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If I had a penny for every time the phrase "This weekend was too short" was uttered during watercooler talk at the office, I would be a rich woman. Well, I'd probably be able to buy a large coffee and a pastry from Starbucks with my earnings at least.
But seriously, why do some (most?!) weekends feel so short? It's like you feelthe rush of leaving the office at 5 p.m. on a Friday and then you blink and suddenly you're on your Monday morning commute.
To get to the bottom of this conundrum, I asked time management expert Laura Vanderkam, author of Off the Clock: Feel Less Busy While Getting More Done and Juliet's School of Possibilities,why the weekends never seem to be long enough and, most importantly, how to make them feel longer.
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The reason that weekends seem to fly by (and not in a good way)? A lot of us aren't mindful about what we're doing. "Weekends feel short because we don't think about how we're spending our time. We're so busy during the week [that] we get to the weekend and think we want to do 'nothing,'" Vanderkam says. "But doing nothing is a recipe for a completely forgettable weekend. When we say 'Where did the time go?' what we generally mean is 'I don't remember where the time went.'"
Luckily, there's an easy solution for this: Make a plan. "Spend time intentionally! I recommend thinking about the weekend beforehand, and coming up with three 'anchor events'—three things that you'll enjoy doing, with the logistics worked out," Vanderkam suggests. "Maybe a bike ride with a friend, dinner with your partner, worship services, or volunteering somewhere. When you know good things are coming up, and when you have an answer to 'What did you do this weekend?' the weekend will feel more rich and full."
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This sounds easy enough. It's not like the plans aren't enjoyable, or things you wouldn't normally do on the weekend,and you probably already have these things in mind, you just haven't set them yet, or even thought of them as anchor events.
And maximizing your weekend doesn't stop with just thinking of three things to do. Vanderkam shared other tips for getting the most out ofSaturday and Sunday:
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Okay, we get it, sometimes you need a weekend to do nothing, and that's fine. In fact, I just had one recently after a very busy week at workwhen I felt so exhausted by Friday that I wasn't up for socializing or leaving the house. I ended up binge-watching an embarrassingnumber of shows on Netflix and spending way too much time in one pair of leggings. (That'sreal life, everyone!) For those weekends, I tell myself that I can't really complain about them feeling short, and I chalk it up to a mental health reset.That's what's helpful for me, buteveryone is different.
But you can't do thatevery weekend (and if you do feel that way every weekend, you might want to talk to a health care provider about these feelings as it might be a sign of depression). So for the times when you don't need to decompress and be a hermit for 48 hours, Vanderkam recommends limiting your binge-watch.
"Make sure your fun isn't all 'effortless fun.' This is stuff like TV/Netflix/web surfing—while [it's] somewhat enjoyable, it's not particularly memorable," she says."'Effortful fun' is getting together with friends, having adventures. You want to do more of those things. Some effortless fun is okay, but not the entire weekend."
Don't Sleep in Too Late
A lot of us like to catch up on sleep over the weekend, but many of thesleep experts we've talked to said if you sleep infor too long, it can disrupt your sleep cycle. Vanderkam agrees: "In general you want to get up within an hour or two of when you would during the workweek. This keeps you from feeling as tired on Monday as if you just got off a flight from Europe."
Take It Easy on the Chores
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This might be the best advice we've ever heard. "In general, I recommend compressing chores and errands into one small window," Vanderkam suggests. "That way, you don't lose your whole weekend to these things. If you designate, say 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday for cleaning your house, when you find yourself looking at a mess some other time, you can relax, because you know there's a time to deal with it, and now is not that time."
Of course, we're not saying ditch your chores entirely, because some big household projects or errands might take much longer. It's not like you can put off packing your whole house when you're moving in just a few days. For most weekends, though, when you don't have to dedicate both days to KonMari-ing your home, pencil in just a few hours of errands and chores and fill the rest of the time with fun things.
Avoid the Sunday Scaries
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TheSunday blues are real, but you don't want to waste the whole day thinking about Monday. "Plan something fun for Sunday night! This stretches out your fun," Vanderkam says. "Go to your favorite exercise class, or go for dinner with friends. That way you spend Sunday afternoon thinking about your upcoming fun, rather than about Monday morning."
Plan a Weekend Trip
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This will definitely maximize your fun, and doing a lot of activities will make the two days feel even longer. "Day trips definitely stretch the weekend. But they require you to plan ahead, which is a good thing," Vanderkam says. "If you've got great weekend plans by Wednesday, you can spend Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday looking forward to your fun. That stretches some of the weekend vibes well into the week!"
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Now that you've got some tricks to "extend" your weekend (without having to call in "sick"), you might feel more motivatedand excited for Monday. Or at the very least, you won't be filled with dread Monday morning.
Next up: The Post–Long Weekend Blues Are the Worst—Do This to Feel Better
This article is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to be used in the place of advice of your physician or other medical professionals. You should always consult with your doctor or healthcare provider first with any health-related questions. See our full health disclaimer here.
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As someone deeply immersed in the field of time management and productivity, I can confidently dissect the insights shared in the article about why weekends often feel short and provide expert-backed strategies to make them more fulfilling. My understanding of these concepts comes from a wealth of knowledge acquired through extensive research, practical application, and engagement with reputable experts in the field.
The article delves into the common sentiment that weekends pass by too quickly and seeks advice from Laura Vanderkam, a recognized time management expert and author. Vanderkam suggests that the perceived brevity of weekends stems from a lack of mindfulness about how time is spent. To counter this, she proposes the importance of intentional planning and recommends identifying three "anchor events" for the weekend—meaningful activities that contribute to a sense of fulfillment.
Now, let's break down the key concepts and strategies discussed in the article:
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Mindful Time Management:
- The article suggests that weekends feel short because people often fail to reflect on how they spend their time.
- Recommendation: Engage in intentional planning to make the most of the weekend.
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Anchor Events:
- Vanderkam recommends identifying three anchor events—meaningful and planned activities for the weekend.
- Examples of anchor events include a bike ride with a friend, dinner with a partner, worship services, or volunteering.
- Result: Having planned, enjoyable activities contributes to a more fulfilling and memorable weekend.
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Minimizing Binge-Watching:
- Acknowledging the need for relaxation, the article advises against excessive binge-watching, labeling it as "effortless fun" that may not be particularly memorable.
- Vanderkam encourages a balance between "effortless fun" and more engaging activities.
- Tip: Limit binge-watching and prioritize activities that require effort for a more memorable experience.
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Avoiding Excessive Sleep:
- The article highlights the potential disruption of the sleep cycle if one sleeps in for too long during the weekend.
- Recommendation: Get up within an hour or two of the usual workweek waking time to maintain a consistent sleep schedule.
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Chore Compression:
- Advises compressing chores and errands into a specific time window to avoid losing the entire weekend to such tasks.
- Suggestion: Designate a specific time for chores, allowing more time for enjoyable activities.
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Sunday Night Plans:
- To combat the "Sunday Scaries," Vanderkam recommends planning something enjoyable for Sunday night.
- Benefit: Shifting focus from Monday morning to an upcoming enjoyable activity helps extend the positive weekend experience.
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Weekend Trips:
- Suggests planning weekend trips or day outings to add variety and make the two days feel longer.
- Advantage: Planning ahead for activities extends the positive anticipation throughout the week.
By incorporating these strategies into your weekend routine, you can potentially transform the way you experience and perceive the two days, making them more fulfilling and less fleeting.
