Most people who work during the week, often try to fill their weekend with the rest of the responsibilities. You get extra workouts in, plan family time and weekend trips, do home improvement, take care of cleaning and chores, and many other things.
While it is good to take advantage of days where your work responsibilities are put on hold, trying to do too much 7 days a week is going to lead to a lot of stress. This is why you are encouraged to use Sunday as the day of rest each week and adjust your schedule accordingly.
Leave Your Work for the Work Week
If you have a habit of constantly worrying about work whether you are working or not, you are making the stress and overwhelm in your life a lot worse. This is often where burnout comes from because you are basically working 24/7, whether you are in the office, talking to clients, answering emails, or just can’t stop thinking about work.
The best thing you can do is only focus on work while you are at work. Whether you work out of the home and leave work in the office, or you work from home and need a different workspace, make sure you have a way to distinguish between work and home.
If you happen to work from home, have a dedicated workspace. This makes it easier to switch your mindset from work to be at home. You know that if you aren’t in your office or at your desk, you should not be focused on your job.
Scheduling Too Much Over the Weekend
Another big mistake with not having proper days of rest is trying to schedule too much into your weekend. Weekends are great for doing chores, meeting up with friends, and running errands, but you should not be dedicated your entire weekend to this. If you do, by Monday morning, you are still exhausted and feel like you didn’t get any time to yourself.
You really need to find the right balance between getting stuff done and having some free time to yourself. Schedule it in if you have to make it an appointment you have with yourself to practice self-care and get proper rest.
Take a Rest from Everything on Sunday
The best way to find this balance is to have Saturday be your 6th day of work or personal responsibilities for the week, then leave Sunday open for yourself. Sunday should be your day of rest, which means not spending all day running errands, doing household chores, or working. It is normal to want to take advantage of the weekend to get things done, but when you schedule most of them for Saturday, you have more time on Sunday for you.
This doesn’t mean you have to lay around all day, but it is a day where you decide what you want to d with your time. This might be an outing with your family, going shopping, taking a midday nap, baking cookies, or doing crafts at home.
Your Mind and Body Need Rest!
Remember that both your mind and body need proper rest. Even if your idea of resting on Sunday is working on your couch, you are still working. Do not get into this habit! You should have at least one day or even half a day a week with no work, no chores, and no responsibilities. This is needed for proper self-care, stress relief, and just allowing your mind and body to unwind.
Here is an idea of some things you can do over the weekend or on Sunday in order to rest both your mind and body:
Write in a journal or planner
Journaling is a good way to get all those worries and thoughts out of your mind so that your brain is clear for relaxing and not stressing so much.
Meditate
Meditation is going to relax your body and mind, and help you with your breathing practice.
Go for a walk or hike
Exercise doesn’t have to cause you stress or be something that is uncomfortable. Think of a light form of exercise that is good for your body and mental health, such as a hike with your dog, or walking by the beach or lake.
Spend time with loved ones
It is still okay to be social when you have a day of rest, as long as it is something relaxing that you enjoy. This might mean going out for drinks, having a family game night, or inviting friends over to watch the game.
Take a hot bath
Baths are wonderful for self-care, allow you some time to yourself, and are very relaxing. They allow you to rest both your mind and body and can incorporate essential oils for some aromatherapy.
Read a book
This is a great way to rest on your favorite couch or lay in bed and read a book. Make it a book you want to read for personal reasons, not work, school, or other responsibilities. This is a good time to read for leisure, depending on what you are most interested in.
