CELEBRATE MORE 3 DAY WEEKENDS OVER 2 DAYS

CELEBRATE MORE 3 DAY WEEKENDS OVER 2 DAYS

 

The 4^th of July is right around the corner. It might be a little bit more relaxed of a week as you slow to a long 3 day weekend. Briefly stated, the 4^th of July is the day that the US declared independence from the UK. Americans take this day to be proud, wave flags, and celebrate with families.

But every day that goes by, we are independent, we are free we are American. Work hard to not forget that. You can make your life a celebration with family every weekend or day off that you have. Many times we spend our days off running errands, cleaning, prepping for the following week, etc. Take this 4^th of July weekend, and at least 2 other weekends each month for the rest of the year, off, from errands and racing around.

 

 

Celebrate 2 day weekends with your family by grilling out, jumping in the pool or going to parks. Our race, race, rush, rush, world has instilled a habit in us to not stop. We take this habit right into the weekend, and don’t stop.

Instead of complaining on Sunday night that you wish every weekend was 3 days long, accept that it is rarely 3 days long and set it up so that you actually feel refreshed Monday morning.

You have to get to work Monday morning regardless, so why not be refreshed for it? Plus, the stronger and more positive and productive your Monday is, the better the rest of your work week will be.

 

Here are some tips on getting more relaxation and family time in on weekends that are not 3 days long:

1.       Break up your chores during the week. Sunday is traditionally laundry day, but it’s not the law. If you can do a few smaller loads during the week so that your entire Sunday is not a day of cleaning clothes, do that.

2.       Do grocery shopping after work on Friday. Yes, I know you want to relax after a long week. However, just push for 1 extra hour, and then grocery shopping won’t be on your mind all weekend, nor will you have to waste your Saturday or Sunday morning doing it.

3.       Get outside early. Instead of putzing around the house Saturday morning, only to then look at the clock and realize it is 1, putz around in the evening or late afternoon. Get outside first thing. Feeling the summer on your skin early in the morning will change your whole day. Planning an early beach or park day will get you up and out with family before putzing around consumes your day. Once you are out, chances are, you will be outside for the day.

4.       Don’t waste a Sunday. Sunday’s we often spend planning and organizing for the week. Then, we complain that tomorrow is Monday and “we never have time on the weekends.”  A day of planning and complaining is mentally and physically exhausting. Instead, spend Sunday for what is was meant to be, a day of rest and no work. Take some of your work day on Friday and plan for Monday. How often do you take breaks at work, gossip, check social media, etc.? Take back that time, and instead use it to plan for the following week.

 

This week is a good week to transition to a new schedule that frees up time on your weekend. Because you have 3 days off, try to edit your planning, laundry, grocery shopping and chore days this week. Then, this weekend, take all 3 days to just enjoy what life, freedom and independence has to offer you. The following week, try out your new found schedule again, so that your 2 day weekend is a bit more of a celebration.

Challenge: This week, think about 1 activity that feels like work that takes up a lot of your weekend time. Then, try to complete this work-like chore over your week instead of on your weekend. See if this makes your weekend more of a celebration!

 

Happy 4^th of July!