Manybusiness people work all the time, including weekends, not because they have to, but because theywantto. However, even the most dedicated professional needs downtime to recharge their batteries and get ready for next week, next month and later this year. Taking time to make sure work is balanced with me-time can help you avoid burnout and improve your qualiity of life as well as your productivity at work.
Here are just some of the activities successful people enjoy on weekends.
1. Spend time with family
This is a no-brainer. Your spouse and your family are part ofthe reasons you work so hard – to make things better for you and your loved ones. Enjoy some downtime by doing family activities to energize and motivate you for what’s coming up.
2. Schedule your downtime
There’s not that much of it, so put it to best use by organizing your time off. Schedule an appointment with yourself to go see a movie or spend time reading in the park. Recognize how important downtime is to long-term success and schedule some time for the things you want to do.
3. But...be flexible
Don’t plan every hour of every weekend. If you were going to work Saturday morning, but the kids want to hike the nearby trail, reschedule and put family first on the weekends. Spending time with loved ones has therapeutic value, strengthening bonds between family members.
4. Get some exercise
You don’t have to join an expensive gym or buy a pricey bike. All you need is a good pair of walking shoes to spend an hour or two each weekend working out the kinks and aches and pains. Walking a couple of miles puts a little lift in your step, and your muscles feel relaxed and ready for another work week. Play a round of golf, do some laps in the pool, get your heart rate into your target zone, and gradually increase your mileage over time. Consider wearing an activity tracker that measures your steps so you know you’re getting at least the minimum daily exercise.
5. Unplugfrom work
Turn off the smartphone. Don’t check your email eight times a day. Turn off the tablet and the TV – go without electricity for part of the day and enjoy being disconnected from the rest of the world. Email and voicemail will still be waiting for you when you reconnect.
6. Find your passion
Go fishing. Join a band or chorus. Volunteer at the local community theater. Do something you'll think about all week anddream about Monday through Friday. Set aside some Saturday and Sunday time to do that activity that gets you excited. That’s why we have weekends.
7. Take care of your body
During the week, you may get too little sleep, survive on coffee and junk food, and wind down after work with too many co*cktails. The weekend can be your chance to catch up on quality sleep and eat healthy meals.
8. See your friends
Have a dinner party or barbeque. Spend the day at the lake with friends. Enjoy your favorite restaurant and a movie with the neighbors. People generate energy when they’re having fun – energy you can store and use to make yourself more productive next week. Socialize to boost workplace productivity.
9. Meditate
It’s not hard to do. You can meditate anywhere, any time. You don’t have to take classes or dress in a leotard. You need peace and quiet, and the willingness to turn off your mind and drift away to relaxation.
10. Plan something special for Sunday night
The weekend is over, you’re looking at your work schedule, and you’re stressed as the new week begins. Don’t sit around the house fretting. Go to a movie or concert. Invite friends over for a night of board games– do something to take your mind off work on Sunday evenings. It doesn’t have to be a big thing or an expensive thing, but it does have to distract you from the Sunday night blahs.
Plan your weekends with work-life balance in mind. Get yourself organized, certainly, and work a little if you have to, but weekends are the time to strike the balance you and your family have earned.
