Dr. Slava Shut

We’ve all been there, you punch the clock on Friday and a feeling of relief washes over you – finally, the weekend! You’re ready to go out, party, and…

Suddenly it’s Sunday night and you somehow spent $150 on dinner and drinks on Friday night, got a total of 5 hours of sleep, and you’re not sure how, but your keys ended up in the fridge. And ugh, you have to be at work bright and early tomorrow. How did you get here?

Trust me, you’re not the first person to have their weekend slip away from them. Because we place so much emphasis on work during the week and push ourselves to the limit, we tend to overcorrect and try to cram as much fun into our weekend as possible (which, surprise, doesn’t end up being very fun). But just because you clock out from work on Friday doesn’t mean you have to clock out from keeping your weekend productive. Here’s three ways you can find balance and feel refreshed and ready to take on the week by Sunday night:

1. Change Up Your Routine

Try doing a task that’s different from the ones you do during your work week. Instead of sitting and catching up on emails, play an instrument you like, or go play a game of soccer. Engaging a different part of your mind and body can foster creativity, relieve stress, and make you a happier, more successful person.

2. Clean

Tidying up your space is a surefire way to feel productive both while and after you clean. And you don’t have to clean everything at once, make it specific – go through your closet and donate all the clothes that don’t fit anymore; tackle that junk drawer in your desk; do the laundry. Plus, decluttering can really help clear your mind of anxiety and drop things that are taking up space and holding you down. You don’t need that CVS receipt from 2018, trust me.

3. Actually Relax!

It’s hard to do, I know, but the only way to keep yourself from overcorrecting or burning out is to achieve balance in your life. When you decide to take some time and relax, make sure it’s relaxing to you. Love yoga? Take a class on Saturday morning. Enjoy reading? Give yourself a full hour to tackle that new book without any distractions. Giving yourself the full attention you deserve will make the time feel special, as opposed to diverting your attention to your emails every five minutes. Recognize that rest is an incredibly important part of your overall health and remember to give yourself that time. You’ll feel recharged and invigorated rather than guilty.

Now am I telling you that you can’t party on the weekend? Absolutely not! Everyone deserves to have fun but overdoing it can feel just as draining. Remember, the key here is balance.

What’re your plans this weekend, and how do you take time to relax?

#drslavashut #weekend