How often do you open up your laptop on weekends – not to watch a movie or show but to toil on an office assignment? Is it part of your routine to work on Saturday or Sunday to get ahead on that Monday afternoon deadline?
Do you ever put off typical weekend errands like grocery shopping or picking up your dry cleaning in favour of responding to email from clients, work contracts or your boss? Does work take over your weekends to the point you curtail or even forgo recreational activities like riding a bike or going for a swim?
If you are one of the majority of people who works on at least some weekends. Here are strategies recommended to help you put aside your work on Friday evening so you can enjoy your day off and decompress:
CHANGE YOUR THINKING
Focusing on negative thoughts like “I’m so busy” and “the weekend is too short” contributes to feeling overwhelmed and prevents you from enjoying your weekend.
GIVE YOURSELF AND WORK A REST
Turn off your work mode on Friday evening. Imagine you are stepping out of work version of yourself into your light-hearted weekend persona.
MANAGE YOUR STRESS
If you are feeling anxious about work, “distress the machine” on weekends by getting massages, meditating, practicing yoga, going to sporting events, getting regular exercises, eating well and seeking out cultural activities like art shows or live music events.
SEEK BALANCE IN YOUR LIFE
Ask yourself whether work is crowding out other major parts of your life, like exercise on weekends. If so, you may be working compulsively the way someone with addiction can’t help himself or herself from drugs. You can become more balanced in your life by making small and gradual changes such as spending an hour on weekend answering work emails instead of four or five hours.
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