Ah, our days off are wonderful aren’t they?, or maybe they are not, maybe they are too short, well they might be, but that could mean our days off are not being used wisely. The time off is our chance to be productive, and work on ourselves. We have the time, energy, and freedom to do so.
There are three ways to make use of your weekend. It can be spent doing nothing, lounging around, not really getting anything accomplish, maybe sleeping most of the time. This can be quite a downer on your mood, and energy. It may make you feel guilt and less accomplished.
It can also be spent being busy, getting a lot of things done, which can be overwhelming, exhausting, and create tension. Most people tend to do these things on their days off. It would be nice to try some productivity, during those times.
Being productive doesn’t mean busy. Being busy is doing lots of stuff you may not want to do. Being productive is doing things that benefit oneself physically, mentally, emotionally and personally. It may also be things you enjoy doing. Doing this can make your days off much more enjoyable.
My days off consist of going to the gym, practicing yoga, working on my language skills, writing, reading, cleaning, and learning new things. I have had positive benefits from doing these activities, because it makes me feel I have done something useful with my time off. Days off are our time to refresh and rejuvenate ourselves.
Our work days are spent on someone else’s time, some may have jobs they don’t really enjoy, and some work very hard during the week. We don’t really get time to ourselves, but our days off give us that time, so it is nice to use it for ourselves in whatever way we can.
Being productive makes the day more enjoyable, and exciting. It makes you feel more engaged, and active in the things you are doing. It promotes creativity. It puts more focus on yourself, than others. It kills boredom. It makes you feel accomplished. Overall, it makes you feel good about yourself, and cultivates a more positive self-image. I also like that it can rejuvenate and energize oneself to start the new work week. I always feel refreshed, and ready to go for the new work week. Monday blues is no longer a problem for me. Your first day back doesn’t feel so bad anymore.
Some tasks may be difficult to start. Writing these blogs are tough for me at times, but I know once I finish I will feel good about finishing the task, because I know it is beneficial for me, and others. It may not be easy. It may be easier to be lazy, or do lots of mindless things, but the end result of a productive day off will bring much more joy to your life.
Psychology of Mindfulness 