It’s the weekend, and you’re finally taking some time for yourself. But before you can truly relax and enjoy your time off, there are six things that you need to watch out for. If you don’t prioritize yourself first, these six things will quickly ruin your weekend!
1. Don’t let work invade your weekends.
This one sounds obvious but can be harder to stick to than you might think. Just because you can access your work email from your phone doesn’t mean you should be checking it constantly. If you find yourself starting to check work email or getting wrapped up in work-related tasks, stop yourself immediately. This is your time to relax and recharge, so don’t let work ruin it.
Work can wait until Monday morning.
If you have a big project due or something important coming up at work, it can be tempting to try and get a head start on it over the weekend. But resist the urge! You need to give yourself a break from work, even if it’s just for a few days.
Ignore phone calls and emails from work unless it’s an emergency.
And if you do have to deal with work over the weekend, set a strict limit for yourself. 60 minutes on Sunday morning to tie up loose ends? That’s it. Once that time is up, your work day is done.
2. Don’t let others control your time.
Just because it’s the weekend doesn’t mean that you have to spend every waking minute with other people. In fact, sometimes it’s important to spend time alone. Recharge your batteries by doing things that you enjoy and make you feel good.
Don’t let anyone guilt you into spending time with them if you really don’t want to.
And if you do want to spend time with others, make sure that it’s on your terms. Don’t let anyone else dictate how you spend your time.
You should also make sure that you’re not over-scheduling yourself. Just because you have free time doesn’t mean you have to fill every minute of it. Sometimes it’s important to just relax and do nothing.
Do things that make you happy and spend time with people who make you feel good.
I recently discovered the slang “JOMO” which stands for the “joy of missing out.” It’s the feeling of contentment that comes from knowing that you don’t have to do everything and be everywhere. JOMO is a great way to approach your weekends.
Don’t worry about what you’re “missing out” on and focus on what will make YOU happy.
3. Don’t let guilt over not doing enough take over.
This is a big one for me. I’m always hard on myself for not doing enough, especially when it comes to things like exercise and productivity. But just because it’s the weekend doesn’t mean you have to be productive 24/7.
And even if you are being productive, don’t beat yourself up if it’s not enough.
Remember that you’re entitled to a weekend. You don’t have to justify it to anyone. And most importantly, don’t let guilt ruin your hard-earned time off.
Focus on the positive and be proud of yourself for taking some time for yourself.
The bottom line is that you need to do what’s best for YOU.
4. Don’t let negative thinking keep you from enjoying yourself.
This is similar to guilt, but it’s worth mentioning on its own. If you find yourself thinking negative thoughts like “I’m not good enough” or “I don’t deserve this,” stop yourself immediately.
These thoughts will only hold you back and keep you from enjoying your time off. Instead, focus on the positive and remind yourself of all the things you have to be grateful for.
It’s also important to remember that everyone deserves a break. You’re not lazy or selfish for taking some time for yourself. In fact, you’re probably overdue!
Imagine this. A person is letting their thoughts consume them rather than being in the present. When they’re at work, they are thinking about time off and when they’re on vacation, they are thinking about work.
Don’t let this be you!
Negative thinking is a destructive force. Don’t let it ruin your weekend or your life.
Give yourself permission to relax and enjoy your weekend without negative thoughts holding you back.
5. Don’t let social media monopolize your time.
Social media can be a great way to stay connected with friends and family, but it can also be a huge time waster. If you find yourself mindlessly scrolling through your newsfeed for hours on end, it’s time to take a break.
Set some boundaries for yourself and make sure that you’re not spending more time on social media than you want to.
And if you do want to spend time on social media, make sure that it’s intentional. Use it as a way to connect with loved ones or learn something new. But don’t just mindlessly scroll through your newsfeed without purpose.
You might also want to consider taking a break from social media altogether. If it’s something that stresses you out or makes you feel bad about yourself, it might be best to just step away for a while.
Remember that you don’t have to be available 24/7. It’s okay to take a break from social media and disconnect from the digital world.
Your weekends are a great time to do this. So turn off your phone and enjoy some quality time offline.
6. Don’t let money stress you out.
Money is a common source of stress for many people. But just because it’s the weekend doesn’t mean you have to spend money.
There are plenty of things you can do that are free or very low cost. So if you’re feeling stressed about money, take some time to enjoy the simple things in life.
Go for a walk in the park, read a book, or spend time with loved ones. These things are priceless and they don’t cost a thing.
So don’t let money ruin your weekend. There’s more to life than material possessions.
If you have money but obsess over saving it, you’ll never be happy.
I’ve seen so many people put off doing things they love because they’re “saving” for something or waiting for that end of year vacation or retirement altogether. But the truth is, you can’t put a price on happiness.
So if you have the means to do something you enjoy, don’t wait. Even if it’s on a smaller scale, like going out to eat or buying a new book, do it.
You’ll be happy you did.
The key is to find a balance between spending and saving. Don’t let money rule your life or dictate how you spend your weekends.
Final thoughts
Make sure you’re not letting any of the six things above ruin your weekends.
If you are, it’s time to take a step back and reassess how you’re spending your weekends. Make sure to prioritize yourself first and enjoy the simple things in life.
Your weekends are a time to relax, recharge, and rejuvenate. So make the most of them!
Do you have any tips for enjoying your weekends? Share them in the comments below!
Take care and happy weekend!