During the week we barely have the time to get enough sleep and a shower, so caring for our minds and bodies is out of the question. While I wish we lived in a culture where we could prioritize ourselves and our health, we do not. So, when you are catching up on readings and TV this Saturday, make sure you are catching up on your biological needs.
It is important to recognize that we cannot technically catch up on sleep, so staying asleep your whole weekend will actually leave you exhausted (and behind on work). If you wake up on the earlier side over the weekend, it will make your Mondays less painful!
Start your Saturday off with removing every last smudge of makeup that collected over the week. I typically shower in the afternoon or late at night during the week so on weekends it is a treat to wash up when I have a whole day ahead of me. Pro-tip: take your time showering. Hot water is a muscle relaxer and, with no rush to catch a bus, you can get clean and unwind.
Unfortunately, you can’t quite give yourself a deep tissue back massage. But, you can loosen up your joints by stretching and kneading at your leg, arm, and neck muscles. Stretch slowly and remember to breathe throughout to really ensure the efficacy. It is common, especially after a long week, for stretching muscles to be painful or to still feel tense afterwards. Your brain is not just your thought center but the hub of all life in your body and, when you are feeling stressed or anxious, your mood will take physical tolls on you.
Let’s continue. You are probably in a towel, your underwear, or sweats at this point. Perfect. Light some candles around your place or set out other ambience-enhancers. If you are trying to relax in a smelly dorm or apartment that you studied in every night this week, it will be a lot harder to disconnect from your stressors. The key here is making your weekend bedroom different from your weekday bedroom. For example, you can always flip the sheets or switch from using a desk lamp to the bedside lamp.
Set up distractors like a magazine, a book for pleasure, or a movie. Now full relaxation begins. While you enjoy some pleasant distractions, wash your face with a clean, damp towel and whatever oil-removing or skin-replenishing soap you prefer. Moisturize your whole body while you are still a little wet from the shower. This will lock in clean moisture, a super easy habit for smooth skin. Don’t change into your go-out-and-do-things outfit! Stay in your comfiest and cleanest outfit under the covers until you absolutely need to live your life. Make yourself hot food or beverage to warm your insides. If you feel yourself getting sleepy eyed, don’t fight it. Take a nap.
Remember this mantra: This is not a weekday. You have work to do but also have about 60 hours to yourself. You will have time. Take Saturday back by treating yourself right.