You stare at the clock until it says 5 p.m. on Friday. After a long week, the weekend is finally here. Now, it’s time to reset over the weekend.
But, how are you going to spend it?
Will you just stay in your PJs, watching Netflix all weekend and then feeling anxious on Sunday night because you’re dreading Monday? Or are you going to get the most out of your weekend so you can conquer not just Monday, but your entire week?
If you’re interested in the latter, you’ll need to reset over the weekend so you can hit the ground running on Monday. Here’s how you can reset over the weekend.
Clean your home.
Throughout the week, your home is bound to get a little dirty. Even if you clean up your kitchen after each use, there are things you probably can’t get to, like your bedding. You may not know it, but during the week, your bedding collects sweat, skin cells, soil, food crumbs, makeup, and dust mites. That’s why it needs to be washed weekly.
On top of that, you should give your entire home a quick cleaning. At the very least, your bathrooms and kitchen should be spotless. I know this isn’t everyone’s favorite chore, but if you stay on top of your cleaning, it won’t take you very long to do this each weekend.
When your home is clean, you’ll be better able to fight off infections and illness, get a good night’s sleep, and boost your productivity. That’s because cleaning is a physical activity that can also put you in a better mood.
Get organized.
Besides cleaning your home, take a couple of minutes to get organized. You may believe this is the same thing as cleaning your home — tidying is organizing, right? — but just because your place is sterile doesn’t mean there’s not clutter lying around.
For instance, go through your fridge and cabinets to make sure everything is back where it belongs. When you go to make breakfast on Monday morning, you won’t be searching for your eggs and spatula. Also, it gives you a chance to make sure you have all the ingredients needed for your meals for the week.
I also tidy up my home office so I can jump right into work on Monday morning without being distracted by the clutter that’s accumulated.
Declutter your digital life.
Speaking of decluttering, don’t forget to delete emails and apps you no longer use. If there are bookmarks you no longer read, ditch them as well.
I like to go through my Google Docs to make sure each document is in its correct folder. If I no longer need the doc, it gets trashed.
Spend time outside.
So far, you’ve been inside your home. Now, it’s time to enjoy the great outdoors so you can relieve stress and anxiety, strengthen your immune system, sharpen your focus, enhance your short-term memory, improve your vision and reduce weight gain.
Best of all? These benefits can be attained rather easily. Go for a hike, take your dog for a walk, work in your garden or just read a book outside. Doing so will recharge you mentally, emotionally and physically.
Socialize.
Humans, by nature, are social creatures. Even if you’re an introvert or a homebody, you need occasional socialization with family or friends. It could be anything from grabbing a cup of coffee to seeing a movie to going camping for the weekend.
The point is that we need to interact with others. And because we don’t always have the opportunity during the week, the weekend is the perfect time to catch up. Doing so helps us grow as individuals, relieves stress, boosts our self-confidence, lifts our spirits and helps us form new ideas or thoughts.
Do something new.
While it would be great to explore a new location every weekend, that’s not always possible. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have new experiences. It could be anything from trying out a new restaurant to crossing something off your bucket list.
When we have new experiences, we not only push ourselves out of our comfort zones, but we also introduce ourselves to new cultures, ideas and people. As a result, we feel rejuvenated and begin to look at things from a new perspective.
Give back.
Whether it’s volunteering at a nonprofit or helping a friend or family member out, the weekends are a great time to give back to others. Doing so will boost your self-esteem, allow you to develop new skills or knowledge, socialize, gain a new perspective on life, help you grow as an individual and make you feel needed.
Don’t neglect your health.
I know it’s tempting to just veg out on the couch and eat junk food all weekend. But being off the clock doesn’t mean you should neglect your health. If you do, you’ll feel sluggish when the new week comes around.
During the weekend, make sure you’re still physically active — you may want to lighten up your workout regimen so your body can heal. And make sure that you increase your fruit and veggie intake — think salads and smoothies.
Try out positive affirmations.
This may sound too New Age, but giving yourself words of encouragement helps you relieve tension, boost your self-esteem and shift your mindset from negative to positive. As a result, you’ll be able to tackle any obstacle that comes your way throughout the week.
Check your calendar, and create a fresh to-do list.
Every Sunday night, I check my calendar and create a to-do list for the upcoming week. This way, I know exactly what to expect and what I’ll need to be prepared. It’s a way of ensuring I’m managing my time wisely so I can have a fruitful week.
Besides reviewing my schedule and setting tasks for the week, I like to also prepare meals. I know plenty of people who cook all of their dinners for the entire week on Sunday. When they get home from work, exhausted and hungry, they can just heat a meal up.
Other ways to prepare for the week include doing all of your laundry and ironing. And don’t forget to lay out your clothes — that’s one less thing you have to worry about each morning.
Relax!
We’ve been on the go all week. So don’t feel bad about relaxing a little bit this weekend. You’ve earned it!
I usually stay home on Friday nights with my family. This gives me the opportunity to spend some quality time with my wife and daughter and catch up on some reading. I sometimes watch a documentary or a TV show. Having this quiet time allows me to decompress and reflect on the past week.
Time to Reset Over the Weekend
Feeling relaxed and now having a clear mind, I can start to shift my focus and energy to the upcoming week. By taking these steps to reset over the weekend, you can also make sure you don’t just start a new week, but own it.
