things about being a grown adult is the structure. Ugh, the structure. Whether you're in school for days, or heading off to a nine to five job, you can pretty much guess what each day has in store for you. So on the weekend, give yourself a little vacation from it all and throw the to-do list out the window. No wake up times, no chores, no appointments. Just be your truest self at home in your pajamas, for as long as you like.
3. Do Your Drinking And Partying On Friday
The point of the weekend is to have fun, but it's also the only time during the week when you can truly rest. To get the best of both worlds, I recommend going out and doing your drinking/dancing/bar-hopping thing on Friday night, and save Saturday and Sunday for your recovery days. You can sleep in, nurse a hangover, catch up on your Netflix queue, and be fully refreshed by Monday.
4. Go Wandering And See What Happens
Clearly I'm an advocate for lack of structure on the weekend, because I love the idea of heading out with no plans and seeing where the day takes you. Think about it — when you're on a vacation, which are the best and most memorable days? Usually the ones where you don't have a plan, and you spend the day wandering around and taking in the sights. This can be done in your very own town (or maybe the next town over, to spice things up a bit). Go see what you can see.
5. Have An Hour-Long Getaway With Friends
Is there anything more adorable than a gaggle of girlfriends heading out to the spa for massages, or the local diner for brunch? I've seen movies, so I'm fairly certain there is nothing more adorable. That's why when you're finished lazing around the house, you might want to set up some kind of date with your friends. It can be something fun, local, and cheap, such as grabbing a cup of coffee. Or a bit more luxurious, like a professional spa facial. Either way, I recommend cashing in some of that weekend time to catch up with friends. You'll be glad you did.
6. Resit Your Sunday Night Freakout
Nobody likes Sunday night because it's hard to shake the thought of another workweek looming on the horizon. But why waste your life constantly fretting about the future? Don't think about it until you get there on Monday morning. Until that moment comes, keep doing your thing and enjoying your time off.
Saturday and Sunday are the two days where you can be yourself, rest up, and finally do something fun. So make the most of these 48 hours by treating yourself to the most relaxing weekend possible.
Images: AleksandarNakic/E+/Getty Images; Giphy
