how to stop living for the weekends
Far too often, I find myself wishing away the week in anticipation of the weekend. Whether it’s excitement over plans with friends or just a much-needed break from school, it seems like I am always looking forward to Friday through Sunday. But recently, in my position as a sappy second-semester college senior, I’ve been realizing how precious time is and how essential it is to enjoy every moment.
I’ve made it my goal to stop wishing the week away. Living for the weekend erases all the joy that can come out of a “typical” day. In my venture, I’ve compiled a list of things that help me reframe my mindset and enjoy each day.
make plans during the week
It doesn’t have to be anything crazy, but planning dinner out with a friend, game night with your roommates or even a trip to the movie theater on Tuesday student night is a great way to break up your weeknight routine. Sure, it can be hard to coordinate plans when schoolwork starts to pile up in the semester, but whenever you have an evening with a little free time, consider if you can squeeze in a plan. Maybe it will be just what you need to recharge and find some joy in the week!
Plus, I always find that having a plan or two during the week encourages me to focus more during my designated study times so I can ensure I get all my work done. It helps me reduce my social media scroll procrastination, and it accumulates to time better spent when I get to have the payoff of a fun weeknight activity.
find a personal hobby
Discovering a new hobby is an incredible step in learning how to enjoy your own company and enhance your free time. I enjoy reading, and even if I can only spare 20 minutes before I go to bed, it makes my whole night. Whenever you have a little time in the day, I encourage you to spend it on a hobby rather than staring at your phone. I can be guilty of being addicted to my phone, and I feel so much better when I read a chapter versus scrolling down a TikTok or Instagram Reels rabbit hole.
As important to our well-being as they are, new hobbies can be a little daunting. Some individual activities – like crocheting, yoga or playing an instrument – can be hard to learn, but there are a million options out there that can suit whatever season of life you’re in. As busy as we can be as students, with classes, club involvements and internships or additional workloads on top, it’s important to carve time out for yourself to unwind. You cannot function at your best if you’re always running at zero, so it’s important to take some me-time.
cook a new recipe
If you’re like me and hate cooking, you might be debating skipping over this section. But I promise, there are so many easy, delicious recipes out there that even novices like us can tackle. My tip is to search for “one pot meals” – these typically require only a handful of ingredients, simple instructions and, most importantly, minimum cleanup.
I’ve been trying to cook a new easy recipe once a week to spice up my dinners, and shockingly, I’ve been looking forward to making it almost as much as I enjoy eating the yummy meals. After a long day of classes or work, it’s nice to dedicate 30-45 minutes away from my computer – it’s a great brain break. Plus, there are almost always leftovers I can heat up for the rest of the week.
discover a show to watch with your friends
I’m lucky enough to be best friends with my roommates, and at any given moment, we have multiple shows that we’re watching together. One night it’s the next episode of our “Grey’s Anatomy” rewatch, the next it’s the weekly episode of “The Pitt” or the new season of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.” Pro tip: if you find a show that releases new episodes weekly, it creates something to automatically look forward to each week.
It’s time to reclaim the weekdays. Sprinkling some plans throughout the week can help turn a mundane Monday into a night to remember.