Ever feel like the weekends fly by and nothing gets done? Creating a weekend routine sets everyone up for a successful week ahead.
By the time you get home on Friday all you want to do is relax. You go about the weekend tackling projects, a little laundry, maybe an outing or two, and doing whatever needs to be done as it comes up. But before you know it’s Sunday and the house is messier than you intended it to be, the kids are doing their thing, you’re wondering where they’re backpacks are, and you’ve already begun to dread Monday as the long list of to-do’s for the week (and before Monday morning) begin to play out in your head.
I used to feel the same way. It seemed like the weekend would fly by and I was left constantly putting out little fires everywhere through the week. I ended up dealing with things as they happened instead of addressing bigger problems, projects, or goals I had wanted to accomplish.
The culprit? Not having a weekend routine.
Why You (and your household) Need a Weekend Routine
When you haven’t got a clear focus on what your goals are for the week you will achieve nothing. It’s like throwing a handful of darts at a dartboard and expecting them all to hit the bullseye.
Think of your weekend as a staging area for the week ahead. When you assign each day with a focus you are creating intent and accountability. After all, every journey has to have a destination, otherwise, you’re just aimlessly wandering and you’ll end up getting nowhere.
Ever feel like the weekends just fly by and nothing seems to have gotten done? The culprit? Not having a weekend routine. While it might seem silly, creating a very simple yet influential weekend routine will bring more peace to your home, ensure all the things get done, and sets everyone up for a more successful week ahead. Save your sanity by creating a simple yet powerful weekend routine in just four steps. You’ll be glad you did!
Having a good weekend routine in place is a sure-fire way to make sure you get everything you need to be done, while still having (and enjoying) the much-needed down-time you get on the weekend. Make it happen by instilling a few household rules and strategies that make the most of your weekend and carve a path for a more fluid week.
Because I was so overwhelmed during the week, I ended up using my weekend to chill and ended up never getting anything done. I felt like Scarlet O’Hara, “I’ll think about that tomorrow. Tomorrow is another day.”I felt like I was on a hamster wheel of stress.
So I decided it was time to start managing my time on the weekends too, and used my favorite new tool, The Living Well Planner®, to do it. It is the only planner that I have managed to use throughout an entire year. And it really keeps me on track.
Now you don’t have to plan your weekend days down to the hour; after all, weekends are meant to be more relaxed, but even a simple time block for certain tasks you want and need to complete each day will do wonders! This also helps other family members in the home to know what’s going on, get on a routine with you, and gain a sense of working together vs. you feeling left alone to figure it all out and get it all done.
Create a very simple yet flexible plan with a goal for each day. First, what events do you already have going on for the weekend? And then what is one thing you definitely want to have done on Saturday? What absolutely needs to happen by Sunday evening? Highlight important activities in your planner, and then schedule your other goals and tasks you want to complete around them. This is key to getting it all done.
Giving each day a theme is another helpful way to stay on track, for instance:
Here are some tips that have truly helped in making a busy week and weekend seem less chaotic. They’re easy to implement, and once they become a habit for everyone, it truly makes life much easier.
Now, even if you have a weekend routine in place, remember this is life and things are not always going to go as planned. That is why you need to have an idea of how you are going to deal with the unexpected. Always remember to give yourself grace. Things get forgotten. Even the most put-together person has rough days, but here are some ways to help you deal with life’s little speed bumps:
I know having a weekend routine can at times seem like you’re micromanaging your life, but if it’s done the right way (leaving room for plenty of family time and fun), it can actually bring a sense of calm to the chaos of life. And who couldn’t use a little more of that in their life?
Kids aren’t the only ones who need consistency to thrive. Most adults need it too–it just takes us longer to realize it. But having a consistent routine, no matter how loose, not only makes dealing with
The important thing to remember is to try and be flexible. Roll with the setbacks. Make this routine your own. Keep what works for your family and change what doesn’t. Set you, and everyone in the household up for success.
Looking to build some good new habits? Good or bad, habits require repetition. Once they become habitual, they become automatic! They no longer require extra thought—we simply do them. Embrace these 10 habits to really change your life!
1. Manage Your Time Well
2. Assign a Goal for Each Day
3. Implement Good Week + Weekend Habits
4. Deal with the Unexpected
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This is one of my most favorite tips! I do this every night. It's such a great feeling to wake up to a clean kitchen