The longer you work a 9 to 5, the more likely you fall into the cycle of work, home, and back again, giving you no semblance of a life outside your job. That’s because most of your energy gets siphoned off into getting up early to prepare for work, doing your job while you’re there, commuting home, and then preparing for your next day at work.
Even with the time that work can take, I urge you to consider how to maximize your weekdays so that work feels like one part of your life, instead of your whole life.
This is going to be different for everyone. If you have to be in office Monday through Friday, you will have a different experience than people who work hybrid. If you work 12 hour shifts three days a week, that’s different from someone whose 8 hour shift is the night shift. These tips are meant to be general, but you have to apply it to your own life circumstances.
Decide what you want to focus on
There are two main ways to go about this process: you can use your weekdays post work as recovery time from the day or as a way to get chores done so you don’t spend your whole weekend dedicated to your housework.
For me, it highly depends on the week and my energy levels. Some weeks I crash on my couch as soon as I get home, only getting up to eat dinner, shower, or head to bed. Other weeks I’m a lot more motivated to get some tasks off my to-dos and truly give myself a weekend of rest.
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Don’t live by the clock
Give yourself some room between starting work and after leaving work. If you work from home, you may be tempted to wake at 8:55 and immediately clock-in, but that’s not a healthy lifestyle. If you can, get a morning walk in. Eat some breakfast. Step outside for five minutes for some fresh air. If you’re more disciplined, you can get up earlier for a workout regime or even to read a fun novel before the work begins. Don’t live as if your whole day depends on it getting to your lunch break or to 5pm.
And I would argue that if you’re in a serious stretch of a heavier workload, you need to have some boundaries. Maybe you do work longer hours, but have a set end date. Make sure you’re eating lunch and drinking water. Get some time with friends and family. Don’t let work become everything. It’s not sustainable.
Take advantage of where you work
Lucky for me, I work in New York City, so that means on my lunch break, it’s easy to hit the city streets. On good weather days, I either sit in the park or go for a walk. Recently, I walked around the neighborhood and found an amazing bookstore. Another time I convinced a colleague to join me in finding a small bakery in a financial building. Adventures can be had even when you’re on the clock. Use your lunch break!
Run your errands before you get home
If you’re out and about all week long, you don’t really want to spend your weekend running around time running errands instead of enjoying time with loved ones. I like to make returns after my work day ends. I’m already in the city. I can easily make a return and then make my way home. Grab a few ingredients for that meal you want to make (although grocery runs are best made either before work or on your lunch break). Briefly go window shopping if you’re looking for something specific.
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Clean what you can
Deep cleans are best when you have a lot of time on your hands, but there’s value in tidying your space so that there isn’t much to pick up when you do have a deep clean. Clearing your desk, wiping your vanity, and sweeping are all small ways of keeping a space clean before you need to empty out drawers or shred old papers.
Get creative with your fun
There’s no reason why you can’t enjoy your days after work. Be intentional. I saw someone share that they theme their days – Movie Mondays (in my case it’s Meal Prep Mondays), Fun Drink Fridays. Take a class one day after work in something you’re interested in. Join a book club. Grab ice cream because you have free will and want to celebrate being alive. Don’t just have plans on the weekend – plan for the weekdays. Even if it’s as simple as finishing your cozy murder mystery (my plan for the evening).
Set Friday as a transition day
Because Friday is the final work day, you can be very intentional with marking it! Maybe you make pizzas on Fridays and watch a show you only watch on Fridays (my current system). You could order out and invite friends to join you. Friday night could be great for watching a movie. On Friday mornings, you could let yourself sleep in a little or alternatively, wake up early and grab a pastry on your way to work.
My main point is don’t let work keep you from living your life. You may have to get creative and intentional to maximize your weekdays, but it’ll be worth it. You are not your job, both on your good days and your bad days. Enjoy your mornings and evenings and let yourself live abundantly.
Signing off,
Gigi
Studying Life with Gigi 