For many of us, the three-day weekend is a chance to take some much-needed time to relax. For others, it can be a chance to catch up on tasks they’ve been putting off or haven’t been able to get around to. Entrepreneurs may choose to stay at work, basking in the silence in the office.
To get the most out of your three-day weekend, you need to know what you’re doing ahead of time. Otherwise, you may just end up sleeping the weekend away and wasting a perfect opportunity.
The following are some ideas for what to do on this upcoming three-day weekend.
1. Make quality time
Rusty Bergen, a member at WeWork Park South, plans to celebrate his anniversary with his partner. It’s become a tradition for them. “For the last 41 years,’ Bergen says, “we’ve surrounded ourselves with love for the entire weekend and created special memories.” Turn this into a whole romantic weekend—think breakfast in bed or a late night out on the town.
2. Unplug from your work email
Unless your bosses explicitly tell you that you need to check your emails, turn off your notifications when you leave for the weekend. According to the Huffington Post, six out of 10 Americans say they work during their vacations. Out of those, 38 percent check their work emails during this time. If you’re always focusing on work, you run the risk of burning out on your job. Forget the emails until Tuesday morning. They can wait.
3. Tackle a new project
How your home looks and feels can affect your work life. If you’re waking up every day to a messy home, or have to stare at that broken refrigerator door when you have breakfast every morning, it’s time to make a change. Do some early spring-cleaning, clear out a drawer, or make some fixes that have been bothering you for a while. You’ll feel more mental clarity and be comfortable in your home.
4. Go on a mini-vacay
Leaving town for a few days will grant you a fresh perspective and (hopefully) give you a boost of energy. Go somewhere that’s nearby, so that you’re not stressing about making it to the airport on time or getting stuck in traffic on the way home.
5. Prepare for new projects
For entrepreneurs, to-do lists are always piling up on their desks. However, most of the time, they just have to focus on the day-to-day to make sure their businesses stay in operation. A three-day weekend affords them the opportunity to catch up on projects and prepare for new ones.
6. Kickstart a hobby
You may have wanted to always try that boxing class at your gym, but don’t have the energy to attend one after work. There’s a sweater you’ve been meaning to knit, but you just can’t seem to get it going. Use the weekend to explore a new hobby or reinvigorate your interest in an old one. Taking the first step is often the hardest part, and it’s made even more difficult when you’re exhausted from work. The extra time off is an ideal opportunity to establish some new routines.
7. Veg out
You don’t have to do anything during your time off. If you want to lay around, order in a pizza, and say “screw it” to doing the dishes for a few days, it’s probably healthy if you’re usually working round-the-clock. Don’t feel guilty about it, either. Taking a break from the grind is good for your productivity.
8. Plan your next vacation
You know what’s worse than those Sunday night blues? The Monday night, three-day weekend blues. It’s going to be tough to get back into the groove of things after you’ve just had an extra day off. Instead of being sad about the unavoidable fact that you have to wake up early again and work on Tuesday, take Monday to map out your next vacation. Do research on your destination, figure out what days to take off, and how you’ll approach the subject with your boss. It’ll give you something to look forward to.