Posted

PrideStaff Akron

In a world where we feel constantly connected, this sometimes leads to our work bleeding into our personal lives so we don’t know where one ends and the other begins. More and more it has meant that those of us who technically work Monday through Friday have started using the weekend to work, as well. But that doesn’t have to become an inevitability, nor should it. Use the following tips to stop working on your weekends off.

  • Make the most of your actual work week.

If you want your weekends back, you need to plan well. Naturally the occasional emergency or big project may crop up, but if you can focus your weekdays on getting the most done possible, you’ll allow yourself to actually enjoy your well-deserved weekend – rather than thinking about that Monday meeting or an upcoming report. So, as hard as it might be, focus your work hours on work. That’s not to say that you should avoid friendliness with co-workers or never take a break, but consider how much time you lose by letting those breaks become long distractions. Do what you can to schedule your work week, even if it’s simply coming in a bit earlier or staying a little later to get a jump on the next day.

  • Know that it will actually benefit you.

When you burn the candle at both ends, eventually there’s nothing left. The same goes for those who turn five-day-a-week jobs into six or seven days. Ironically, when you become overworked, the quality of what you produce tends to go down. Taking a break may even help increase your creativity as you give your batteries a chance to recharge. Plus you need to bear in mind that you have a life outside of work that deserves attention, too, as well as others in your life. Those connections help make you the best version of yourself, which in turn can make you think of work more positively.

  • If you must work, schedule it.

Admittedly, work can sometimes spill over. If so, make a few rules for yourself and others: Arrange which numbers will come through on your phone and which will receive an automatic text saying you’ll get back to them on Monday. Put aside a specific chunk of time on either Saturday or Sunday where you leave your house and go somewhere that you know you’ll get the work done (the office itself, a coffee shop, a library, etc.) so you can focus and not get distracted. That way you’ll get things done and be able to enjoy the rest of your weekend without having nagging work thoughts constantly taking you away from the rest of your weekend.

We’ve promoted a culture wherein the more you work, the better you are at it. That’s not necessarily so, nor is it a healthy norm to promote. Take back your weekends; you deserve them. To find your next great job, visit PrideStaff.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *