In that TGIF mindset and it’s only Tuesday? We hear ya! We’ve all had those days where we’re just counting down the seconds until we get home. Then the weekend comes, and it feels like all your free time flows like water down a drain. You feel defeated, frustrated, and stressed about the work week to come.
How can you avoid that cycle and make the most of your days off? Follow these quick tips from Urban Balance.
Get Solid Sleep
Never undervalue a good night of sleep. This is your best defense against stress and sadness. You may not have time to sleep a full night throughout the week, but you do have time on your days off. Use it. Rest the night before your day off, and rest again every night that you can. You’ll feel much more refreshed when you go back to work.
Make a To-Do List and Get It To-DONE!
If you have tasks you need to complete on your days off, make a list. Tackle the list as early as possible so you have the rest of the time to relax. It’s easy to procrastinate and put things off ’til the last minute, but then you have to worry about them all weekend. If you get them done right away, you will feel accomplished and you’ll know how much free time you truly have left.
Avoid Over-Planning Your Free Time
This is a two-part tip. Avoid scheduling out every second of your free time. There should be a level of flexibility to it that lets you do what you want, when you want. Secondly, you should avoid cramming your free time with ‘fun’ tasks. Socializing can be exhausting, and it can leave you feeling fatigued at work. Balance your personal time with your social time, and you won’t’ overwork yourself when you’re off work.
Work on Your Mental Health
Your days off provide the perfect time to work on your mental health. Talk to your therapist, go on a peaceful walk, spend time with family members and do the things that you love. Leave the stress from work at the office and focus entirely on your happiness. If you don’t have enough time to do that on your scheduled days off, talk to your employer about taking a mental health day. This is like a mini-vacation that gives you the breath of fresh air you’ve been craving.
Use the tips above during your next days off, and you’ll be amazed by how fulfilled you feel.