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It’s easy to fall into the trap where Saturday and Sunday are catch-up days for what didn’t get done the rest of the week. But does that really give you the mental break and relaxation you need? Or does it just heap on the guilt for not getting it all done as you vacuum while staring out at the sunny blue sky? There’s no one-size-fits-all solution. You may have to sacrifice some “I should’s”, but you can keep your weekends for the other areas of your life that need your presence too. Here are 5 simple, not necessarily easy, things you can do to get your weekend time back.
- Divide up the routine chores among family members and among the weekdays. Have a dedicated chore hour every night when everyone chips in and maybe even put on some great dance music. For example, clean the bathroom on Monday night, change the sheets Tuesday night, grocery shop on Wednesday etc.
- Stay in on Friday night and get ready for the week ahead (clothes, frozen lunches, etc.) Use that as your wind-down time from the work week. That way you won’t sleep Saturday away and won’t have Monday’s demands eating into your time on Sunday.
- Limit your kids’ sports and club activities to one each. They’ll still get into college and it’s been shown that boredom can be good for kids. If the adults in the house are hyperactive joiners; cut back there too.
- Have some potential ideas worked out for what you want to do with all this free time. Have a tentative plan for a sunny day, rainy day, stay at home day etc. That way if your first choice isn’t quite so appealing because it’s pouring out, you won’t waste the day wandering around wondering what to do. If you need supplies for a craft project or something, do that shopping earlier in the week. Don’t forget to leave a little free time for just enjoying the moment.
- Lower your standards on housework, lawn and garden. Turn your back on Martha Stewart and settle for good enough in these areas. Your soul needs feeding even more than the lawn and if it’s an inch or two longer than the neighbors’, you’ll be giving them a chance to feel superior;-)
