Weekend
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Seek a 4-day workweek or a 4x10 schedule if possible.
It feels like having a whole other life, addressing the absurd lack of free time in our lives.
- Management may end such experiments.
one person who lived it
Find a job you do not hate.
One person reported not minding Mondays because they like their job.
2 people, independently
Work out big decisions by asking if you will regret doing them as a waste of time when you are 70 years old.
Looking back, one may wish they had invested in things with a return rather than letting other things consume their life.
one person who lived it
Balance your time between work and play.
Excessive work without play leads to dullness.
one person who lived it
List all Monday duties on Friday afternoon before heading out for the weekend.
This eases the stress of recalling tasks during the break, lets you fully disconnect from work, and helps you begin the week with clear direction.
3 people, independently
Travel on Saturday and Monday instead of Friday and Sunday to save money on flights and avoid Monday morning work stress.
Flights are cheaper on these days and avoids the stress of returning to work on Monday.
- Stuff tends to be closed on Sundays.
one person who lived it
Shrink tasks down to tiny pieces so they fit into your daily habits.
3 people, independently
Eat meals without using your phone.
It makes the experience more enjoyable and may lead to eating less.
one person who lived it
Take a class once a week to learn something new; doing more than once a week becomes cumbersome.
Doing more than once a week becomes cumbersome.
one person who lived it
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Plan dinner menus, grocery shop, and prep food like cutting veggies for the week on Sunday.
Meal prep is better than nothing, even if it isn't fun.
one person who lived it
Rest your body on Sunday while maintaining your morning routine.
It allows you to recharge for the week without throwing off your rhythm.
one person who lived it
Allow yourself to lounge on the sofa all day after doing chores on weekends to recharge from work.
It is okay to wait for free time and recharge.
one person who lived it
Return to work or school on a Thursday or Friday after a long absence.
The first day back is tiring and socializing takes time; returning late in the week provides a weekend break to recover.
- Returning on Friday may require working overtime over the weekend to catch up.
- Taking Monday through Friday off allows you to combine both weekends into one longer break.
one person who lived it
Find joy in your weekdays instead of postponing happiness to the weekend.
Postponing happiness is dangerous; truly happy people find joys in their present lives.
one person who lived it
Before Monday work begins, recall two highlights from your weekend so you have a ready, safe-for-work answer for colleagues.
This ensures you don't seem unprepared when asked how your weekend was.
one person who lived it
Schedule a small, enjoyable treat on a typically difficult weekday to make it more bearable.
Doing something nice that you don't normally do on those days makes them better.
one person who lived it
- If you dislike Mondays, schedule a weekly enjoyable activity—such as lunch with a friend, watching a favorite TV show, or eating a preferred breakfast cereal—to look forward to.2
Show up for job applications as soon as you are available, rather than waiting for a specific day.
A job posted on a Friday can be filled by Tuesday, and waiting for a 'perfect day' causes you to miss out entirely.
one person who lived it
If you slip up on a goal, acknowledge it and resume working on it immediately rather than postponing.
Waiting makes it easier to postpone the plan.
one person who lived it
Stop viewing Saturday and Sunday as 'the weekend' and instead view any non-working time as free time.
One person found this reframe increased their productivity.
one person who lived it
Seek casual commercial cleaning shifts on Friday nights.
Friday is the busiest night for office cleaning, so employers often hire casual staff specifically for that shift.
one person who lived it
Golf on Sundays instead of Saturdays.
It gives you something to look forward to on Sunday.
one person who lived it
Save small condiment packets in a dated basket in the fridge and use them at home instead of buying full bottles.
It saves time and resources by using what you already have meaningfully.
one person who lived it
Perform DIY projects involving power or water shut-offs on weekdays.
Professional help is more available and affordable on weekdays if something goes wrong.
one person who lived it
Shower in the morning to warm up your cold, sleepy body and activate your physical senses.
Showers warm the body and get physical senses going.
one person who lived it
Pack your weekdays with work, exercise, cooking, cleaning, and reading to make them impactful.
It makes your weekdays incredibly impactful.
one person who lived it
Spend ten minutes every Sunday organizing five complete workout outfits for the week.
Removing barriers to getting out the door eliminates excuses for skipping workouts.
one person who lived it
Handle household tasks on weekday nights to secure a completely free weekend.
3 people, independently
Limit what you promise to accomplish on weekends, recognizing that weekend time is finite.
Weekend time is not infinite.
one person who lived it
Make your bed the night before to sleep better and avoid fighting with covers in the morning.
one person who lived it
If your workplace allows remote days, schedule them for Wednesday (or Monday and Wednesday) instead of Friday.
Fridays are commonly chosen by everyone, leaving the office empty; Wednesdays avoid this crowd.
one person who lived it