Research suggests what we’ve been talking about for many years: weekends are good for us and we need to treat them as vacation. According to psychologists, weekends are crucial for our mental health because they provide a dedicated time for rest, relaxation, and disconnection from work-related stress, allowing us to recharge and improve our overall well-being. How? By engaging in activities that nurture social connections, hobbies, and personal interests, ultimately leading to better coping mechanisms and reduced burnout. 

But let's be honest, sometimes the weekend can blur into a whirlwind of chores and errands. Instead of taking the time to indulge in some carefree, relaxing and mindless activities, we use the weekend to do what’s left from our busy calendar. Laundry, chores, the workout we missed. And when we finish everything it’s Sunday evening again. 

When we consistently fail to decompress during weekends, the consequences can be significant and detrimental to our overall well-being and work performance. When we put ourselves in a constant pressure and not let some downtime in between our workdays, we have higher risk of chronic stress, anxiety, which could eventually lead to burnout. Also, not taking sometime and not spending some quality time for rest can make us feel moody, impatient and tense.

The good news is that even short periods of relaxation and mindfulness can have a significant impact and can help us better rest and prepare for the busy week ahead —as long as we focus on some “targeted” and strategic relaxation. This means, that we don’t have to leave everything behind, as long as we engage in some more productive activities than binge watching TV shows. And if you can’t think of anything, here are 6 fun and easy ways to try this weekend and get ready for the week.

Brain Dump & Plan 

Instagram dump is cool, but brain dump is even cooler, this is why you should start your weekend with a clean slate! Jot down all those swirling thoughts and to-dos. Once they're out of your head, categorize them (work, personal, errands) and create a simple, achievable to-do list for the week. Prioritize which of those errands you can combine during your commuting to work, e.g. picking up the dry cleaning or going to the grocery store before you come back home. Also, you don’t have to dedicate a whole day —yes, your Saturday—for doing the chores. You can focus on one thing every day, e.g. laundry on Monday, bathroom cleaning on Tuesday, etc. This way, you won’t spend all your weekend cleaning and dreaming of your ideal Saturday evening. Dump on this list your frustrations with people and challenges at work and promise yourself that you will deal with them first thing on Monday morning. 

Tech Detox 

When we are in and out of meeting and have to deliver the project, the last thing we have time to do is to check our social and scroll down for the latest articles on the Working Gal. However, if your feel tempted to spend your weekend to catch up with everything that is happening in Hollywood or the latest news of your favorite influencers, then you may want to reconsider doing it during the weekend. You need to give your eyes and mind a break!Unplug from social media, put down the phone, and enjoy the present moment. Read a book, listen to music, or simply gaze out the window. Our brain gets so much online information every day and feeding it with more during the weekend will have the opposite effect and you probably going to feel more overwhelmed on Monday morning. 

Declutter & Organize 

A tidy space equals a tidy mind! According to experts, clutter can negatively affect your brain by decreasing your ability to focus, increasing stress levels, impairing working memory, and making it harder to process information efficiently, as the brain is constantly trying to sort through visual distractions in a cluttered environment, leading to cognitive overload and potentially impacting your mood and overall well-being. This weekend, spend some time decluttering your home or workspace. You'll feel lighter and more focused. Write a list with the things you want to organize and start this weekend. Maybe it’s time to throw away this plant that has not been alive since last year and declutter your vanity of expired or used products. The amount of satisfaction you will gain is significant; so significant that will make you feel even more productive for your errands during the week. 

Meal Prep Magic 

Balancing healthy eating and work can be challenging when you work overtime, but if you choose to put one thing on your errand list for the weekend, the most practical would definitely be meal prep. If you prepping your meals during the weekend, you can save valuable time and stress during the week by prepping some healthy meals in advance. Chop veggies, marinate proteins, or even cook a big batch of soup which you can use during the week, without having to care a lot about food. The satisfaction after doing so will be prevalent during the whole week. Been there, done that and verify: meal prep is a game changer!

Learn Something New 

Always wanted to learn to knit? Play the guitar? Now's the time! Dedicate some time to a new hobby or skill and make use of your weekend in a creative and exciting way. Also, if you don’t feel much creative and you are in your career advancing era, you can take some free courses that can help you progress professionally. Learning something new is always good for our brain, because it fills it with useful information and stimuli that engender positive emotions and make us feel more productive and accomplished. Imagine how motivated you will be to go to work on Monday!

Nature Therapy 

Spend some time in nature. Go for a hike, have a picnic in the park, or simply sit in your backyard and soak up the sunshine. Try to get as much vitamin D as you can and enjoy the mindfulness. According to the Mental Health Foundation, our relationship with nature is critical in supporting good mental health and preventing distress. The Stress Reduction Theory (SRT) explains that observing natural scenery can have a calming effect and natural light can help regulate the body's clock and may help prevent or alleviate symptoms of stress. Just don’t bring your phone with you; grab your loved ones and let nature do its wonder!