23 Tips for a Truly Restorative and Stress-Free Weekend
Updated: Oct. 01, 2018
Reclaim your weekend!
Keep an activity log
Write down all your weekend activities and then review them on Sunday night. You’ll probably find you spend more time on duties like cleaning, working, and running errands than you realized. Figure out what you can cut down on to make more time for activities that are fun and fulfilling.
Avoid sleeping in
Snoozing until noon cuts into the time you thought you’d spend working out or making plans with loved ones. Plus, it throws off your body’s internal clock, meaning you won’t sleep as well during the week. Try sticking to the same schedule that you do during the week for more (refreshed, energetic) time.
Take a morning stroll
Taking a walk as soon as you wake up—even before coffee and brunch—gets your workout out of the way. You’ll come back feeling energized and empowered to tackle the rest of your weekend activities.
Here’s what happens to your body when you start walking 10,000 steps a day.
Get up at least once an hour
Sitting hours on end five days a week is bad enough—when you start bringing work home for the weekend, health problems from staying sedentary get even worse. If you need to spend time hunkered in front of your computer, spend 10 minutes every hour doing equipment-free exercises like lunges, push-ups, or jumping jacks. It won’t cut into too much work time, but could add up to more than an hour’s worth of exercise by the end of the day.
Commit one day to fun
If you do need to do work or run errands, get all your tasks done in one day instead of spreading them throughout both Saturday and Sunday. Keep the other day free for fun weekend activities like a long hike, water park visit, or backyard game tournament.
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Get more done during the week
Instead of saving chores for your free time during the weekends, tackle those tasks midweek. During the time you’d normally spend vegging out on the couch after work, take a little time to run to the grocery store or do some vacuuming. When Saturday rolls around, you’ll have the freedom to pack in more fun.
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Get your work done early
Sometimes you can’t get around bringing work home for the weekend. If you do have to tackle a project, get up an hour early and buckle down. Set an alarm for two or three hours and spend that time focused on your task. When the alarm goes off, turn your computer off and spend the rest of your weekend to yourself.
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Don’t just watch sports—get in on the action
For every hour you watch a sports game on TV, spend 30 minutes playing sports or exercising to keep from becoming a couch potato. As fun as it is to watch your favourite athlete score, you’ll feel even better if you’re the one hitting that home run or swishing a basketball through the net.
Tap into your inner child
Instead of sending your kids outside while you spend the day cleaning or reading, join in the fun. Weekend activities like playing tag, shooting hoops, or climbing trees are just a few ways you can stay active while laughing and bonding with your children.
Plan ahead
Every Thursday night, make a realistic list of how you’ll spend your weekend. Check the weather to decide if you’d rather go on a long bike ride or invite friends over for a wine night. Then mark down all the non-negotiables, like dropping your kid off at a birthday party or attending a religious service. Then fill the rest of the time up with solid plans so you don’t resort to sitting in front of the TV or shopping online for clothes you don’t need.
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Mix up your routine
Start by making a list of weekend fitness activities you enjoy, then pick one to do every weekend. You’ll stay active and won’t get bored if you’re alternating between canoeing, cycling, hiking, and more.
Check out these benefits of walking for just 15 minutes.
Sign up for a race
Training for a run, bike ride, or walk will motivate you to lace up on the weekends and keep exercise a priority. Take a tip from serious athletes and aim for longer, harder workouts on the weekends, when you don’t need to rush to the office.
Keep sports items in the car
If you’ve always got a soccer ball, baseball and glove, or volleyball—plus a good pair of sneakers—in the car, you’ll always have the option to pull over for a game if you find yourself with a bit of downtime.
Spend time outdoors
Studies have shown that taking a stroll in a natural space can boost your mood more than walking near traffic. Take a family walk through a park or a forest to lift your spirits and raise your heart rate.
Do some yard work
Mowing the lawn, raking leaves, and weeding a garden can burn calories and build upper-body strength. One study deemed gardening the best physical activity to prevent osteoporosis. Make the labour as physical as possible by using a push mower instead of a self-propelled one, or grabbing a rake rather than a leaf blower. You’ll burn more calories and reduce air pollution.
Reward your physical work
Give yourself something to look forward to after putting in some active labour. Taking the time to clean your yard will prepare you to relax with a barbecue later that night. Or if you take your family on a hike, pack a picnic with your favourite sandwiches for a tasty indulgence when you get back to the car.
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Go for a long bike ride
Squeezing in a short ride during the week is great, but when the weekend rolls around, you have the freedom to spend as much time on your bike as you want. Ride around your neighbourhood, or load your bike into your car and find a more scenic route. Pack plenty of food so you can stay out half the day or more if you want, but make sure you’ve got cash, too, in case you need a pit stop at a coffee shop.
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Get involved with your kid’s team
Instead of dropping your child off at practice, sign up to coach their sports team. If you don’t feel cut out for that, see if you can help assist the team by keeping the score or handing out nourishing snacks. You’ll get out of the car and fit in some exercise while supporting your kid.
Store a Frisbee in your car
You can play Frisbee practically anywhere. Pick out telephone poles, trees or other targets, and see who can hit them all with the least number of throws.
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Go on a camping trip
A family camping trip is the perfect way to create happy memories while spending the weekend with active outdoor fun. Splash around in a lake, take a canoe for a ride, or explore the woods with a nature hike. The hassle of pitching a tent and building a fire will be worth it—promise.
Don’t miss our guide to summer camping.
Join a club
Many outdoors organizations hold group excursions and weekend activities for bikers, joggers, or bird-watchers on Saturdays and Sundays. A guide will lead you on an outing that lasts half or all of the day. If you don’t know where to look for local groups, check out what’s available from your fitness center or park.
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Power walk through the mall
If your spouse or kids have to go shopping but you don’t, take some laps around the mall while they buy what they need. Go your separate ways and agree to meet at a certain time and place. You’ll burn more calories than you would slowly browsing racks of clothes.
Not headed to the mall? Make sure you check out these tips for safe online shopping.
Hire a cleaning service
Letting someone else do your cleaning for you will save you hours you’d normally spend scrubbing. If you don’t have the funds for it, try cutting down on little extras to help you save up. Pack lunch and cook dinner instead of going out, or colour your own hair instead of heading to the salon. The sacrifice will be worth the relief you’ll feel when you see and smell how clean your home is.
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