Relax, Unwind, Reset.
Happy weekend to anyone reading!
For most of us, weekends or days off are a much needed break from our daily/weekly schedules. We make plans, go out catch up with friends and family, run errands and maybe even stay home and get some chores done. Regardless of how you choose to spend your days off, one can’t deny that the way you spend your days off sets the tone for the week ahead. Keeping that in mind, I’ve been trying to have more productive yet relaxing weekends to help me get through the craziness that is my 9-5 job. These slight changes in my routine have really helped me optimize my rest time and productivity, so I thought I’d share!
Set small goals and plan minor tasks to do throughout the week. Spending an entire day off cleaning or doing laundry is EXHAUSTING. I would normally save these tasks for the days my husband is out at a booking (he’s a dholi and DJ). But I found myself absolutely exhausted with no time for the things that I enjoy. I slowly started to pick days of the week where I could get things done after work so that they wouldnt have to wait until the weekend. For instance, laundry day is now mid-week rather than a Saturday or Sunday. I will usually fold/ hang the laundry the day after so I’m not doing too much at once! Cleaning is also divided up so I don’t need to run around taking care of it all at once. I set aside some time each day to dust or tidy up a different area in our space so it doesn’t all pile up. And don’t get me wrong, my husband is also super helpful with these day to day tasks so having an extra pair of hands to help out definitely makes things easier! This has allowed me to finally make some time for my writing and some much needed “me” time.
I make sure to include something in my plans which will not only help me relax, but help me feel better inside and out. I use this time to make myself a healthy breakfast and get in at least one session at the gym. Lately I’ve been really into OrangeTheory and it’s really helped me stay on track with my fitness goals so far. Stay tuned for another post on my fitness journey.
This one is mainly for the ladies, but guys, you should totally consider this next tip as well! I make sure to include a hair treatment and a face mask in my routine no matter how busy I am. I’ve been loving using Olaplex to tame my crazy hair and of course the old school desi oil treatments never fail as well, specially with the weather getting colder. I’ll also throw in my Briogeo Scalp Revival treatment set if I have some extra time. ( Extra tip- throw a few drops of your favorite essential oil in the shower to help you relax and feel like you’re at a spa. My personal favorites are Lavendar or Lemongrass. Eucalyptus and Tea Tree are great if you’re a bit under the weather) As far as face masks go, you could say I’m a hoarder so I’m constantly changing the ones I use and am always trying something new. If I’m particularly busy I’ll try to at least throw on a sheet mask or an over night sleeping mask! My go-to’s are any sheet mask from Daiso and the Laneige Water Sleeping Mask. Another big tip- I try to keep it light on the makeup if I don’t have any plans. Your skin needs to breathe too!
Getting to bed early rather than staying up then sleeping in. By Friday I’m usually exhausted anyways, so I will usually head to bed at my normal time if we don’t have any plans. Personally, I feel as though going to bed late and sleeping in on my days off makes me much less productive, more lethargic and makes the transition back to my normal work week more difficult. As an example, We went out to a Hockey game last night and I went straight to bed when we got home (because I was exhausted and can’t hang). This morning I was able to wake up very early, grab some of my favorite coffee that I’ve been craving and usually never have time to get ( Shoutout to Philz) and even caught this mornings sunrise. Although I was a bit cranky as I usually am when I first wake up, it could not have been a more perfect way to start my day, as I was working remotely for my full time job starting at 9am. I was able to accomplish so much today and I can head back to work on Monday feeling like I had a truly great weekend.
Don’t forget to plan something fun! I’m an old soul and sometimes forget I’m still young and have a social life! Big thanks to the husband for constantly planning fun trips or activities to remind me that I’m not an aunty LOL. But use this time if you have it to do something you wouldn’t normally do. After all, it’s your time off! You work hard and you deserve to enjoy it. I’ve never been a sports person, but inherited the 49ers, SJ Sharks and ManU as some of my favorites after I got married. Attending sports games and taking impromptu trips to amusement parks has been a huge change for me (because I am a wimp and hate rollercoasters) but I’ve honestly learned to enjoy these experiences and I have a great time! So don’t forget to treat yourself!
It’s not much and some of the things I do may be pretty obvious so some of you are probably thinking “ Duh Trisha, we know how to spend our weekend”, but hey, it’s easy to get caught up in every day life and forget to relax, unwind and reset! Happy weekend everyone!
