It’s pretty unanimous that weekends are awesome. But, maybe it is time for a weekend mindset shift? The reasons people enjoy the weekends vary widely.
Weekends as an expression of our escapes from “the grind” of the workweek
They are about indulgence, debauchery, and “no rules”. Sometimes that manifests as staying up late, eating whatever you want, sleeping in, laying on the couch all day, binging Netflix, epic parties, or other similar actions.
These can definitely be fun (and needed) at times, but allowing this mindset to dominate will lead to negative implications over the long term. Too many of these areas lead to poor health, increased stress due to the harsh transition back to work and “real life”, and the reinforcement of a negative or non-productive mindset.
For other people, weekends are merely opportunities to do more work, shuttle the kids around, do chores, clean the house, and other important, but not life-changing events.
While many of these things need to be done, I see too many people fill their weekends with busy activities and fail to take the time needed to set themselves up for success and greater performance in work and life.
I believe weekends should be our opportunity to rest and recover both mentally & physically
You see, I believe weekends should be our opportunity to rest, recover, and prepare both mentally and physically for the coming work week. This can (and should) still include fun times with friends, events, and exciting adventures…but done through the lens of rest, recovery, rejuvenation, and personal performance improvement.
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When done right, we are able to have an amazing weekend while still reaching Monday with energy, enthusiasm, and a passion to accomplish greater things in work and life.
One manifestation of your weekend mindset is how you approach exercise and activity
For most of us, weekday schedules are tighter, life tends to be busier, and we have less flexibility or time to embark on new adventures. Weekends are our time to move beyond these limitations. When it comes to weekend workouts, I like to switch things up and encourage clients to do the same.
I believe that what we do in the gym and training should help us be better and more skilled in the challenges we tackle in life.
This encourages us to continually learn, seek new skills, and implement those skills in real-life situations. By doing this, we find fun, new experiences, a sense of accomplishment, and the resilience that gets built when we work towards a worthwhile goal.
For me, I value getting outside, experiencing nature, breathing in fresh air, and connecting with friends and family.
People often ask me why FRESH! isn’t open for training on the weekends
There are a number of reasons, but several key ones include:
- I value my weekends for the reasons I mentioned above
- I could hire people to work weekends, but I hire people who share my values, and it would undermine my integrity to ask them to work during these times
- While it may improve revenue, I don’t want clients spending time in the gym on a weekend. I want them to be active by getting outside and practicing the skills we put in place from Monday through Friday.
I promote these values and share these reasons because I know that it will attract clients who also share these values (or at least aspire to live in them). This makes life so much easier for me, my business, and the ability to get results for my clients.
These may not be your values. That’s OK. Regardless of your values, I encourage you to connect what you do on the weekends to your values and ask yourself if those actions and values are aligned.
Whatever you choose to do for your health & fitness on the weekends, I encourage you to step outside the norm and do something different
Something that you enjoy. Something that inspires, challenges, and helps you learn and grow.
I will hazard a guess that doesn’t include running on the treadmill or using the elliptical in a gym under fluorescent lights during your precious weekend time.
Failure to tap into the reasons and emotions behind working out is at the root of why people dislike fitness and their lack of results.
If you are someone who doesn’t like exercise, I encourage you to think more about WHY you feel you should exercise.
What is it you want to accomplish? Why is that important to you? No, really!? Not the fluffy stuff that most people say…like “lose weight”, “feel better”, or “fit into my clothes”. What’s the emotion behind your desire? Why does it matter?
What makes it strong enough to motivate, inspire, and drive you through the tough times and ensure consistency?
I would love to hear how you are cultivating your perfect weekend!
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Comments
Getting some quality downtime is incredibly important for your physical and mental health. Downtime isn’t always sitting on the couch, though! I consider my workouts to be downtime.
Exactly Beth. Good point. Thanks for the feedback.
Excellent post!
Thank you!
I love this so much! Weekends are about so much more than just doing nothing. That can have its place, but that’s not a well-rounded life.
Thanks for the feedback!
Your article on shifting weekend mindsets is refreshing and insightful. I particularly enjoyed your practical tips for making the most of weekends and finding balance. It’s a great reminder to prioritize self-care and productivity outside of the workweek. Well done!
Thanks for the feedback. We are glad you liked he post.
It definitely is, I’d say. Thanks for the great tips!
Thank you for reading and commenting!
I build model kits and paint fantasy miniatures. It really does help with the anxiety.
Thats great! Thanks for commenting!
The weekends are when I recharge. Without them I would not have that chance to de-stress that I so desperately need.
Glad you find weekends usefull for de-stress. And thanks for commenting!
Weekends are reserved for family activities and recharging after a busy, hectic workweek. It’s a time to get your energy back through quality time with loved ones.
Exactly true. Thanks for the feedback!
Weekends are really a time for your loved ones. Because it is very important to have a bonding even in simple things.
It is really importants to bond during the weekends. Thanks for commenting!
Weekends are a great time to relax from the hectic workweek. Thank you for your suggestion/reminder to do things we enjoy.
You are welcome Catherine. Thanks for commenting!
Weekends are a great time to relax from the hectic workweek. Thank you for your suggestion/reminder to do things we enjoy.
Thank you for commenting!
My husband always jokes – We don’t have weekends now because we have kids. It is kinda of true! But I still believe we need to find ways to recover after a long week, even with the chaos around us.
I’m working on cutting down work during the weekend. It’s nice having a break.
It is nice. Thanks for the feedback!
Your post on shifting your weekend mindset to meet your fitness goals is inspiring! I need to change my exercise routine often to stay motivated. But I also need to take a break on the weekend.
Yes, do both Dana. And good luck! Thanks for the feedback!
I feel as if my weekday runs into my weekend! Two days is definitely not enough time to recover! It’s nice to be able to take a brake.
Sorry to hear that. Hopefuly you will get some time off to recharge.
I’m guilty of filling my weekends with busy activities and not taking the time needed to set myself up for success!!
Thanks for commenting!
It can be hard to balance making the most of the weekends by filling our schedule versus taking that time to relax. I loved your perspective on this!
Thanks for the feedback Natalie!
Great positive blog, thank you for sharing!
Thank you for commenting!
I could not agree more with this! While weekends can be an opportunity to get a few things done, taking the time to rest your mind and body is paramount to having a successful work week from Monday to Friday.
That’s absolutely true! Thanks for the feedback!
Love this! Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for engaging!
Very refreshing. I fully agree with the sentence: “I believe weekends should be our opportunity to rest and recover both mentally & physically.” Must do for everyone.
Exactly! Thanks for commenting!
Agreed! I love weekends for the sole purpose that the time is solely ours to do what we want. But more so because it’s a time where I can rest from the hustle of bustle life. In fact, over the weekends, I take naps in the afternoon. I love the recharge and I feel great afterward.
Maureen
Thanks for the great feedback Maureen!
Agree with this- weekends are to recharge.
Thanks for engaging!
Your article on shifting weekend mindsets is thought-provoking! It’s a reminder to embrace weekends as opportunities for rejuvenation and personal growth. Your insights offer valuable strategies for making the most of our leisure time and prioritizing self-care.
Exactly Kimberley! Thanks for the feedback!
I need to work on taking some time to relax on the weekends. I find that I am so busy working on my business and running a household that by the time Monday comes and I have to go to work, I am just exhausted.
I know the feeling! Good luck! Thanks for commenting!
I use weekends to relax, to recover, and to give myself time to work on myself instead of working. It works for me.
Glad to hear that Richard!
Interesting thoughts and thanks for sharing them. For me, I do think weekends are the time to be productive and all reset and recover through the process. So yes! I agree with you.
LOVE this post and I could not agree with you more, I also agree weekends are the time to rest the mind and make some time for you xx
Thanks for commenting!
I do need to focus more on relaxing and having downtime during the weekends, instead of trying to fit it all in. I often don’t feel refreshed when Monday rolls around!!
Yes, i know that feeling! Thanks for the feedback!
I split my busy and relaxing day between saturday and sunday and it works perfect for me.
So glad to hear that! How do you manage that?
Weekend should be the day wherein people really needed to take a break for all of the stressful things they are thinking or encountering. It is important for the person to take a rest and take a deep breath.
Exactly Nikki! Thanks for the feedback!
I totally agree with you, it should be time to rest and regain energy for the next week. Honestly, I need to work on this as well. Because mostly I work during the weekend as well and it makes my week start not the way I wanted.
Thanks for the feedback!
I actually see weekends as a time to rest, recover and be lazy. This is the time that I sleep as long as I want to. We normally enjoy a nice dinner then book a massage.
Thanks for the feedback Clarice!