A long week at work can take a huge toll on our bodies. And as a result of that, we need to rest properly over the weekend so that we are fresh and ready for the week ahead.
Fortunately, two days are plenty of time to rest both our minds and body from work, and you don’t actually need to do a whole lot to make sure that you’re fully recharged for the week ahead.
The best way to take advantage of the weekend is to break it down into small chunks. This will help you properly manage the time you have for yourself on the weekends. With a prioritised list of what to do and when to do it, you can easily recharge your batteries for the upcoming work week.
To help you figure out what you need to do to ensure that you’re properly rested, in this article, we will outline the best ways to recharge your batteries after a long week at work.
Get Plenty of Sleep
Sleep is so important for your physical and mental health. When people get too little sleep, they can become depressed or irritable and even experience physical effects, such as high blood pressure.
On the weekends, you should take advantage of any extra time to sleep. Research says that adults should be getting around 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night.
Missing out on a good night’s sleep can be damaging to your health and lead to an increased risk of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and mental distress. Schedule some extra naps during your weekend and allow yourself to sleep in without feeling guilty.
Getting a bit of extra sleep can be hard if you are a parent, but you should still try. Proper sleep will help you feel refreshed and recharged for the following work week.
Exercise
Exercise is important to get you feeling restored, especially if you work a job where you’re sitting at your desk for the bigger part of the day.
Whether you want to go outdoors, to a gym, or just complete a high-energy activity, all that matters is that you schedule some movement time into your weekend. This will get your blood flowing and help you to feel revitalized before the new work week begins.
Spend Time with Friends and Family
People need human contact. Connecting with the people that make us the happiest is essential to one’s well-being. Throughout the week, while busy with work, you may not have the time needed to hang out with those you love.
Over the weekend, you can schedule some time to spend with the people that make you happy. You can spend time with your partner or spouse, your kids, your friends, or your family. It does not matter as long as you are enjoying the time together.
You do not need to set aside a whole day. Something simple like a lunch together to catch up will do wonders for your mental health.
Eat a Nice Meal
Weeknights are often very hectic, especially if you work long hours or have children. Despite that, weekends are most likely the only days where you actually have time to plan and do something.
And that something can be something as simple as going out and having a nice meal with your friends or family. It can be a simple brunch or a fancy dinner.
If that’s not something you’re interested in, you can also spend some time cooking your favourite food at home.
Self-Care
Self-care is extremely important and allows you to focus on yourself and your needs. Self-care time is when you get to do what you enjoy doing. Choose something that allows you to take care of yourself and also allows you to have fun.
You can schedule time for a nice bath, a manicure, working on your car, a long walk, some alone time, or something else entirely. These are all great options. The only thing that matters is that it is something you enjoy doing to take care of yourself.
You should try to schedule multiple self-care moments throughout your weekend. At the very least, set aside time for one.
Sunday Night Fun
Sunday often brings the notion of the looming work week ahead. For this reason, you should give yourself something to look forward to before returning back to work.
Try scheduling an easy movie night, date night, or simple dinner with family or friends. Make sure it is small, easy to manage, and over in time for you to get enough sleep. You do not want to stress about cleaning up or how late it is before beginning work the next day.
Scheduling a fun Sunday evening will give you something to look forward to before the work week begins.
Conclusion
The most important thing to remember about recharging your batteries is that you need to take care of yourself. All of these options for feeling refreshed over the weekend focus on self-care and doing things that you enjoy and are good for your health, emotionally and physically.
If you are finding that your workweek truly overwhelms you all of the time, it may be time to reevaluate your schedule. Abiding burnout is key to living a healthy life. Talk with your boss if you need to, and remember to take charge of your weekends and schedule plenty of time for you.
