At the end of a long week, it is easy to want to relax when the weekend begins on Friday. However, there are a variety of things you can do instead that will make the coming week a little less stressful. We have compiled a list of what to do on Friday to get off on the right foot on Monday, so you know just how to help yourself out to be more productive.
Meal Plan a Week in Advance
Sitting down to intentionally plan your meals ahead of time gives you the chance to think about what you are putting into your body more seriously by emphasizing the importance of good nutritious food supporting a busy work lifestyle. It will save you money because you can plan to use all of an ingredient before it goes bad by planning to make two meals that use the same ingredient in a week.
Check out Quotable articles 5 Easy Dinners to Cook on Busy Weeknights and Seven Lunch Ideas for a Busy Spring Workday for more information on nutritional meals that you can make throughout the week to keep your energy and motivation up both at work and at home.
Schedule for the Future
Planning and time blocking for the upcoming week are ways that you can improve your time management. There are a variety of organizational programs and planners that you can use to keep information about everything from work to meal planning to habit tracking, and they can truly be game changers if you learn how to use them as effectively as possible. Having all of your planning information in one place will make your life easier and more organized.
Check out Quotable articles Why You Need to Start Time Blocking, 10 Best Online Organizational Platforms to Improve Productivity, How to Get More Organized.
Move Your Body
Exercise has been proven to relieve stress, so there is no better way to unwind at the end of the week than to move your body in whatever way you see fit. Whether that be a walk or a yoga class, you will almost always feel better after having taken some time to move and reconnect with yourself and your values. It’s a bonus that working out keeps you healthy and feeling good physically as well!
Check out Quotable articles 5 Core Exercises That Actually Improve Confidence, How Physical Exercise Leads to Higher Productivity, Walk It Out: Walking as a Form of Mindfulness and Improve Your Productivity with YOGA for more information on moving your body for mental and physical health benefits and stress relief.
Clean Up Your Space
Straightening up your house or apartment at the end of the week before you head into the next week is a perfect way to get everything back in order. There is nothing like coming home to a clean space. Not only does it look nice, but it is conducive to success and will work in your favor in the long run. Keeping a clean space is one of the many things you can do to make yourself feel more confident and gain more success and organization in your life.
Check out Quotable articles Weekend Reset and Ready, Set, Reset for more information on the weekend reset and cleaning and decluttering for stress relief and productivity.
Journal and Reflect
Reflection allows us to look back and think about positive changes we can make to our lives in the future. Journaling is therapeutic and is highly encouraged by a variety of professionals. Journaling about how your week went, what you plan to do differently in the future, as well as about anything in the next week that you are nervous or excited about can give you more of an understanding of where you want to go in your career and what brings you the most joy.
Check out the Quotable article Our Top Stationery Picks at Quotable Magazine for more information on journaling and the recommended resources for doing so.
Remember to Relax!
Although planning ahead for the next week is very important, it is also important to take time for yourself at the end of the week. We all have good weeks and bad weeks, but regardless of how they went, everybody needs the chance to just chill, read a book, listen to music, or watch a show. All of these are forms of self-love, and should never be overlooked.
Check out Quotable articles Three Female-Empowering Memoirs to Read this Fall, Natural Methods to Cope with Stress and Anxiety, What Listening to Music Can Do for Your Work Ethic, Shows for an Entrepreneurial Netflix Sesh, and 5 Ways to Unwind at the End of a Long Day for more information on relaxing at the end of the week to set yourself up for success.
