Self Improvement

How to Invest in Your Weekends

On December 23, 2023 by

Most of us think that weekends and weekdays are different in terms of how we spend our time and what we do during those times. You may believe that there is no need to invest in your weekends because they are simply to relax and do nothing serious as an escape route. However, they are no different when it comes to the necessity for spending our time productively and fruitfully. We all have a tough time during the week due to hectic work schedules with long working hours, unreasonable people to deal with, etc. Therefore, it may seem very natural to have the weekend to detox from all these overwhelming factors by overdoing what we love. Over-sleeping, over-shopping, over-drinking, etc. 

This is the only time we have for ourselves, why not? Right?

But in reality, we waste not only our time but also our life if we think that this is only natural.

Within the modern working culture, we were made to believe that weekdays are for working like crazy and weekends are for compensating for the fun, excitement, and satisfaction we have missed during the working days. Therefore, there is nothing wrong with just spending our money at the mall aimlessly or just sleeping 12 hours on a Sunday because we lacked sleep during the week. This perfectly serves the very system we are in. We intentionally convince ourselves that we need this and it is not a waste at all because we- poor little souls- at least deserve a little bit of relaxation and satisfaction in our free time. We feel the need to escape from the painful reality of our current life, thus spending our free time in a wasteful way looks completely natural and sometimes a necessity to us.

The Reality

There is truth in this way of thinking but let me tell you what else you deserve.

A life that is not wasted over pleasures…

A life that provides a valuable contribution to your future self and loved ones…

In terms of personal development to be a better version of yourself, a different approach needs to be taken to make your life not wasted. Therefore, you need to direct your focus to the things we can benefit from in the long run.

You need to make sure that you invest in your weekends and not just spend them.

You need to use your weekends to build the life you want, not to escape from the life you have.

Let’s look at some steps you can take before deciding on what you can do.

How to check whether we invest in your weekends or not?

1. Check your today

To make the best of your time during the weekends, you first need to review your current state. Stating what you are doing now and how you are spending your free time is the first thing to determine what good you have and what bad you need to get rid of. By having a full picture, you can pin-point what you are doing wrong, and what  you can do instead.   

2. Eliminate time wasters

After determining what is killing our time, it is time to eliminate them from your weekends. If you lack sleep during the week and want to compensate for that loss during the weekends, sleep until your biological clock wakes you up. Sleeping 12 hours on weekends does not necessarily make up for the missed hours during the week. A good sleep of 7-8 hours will be sufficient. Also, having a long breakfast while watching TV or Youtube won’t do any good either. Cut your time in front of the TV, or Netflix. There are times for this too but not the whole day.

3. Determine your interests and likings 

You need to know what makes you thrilled to learn or to know about. Also, what you always wanted to do but never gave the time and effort to start doing it can another missing piece in your life. If you like writing, start writing about a topic of your interest. Who knows, it may turn into a blog where you can earn money by reaching a relatable audience. It does not even have to be this serious though. For a more quality life, you can simply spare your time for your family and loved ones.

4. Schedule your weekend

I can hear you already saying “Come on! Schedule even the weekend?” Yes. Even if it is your free time, do you think you should wander at the mall, check the store windows and end up buying what you don’t need? This would be both waste of time and money. After deciding what you should do to build your life upon, it must be under a plan so that you don’t become an estray. It does not have to be a strict plan but at least the general schedule must be made for you to specify short and long-term goals and their outcomes.

5. Be persevering on your goals

After doing all of the above, it should be time for being consistent and persistent in your activities. Occasional distractions can be forgiven but you must be determined on your goals and aspirations to remain on your path. Investing in your weekends should not be a time limited goal, but a lifetime mindset to follow. 

BONUS

Learn to say no

No surprise! You need to be able to say “no” to people and your urges not to be distracted from your plans and goals. We are not talking about having no fun and being just ambitious freaks about achievements. Instead, it is more like choosing what will benefit you rather than what will harm you in terms of mental health, finances, and emotional burnout due to being in the wrong place, for a long time with the wrong type of people.

Ok, so what about the things we can do for a better and not wasted life? Here are a few ideas you can work on to find your path.

What to do to invest in your weekends?

1. Pick up new skills

Acquiring new skills can help you in your career as well as your spiritual well-being. Learning how to play an instrument, or a new language can make your brain work in areas other than your daily activities which will eventually keep your mind alive and open. Not only these skills can benefit you in terms of monetary gains when mastered, but also will help you in your social life.

2. Help community

If you are someone who thinks about the wellness of your community or society in general, you can find volunteering work and spend your time, energy, and money on the greater good. This will not only feed your soul, but it will also help you enlarge your social circle which will lead to enriched experiences in life. You will meet new people from all kinds of backgrounds which will help you grow as a human all by having a goal to invest in your weekends.

3. Build your career

You may be serious about your career. Thus, to improve your current position, obtaining training in your field of work, continuous job searching for better opportunities, and attending activities related to the sector of your job can be also ways to invest in your weekends.

4. Health and wellness

Some of us may be more about physical or mental well-being. To get rid of the stress and other harmful side effects of our daily hustles, it can be beneficial to work on being healthy. Exercising, being a member of a tennis club, taking yoga lessons, and having small trips to places you can relax during your weekends can make big difference. 

Having talked about how to spend our free time to invest in your weekends, I wonder what you do to build the life you want?