2-3-4 Friday - why we don’t seem to enjoy our weekends

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1 thought

When you grow eventually as an adult, you might realise this strange phenomenon.

You don’t have anything to do on weekends. You might have looked forward to the weekend, but when it comes, you just feel too tired to do anything. And on Sunday, at 847pm, you think,

Why don’t I feel rested?

Sure you might have things you need to do with your kids, your partner, but you don’t have anything to do with yourself.

You might have complained about wanting sometime to yourself, but after you get it, what do you do with it?

I’ve struggled with this.

Stare down the long barrel of a Saturday afternoon with nothing but Netflix for company, and you would feel a strange, soul-sucking experience.

You start wondering why you don’t seem to have friends. You wonder if you’re really that hard to spend time with. You wonder why no one seems to initiate anything with you.

You might have gotten through a few of your favourite episodes, but after a while, if you detach and look at yourself, you’re enjoying it alone.

Two things I’ve realised.

One, that you have to plan social activities outside. Sure, there’s the convenience of sitting at home, and watching Netflix. But when you go out, you get to experience the beauty of spontaneity and serendipity.

Go to the cinemas, and if you just take the effort, and speak to a stranger beside you, and ask,

Hey, how was the movie?

You might discover something new.

The home doesn’t allow for that.

But second, that you have to be intentional. Fun doesn’t just happen by chance.

It needs to be planned in on the Monday. It’s a great way to get over the Monday blues.

But lastly, as much as you and I can say that we are introverts, people matter. Having other people in the journey help you to see a bigger point in what you’re doing, beyond getting past the 9 to 5.

1 talk

When you have an element of challenge in with your fun, that’s when the real fun begins.

1 tip

There’s two types of activities for the weekends.

There are things to do, and then there’s fun to do. But in that element of fun, also requires an element of challenge.

That’s why Netflix doesn’t leave you feeling satisfied. Because it’s much easier, than say, making a difficult recipe from scratch.

Your boring grocery run, taking the kids to the class, and settling the laundry.

But what if you could mix fun in between all these boring things to do?

So don’t laugh, but one of the best things I love is belting out Westlife (oh come on, 27-year-olds can like Westlife) whilst doing the dishes.

Us against the world (scrubs that stain),

You and I, we’ve been at it for years (clears the muck).

You get the idea.

Your boring grocery run can be an exciting effort to cook and make something challenging.

Going to the theatres could become an effort to go out of your comfort zone to talk to someone new.

Taking the kids to tennis could involve working through a tough crossword.

Fun with challenge, makes weekends more restful.

Have a better weekend,

John

Live Young, Live Well - Work Your Love

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