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Making weekends productive

anntonettedailey
Jan 15, 2015
2 min read

Let me start by saying, the weekend is not an extra workday. Fullstop. Where it can be useful to your professional work life is to be unplugged from the day-to-day and instead use it for deeper thinking.

Successful people have achieved fulfilment in their life, usually through a combination of work – family – spiritual – personal accomplishments. The level of happiness is based on a personal compass, which may have unusual bearings, but gives the individual a sense of achievement.

Notwithstanding the need for balance, there is recognition that genuine joy and happiness can often come from the work we do. After all, hopefully you are working in an area that you are passionate about. However the weekend should not be used for the mundane activities, but rather those that stretch and nurture. This is the time to read some of those policy papers/thinking articles or journals that help expand your repertoire or gain greater insight into the industry.

A review of successful leaders highlights how they use their weekends:

Quality time – the working week is filled with small pockets of personal engagement, make the weekend the opportunity to genuinely connect, engage. It’s important to be present, since those closest to you will notice if you are distracted.
Exercise – do something different to the daily routine. This can be an opportunity to clean out the brain or focus on expanding a new idea.
Plan – compare diaries with your significant other and look to the month coming forward. This way you can plan, monitor and track ideals such as saving, or ensure that big activities like a working-bee don’t suddenly appear.
Create a very small window for chores, do them quickly and well. Chores can seem to consume a weekend. Smashing them all out in a short window, will free up the weekend for more fun time. Of course every weekend has some ‘must dos’, but if you plan you working week well, then the list should be succinct. Set aside a 30min window and get everyone engaged, play music - but don't procrastinate!
Socialise - get out and about, meet and engage with people that are not work focused. Whether it is through sport, cultural or any other activity. But if you conversations are about work or chores - take it as a sign to get out.
Reflect and take time to measure you success and recognise what you did well. The weekend presents an opportunity to be more introspective on your life desires.
Meditate – this is an activity that cleanses your mind. It takes training. No, its not the time for deep thinking (unless its about calmness), but by rebooting and focusing your mind, you will be more refreshed and probably create an environment to do some deeper thinking.
Read. This is the time to get through your reading materials. Whether its at home or in a cafe, go through your journals or editorials.