Inside: Use these tips to stop living for the weekend and enjoy every day of your life more!
When we start our weeks, many of us have a singular goal in mind – make it to Friday.
We’re ready for the week to be over before it’s actually begun. We keep a running clock in our mind, a countdown toward the weekend – the time that most of us get to put work on the back burner and focus on fun or relaxation.
Living for the weekend has become such a norm that we don’t think twice when others complain about having to navigate the other five days of the week. Most of us willingly join in the conversation.
But living for the weekend is essentially wishing away your life – something that we’ll inevitably regret.
Instead of living for the weekend, it’s time to shift your mindset and live for each and every day.
Sure, work is inevitable for most of us. But there are ways you can shake up your routine and infuse a little more joy, excitement, and passion into your work week so you aren’t just watching the clock and counting down the hours until five o’clock on Friday.
5 Tips on How to Stop Living for the Weekend
Use these tips to stop living for the weekend and get the most out of each day!
1. Reconsider your current job.
If you find yourself waking up every day filled with dread instead of excitement and energy, there’s one constant that you might want to evaluate – your job.
We spend too much of our lives working to find ourselves stuck in a job that we hate, surrounded by people that leave us exhausted, doing tasks that aren’t challenging or remotely enjoyable.
But leaving our job is often easier said than done. There’s a sense of security that comes with knowing what you’re getting into each day – and taking the plunge to shift companies or even careers, is an uncomfortable choice for most of us to make.
If you think your job might be a major source of unhappiness in your life, consider a change. And not just a company change – a career shift might be in order to find a job that aligns with your priorities and values, lets you put your skills to use, and leaves you feeling fulfilled.
Meeting with a career coach can be a great way to identify what elements of your job are bringing you down and find potential careers that you’re better suited for.
But if you don’t have that in your budget, that’s OK – a pencil, a piece of paper, and some thought-provoking questions will go a long way in helping you work out what you really want to do. Talking with a couple of people who are close to you can also provide helpful feedback and direction.
Remember that you get to decide what success looks like in your life.
2. Switch up your routine.
It’s easy to fall into a rut when it comes to life outside of work – but that doesn’t have to be your reality.
Shaking up your routine is an easy and effective way to bring a little more joy into your life on a daily basis. Simply take a look at your day and the things you do before and after work and think about how you can do something different.
If you always drink your morning coffee at your dining room table, consider taking it outside and sipping it in the backyard while you get some fresh air – or treating yourself to a latte at a local cafe on your way to the office once in a while.
If you go for a run every day after work, pick a new path to explore, or switch it up by dropping into a yoga class instead for a new challenge.
Switching up your routine can be as simple as bringing something different to work for lunch, incorporating a few self-care habits into your day, or starting a new book that you’ve been wanting to read.
3. Find ways to have fun during the week.
Believe it or not, you can absolutely have fun on days other than Saturday and Sunday. Sure, it might take a little more effort – but it’s well worth it.
Think about the things that bring you joy. Does spending time with your friends fill your cup? Live music at local concerts? Intentionally moving your body – or a relaxing afternoon at the spa?
You can do all of those things before or after work, if you’re willing to shift your schedule and put a little effort into the process. Grab dinner or a drink with a different friend each Wednesday.
Schedule a facial at your favorite spa for a Thursday afternoon. Instead of waiting until the weekend to hike a new trail, wake up early and make it happen on a Monday.
Sign up for a class to learn something new or practice a well-loved hobby – a dance class, a pottery class, a photography class, a pilates class. Head to a local brewery for trivia night or bingo.
Sure, each of these things require time – but you’ve got to spend that time doing something. Might as well make it fun!
4. Automate the mundane.
Not sure how you’ll have the time to squeeze in more fun and spontaneity during the week? It’s time to look at your schedule and find ways to streamline the stuff that you have to do that isn’t actually bringing you joy.
There are lots of things we have to do every day to function. We have to get ready in the morning. We have to eat dinner and prep for bed in the evening.
Maybe you’ve got kids, a husband, a pet – someone or something that requires additional effort and time from you. You can’t always get rid of those things, but you can find ways to make those obligations a little less painful.
Hate cooking dinner every night or prepping lunches each morning? Learn about meal planning and see how you can tackle a week’s worth of cooking in an hour or two on Sunday.
Feel like you spend way too much time picking out your outfit each morning? Plan them in advance and hang them in your closet, day by day, so you can just grab and go.
Loathe chores and cleaning the house? See if you can splurge on a bi-weekly housekeeping service – or just get a Roomba to tackle some of the work.
By implementing time management strategies you can be more efficient with the time you have to free up additional time for fun!
5. Shift your perspective
Another way to stop living for the weekend is by intentionally shifting your focus on the things that you’re grateful for throughout the week.
Creating an ongoing gratitude practice will improve your life and your perspective.
While not always easy to do initially, when you think in terms of get to vs have to it helps you to see the good things in your life.
It’s easy to get caught up in our own thoughts and sabotage the good by focusing on what’s lacking rather than what’s already there.
To stop living for the weekend, be present in the moment, and appreciate the good things to find more joy in your life each day.
Final Thoughts on How to Stop Living for the Weekend
Similar to the idea in the quote above about building a life you don’t need a vacation from, design your days so that you stop living for the weekend.
When you focus on what’s most important to you, look for ways to add more fun and enjoyment to your week, and shift your perspective to one of gratitude you can more fully appreciate each day that you have.
What will you do to enjoy your life more and stop living for the weekend? Leave a comment and let me know!
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The post How to Stop ‘Living For the Weekend’ and Enjoy Your Life More appeared first on The Simplicity Habit.