This is a contributed post. We’ve all been there: the work week that feels like it’s never going to end or like you’re running a marathon (and perhaps the finish line keeps moving further and further away) – it’s full of deadlines, meetings, urgent (or so it seems) emails, and your to-do list never seems to shrink. In other words, it’s an absolute whirlwind of a busy week and it leaves you feeling totally drained by the time Friday comes around.
But what if, instead of taking that exhaustion into the weekend, you could use it as a chance to recharge and rest? The fact is that recharging isn’t just about lying on the couch (although that can definitely help!) – it’s about doing things that refresh your body, mind, and soul so you can start the next week feeling like your best self. With that in mind, here are some ways to try to make it happen; read on to find out more.
Make Rest A Priority
The first thing you’ll need to do if you want to recharge after a busy week is to make rest a proper priority, and that’s especially true if you’ve been skimping on rest all week – the point is that catching up on some quality sleep is a must. Try to go to bed early if you can so you can let your body really recover, otherwise you’re not going to be able to make the most of the weekend ahead of you.
And that means you can’t overdo it either – too much sleep isn’t just a waste (you only need a certain amount, and if you sleep too much you’ll run out of time to do the other things you want to do), it can also leave you feeling groggy and unwell. The best thing to do is to aim for between seven and nine hours and try to keep your weekend wake-up time close to your weekday one – your body really loves routine, so go to bed earlier to get the right amount of sleep and you’ll be amazed at how good you feel because of it.
Unplug For A While
What’s the biggest distraction you have in your life? In most cases, the answer is probably going to be your phone (or the internet in general) – after all, there’s emails, social media, videos, endless notifications, shopping… it’s hard to really switch off.
That’s why you should set some time aside to unplug – literally. Turn off notifications, put your phone in another room, and just reconnect with the real world for a while. Read a book, go for a walk, take a class, or just enjoy the quiet for a little bit (it’s an ideal time for meditation, for example), and you should find you feel fantastic once you do it.
Treat Yourself
A little indulgence goes a long way after a long week, so why not treat yourself to something that makes you happy? It could be anything at all, from your favourite food to a long soak in the bath with a book or a podcast or anything else that springs to mind – what is it you really like to do? Make time for it over the weekend and it’ll help you get ready for the week ahead.
For some, experimenting with natural wellness options is the ideal way to get a great treat, and CBD hash is a good example of something that could work well to help you enjoy your weekend and give you the relaxation you’re looking for. But no matter what you want to do, make sure it’s something you love – or something you’ve always wanted to try – and the benefits will be obvious right from the start; you’ll be happier, your mind will be in a better place, and you won’t get through the weekend feeling like you’ve wasted your days off (which can make you feel worse and it’ll start the week off in a negative way).
Plan Something Fun
Weekends are your chance to break free from the daily grind (although as we’ve said, sticking to your routine at least a little is a good idea), so why not plan an activity that’s going to bring you joy and be memorable? It could be something as simple as finally getting to binge-watch the new TV show you’ve been waiting for an opportunity to see (before any spoilers come your way, ideally), baking something tasty, or catching up with friends either in real life or virtually, depending on where you all are and what works for you.
Or perhaps you’re up for a bit of an adventure so you want to try something new like pottery, geocaching, paddleboarding, or exploring somewhere close to you that you’ve never been to before… Whatever it is, doing something different means you can get a new perspective on things and even if you only ever do the thing once, at least you’ve tried it, and that’s what counts.
Ease Into The Next Week
Ever heard of the Sunday scaries? It’s that time when you realise you’ve got to go back to work the next day and you feel stressed about it, meaning you can’t enjoy your final hours (or day) of the weekend properly. You’ll want to avoid this feeling as much as you can, so it’s a good idea to use the weekend to properly prepare for the week ahead in a calm, relaxed, and intentional way.
What do we mean? Well, there are lots of ways you can do it, and it’s going to depend on you and how you live and what you want (and need) to do, but things like planning out all your meals for the week is one great option, setting out your clothes ready for the morning, organising your work tasks so you can dive right in and feel productive, and so on. They’re small steps, but they can help you feel much more in control and they’ll reduce your stress for when the work week actually begins. And the less stressed you are at the start, the less stressed you’ll be at the end.
So, that’s how to recharge after a busy week. Which ones will you be trying? Let me know in the comments below.
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