Working For The Weekend

By Michelle Vandepol; Author of Mother Mexico.

We know that all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. And his wife Jane is no different. But how do you add in fun on the tail end of a week that has been hectic and filled to the brim? Don't adding social engagements to the weekend add to stress, lack of family time, undone chores and the like? Not necessarily. In fact, working for the weekend could be just the opposite.

Time efficiency experts tell us that just as humans are accused of using far too little of their brain capacity regularly so are we using way too little of the workday productively. The trouble is, it doesn't feel that way. The commute is draining and the work demands are high causing more people than ever to bring work home with them, grab takeout, feel exhausted, and crash on the weekend or spend time doing errands and nothing else. You don't have to be Pollyanna to think that the ideal weekend — fun, pajamas, rest, and refocusing –a mini vacation, is within reach. Each weekend can be just that if it's important to you.

Working for the weekend during the week is more of a key than you might think it is. You have little bits of time that can be utilized to pump up your weekend free time. Whether they're lunch hours, early mornings, late nights, or during the day free moments, tackle something that you would otherwise plunk into your weekend demands on yourself.

When your next move is scheduled, even the weekly family coffee or sleeping in, you know you are getting all you can out of your free time which will make for a more relaxed you. It may seem like a long way off with the previous weekend just behind you, but planning for the next one to be a great one will make the whole week better. Book weekend plans on Monday, invite another family over or make dinner reservations and book a babysitter.

Using time efficiently often comes down to basic practical matters. Having an errand block Saturday and prioritizing things that need to be done and putting off the rest, means there will be time for family time, date night, and rest. When tackling the errands, be realistic – make a list and keep the stops to a minimum. Order what you can online and have it delivered. Schlepping the kids around town will cost you more, make them cranky, and you less efficient.

Making your life more efficient is not an excuse to live fast. We know there is something wrong when life is a run around and mutter under your breath existence. The point of doing more consciously throughout the week is to free up time for just being with the people we love and work to support. You will know intuitively what is missing from your life currently that you once had or want. Take stock. Do you want more downtime, meaningful time, documented family memories, holidays, or to stop bringing work home from the office. Whether it's more of a social life, time to exercise as a family, reading a book you've been meaning to get to, or touching base with a friend, make the plan and stick to it. Consciously schedule it your new plan to get it for yourself. You don't have to explain your time use to people. Just tell them when you are available.

If you are using all your workday productively, it will show and you can feel perfectly entitled to start work at 9 and leave right at 5. If you are dumped with a project shortly before five, remind your boss what you already have accomplished in that productive day and promise to get to it first thing the next morning at 9. Start the workday with a to-do list. Just because you're on company time doesn't mean it shouldn't get treated as well as your own. It will benefit you. While you leave the mid day web browsers behind, you'll stand out as an example of what can be accomplished without spreading the work day out further. If you do find yourself with down time at the office, don't just organize paperclips. You can brain storm for future projects, people to contact, ideas for the next meeting, research on tasks. Take initiative. Work ahead if you can. Keep a running list at your desk while you work for your weekend. Ideas for shopping lists, fun activities, and menus may pop up when you're using the other side of your brain.
 

Tackle the majority of your housework during the week or contract it out to a cleaner to leave your weekends for what they're truly meant for. You want to be ready for Monday, not taken off guard by it.

The point is to add fun to your grown up life. If you are unhappy with your current fun quota, either think of ways to make your current weekend better, if its activities are written in stone; or change what you are doing on the weekend. There are easy ways to implement solutions for no-brainer weekend socializing. No time to see all the friends you want to? Put them together into group plans. Spending time with parents with children so your kids can socialize too means eliminate the pressure for mid week play dates.

You are not a pawn in someone else's game. Working at least one week ahead in scheduling means that you will not fall victim to thinking the immediate is urgent. Just because the idea is there doesn't mean it needs to be done right now. Take requests into consideration, (kids' play dates, friends' invitations, and husband's co worker dinner pitch) but put them off deliberately if they don't fit easily into your schedule. It doesn't hurt to move them into next week and schedule them in.

Juggling your work life and home life may feel like a lot of balls in the air at once, but there's no reason why the weekend can't be a chance to set them down. Planning it out and sticking to the plan means getting on to living.