Spending Time Decompressing
Take time to exercise. Exercising is a great way to relieve stress and get into shape after a long week. Hit the gym, play a sport, or even go for a short walk to get your body moving and your mind more relaxed. Get your heart pumping with 30 minutes of aerobic activity like jogging, swimming, etc. Go for a bike ride, lift weights, or jumprope. You can create your own workout routine by perusing online ideas or using an exercise app.
Get outside. Nature has a very positive effect on your mental well-being. If the weather is nice, try to spend at least an hour outside each day. Go for a walk in your neighborhood, take a trip to a park, or spend some time in your garden or backyard. Feel free to take off your shoes and socks before going outside; going barefoot always feels good, especially if you've been on your feet throughout the week.
Relax by meditating or doing yoga. Whether you've tried it before or not, meditating is a great way to refocus your mind and relax. You can meditate at home in your spare time, or you can join a class in your community. Put aside 20 minutes in the morning and before you go to sleep to sit quietly and clear your mind. Try simple yoga poses such as a sun salutation or the upward facing dog.
Disconnect from social media. It's totally fine to check social media to see what friends are up to, but don't spend your whole weekend with your eyes glued to your computer or phone. Try to avoid using social media to enjoy some down time. Leave your phone in your room or on a table instead of carrying it around the house with you. Close your laptop and put it in a drawer or its case to make yourself less likely to use it.
Listen to music. Turn on some music when you're doing chores, cooking a meal, or just relaxing on a porch. It'll help you relax while also making monotonous tasks much more fun.
Read a good book. Either pick out a book from one of your own shelves or visit the local library to choose one to borrow. Spend at least 30 minutes reading to let your mind relax and enjoy the story. Visit a bookstore to pick out a new book. Download a new book on your Kindle or tablet.
Catch up on your sleep. Weekends are great for recharging so that you're energized and ready for the next week. Try to get a reasonable amount of sleep each night — 8 hours is ideal — so that your body stays happy and healthy.
Having Fun
Enjoy a great meal. You can go out to a restaurant to try new menu items or special drinks, or you can take the time to create a great meal at home. Make a list of ingredients and stop by a local grocery store before cooking, or pick out a restaurant that you've been meaning to try out.
Pursue a passion. Think of a hobby that you love and dedicate part or all of your weekend to it. If you don't have a specific passion that you love, spend some time trying out new ones. For example, if you love to paint, take a few hours during the weekend to take a painting class or create a painting in your own home. Try out new hobbies such as running, wood carving, or dancing.
Take a vacation or day trip. Use the weekend to take the family to the beach, or go on a solo day trip to hike a trail, visit a zoo, or check out a monument. Visit an orchard to pick fruit when the weather is nice. Spend the day at a nearby amusement park. Pack a picnic and eat it in a grassy field, next to a river or lake, or in a nice park. You can also enjoy your picnic in your bare feet, feeling the warm/cool grass underneath your feet as you eat.
Master a skill. Maybe you've always wanted to learn how to play the piano or make creme brûlée. Use the weekend to begin mastering your desired skill, taking the time to learn and practice. Practice sewing or embroidery. Learn to play chess or another complex game.
Explore your city. There are usually lots of activities to do depending on where you live, and many of them are free. Visit a park, go to a museum, or try out a new local restaurant. Attend a concert nearby with friends or family members. Check out shops to support local businesses.
Socialize with friends and family. Weekends are great for spending time with people you don't get to see often during the week. Turn Saturday into game night for your family, or go out to dinner with friends. Take your family out to dinner, have movie night at home, or camp out in the backyard for fun. Go see a concert with friends or ask them over to your house for drinks and to chat.
Being Productive
Create goals for your day to make the most out of it. While it can be tempting to want to spend the day watching TV or sleeping until noon, try to wake up in the morning with goals for your day. You could make a plan to visit the gym early Saturday morning so that you have the rest of the day to partake in fun activities. Aim to get work, chores, or errands done right when you wake up for a productive day.
Set a time limit on work. Your weekend should be about taking a break from work, so if you must work, set a time limit. Try to get any necessary work done early and in a timely manner so that you won't have to think about it for the rest of the weekend. Tell yourself that you're only going to work for 1-2 hours. Set a goal for yourself to accomplish 1 work task and then stop.
Make a reasonable to-do list. Avoid making a long list of tons of things you need to get done over the weekend. Pick a few important, manageable tasks to complete and get them done so that you have time to relax as well. A simple to-do list could consist of washing the dishes, picking up the dry-cleaning, and planning meals for the week.
Declutter your home. While it's unlikely that you'll be able to organize and clean your entire house over the weekend, it can be helpful to pick a room or 2 to get started on. For example, decide that on Saturday you're going to wake up early and declutter the kitchen, making sure the job is finished that day.
Spend time volunteering. Using your weekend to give back to your local community is a rewarding way to spend your time. Take a few hours to volunteer at a food bank, SPCA, or other organization.
Work on a project. Maybe you've been wanting to repaint the fence, build new cabinets, or create a painting for the living room. Pick a project that you're interested in and dedicate part of your weekend to completing it. Get the family involved and ask everyone to help you build a treehouse or playset in the backyard. Repaint a room a new color or go through your closet to find old clothes to donate.
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