Saturday morning is arguably the best morning of the entire week for those who have a traditional Monday-Friday work schedule. Whether you like to sleep in and get some extra shut eye or hop out of bed to get your weekend started, there’s a joy that comes with knowing you still have the rest of the day and Sunday before Monday comes again.
Sometimes I struggle on Saturday mornings, though. I struggle to strike a balance between wanting to get a lot of items checked off my to do list, wanting to spend quality time with my husband, and wanting to rest. And since Saturday morning is the official start to the weekend, it’s a good time to set the stage for a productive and/or restful couple of days.
Today I’m sharing 3 things that you can do when you wake up on Saturday mornings to kick off your weekend!
1 // Decide how you feel
I can usually tell the kind of weekend I’d like to have by Wednesday or Thursday at the latest. If my week has been tough, I may want a relaxing, low-key weekend; if it’s been energizing and smooth, I may want an adventure. (My husband and I usually discuss our plans/goals for the weekend on Thursday over lunch.)
However, if you haven’t had a moment to think about Saturday and Sunday, first thing Saturday morning is a good time to do that. Think to yourself: What has my week been like? What would be most soul-nourishing for me this weekend?
If you already have something planned for the weekend (as we often do), think about how you can spend your time wisely before or after that plan to make the most of your time off.
On some weekends, you may find yourself realizing that deep cleaning your home, meal planning and grocery shopping for the week, and doing all your laundry would be the best use of your time to set yourself up for success throughout the week. Other times, you may realize that you’re completely worn out and focusing on eating well, sleeping a lot, and reading your favorite book in the hammock will be the best use of your time.
Whatever conclusion you arrive at, decide how you feel on Saturday morning so that you can thoughtfully plan the rest of your weekend.
2 // Create a reasonable weekend to do list
Even on a relaxing weekend, there are usually at least a couple of things that need to get done. During a productive weekend, there could be many.
After you’ve woken up on Saturday, come up with a reasonable to do list with things you’d like to accomplish before Monday morning. Key word: reasonable. I highly discourage you from adding 57 time-consuming items to your list because you’ll almost certainly fail to achieve them.
Instead, think about what you can actually accomplish given your state of mind and existing plans, and create a list accordingly. (I often use Wunderlist for this, though a paper and pen will work perfectly.)
You list could include: visiting friends/family, cleaning or organizing, household chores, spending time on a hobby, working on your home, cooking or baking, exercising, shopping, working on a work/school project, going somewhere in town, preparing for an upcoming event/trip, watching a movie or TV show, etc. There are no rules! This list can serve as a loose outline for your weekend so that you can make the most of your time, even if that means watching four seasons of your favorite show on Netflix.
3 // Nourish your body
When you first wake up on Saturday, some of the best things that you can do (in my opinion) are eat a hearty breakfast, go on a walk (or engage in some other form of exercise), and take a long, hot shower.
Your ideal way to nourish your body very well may look differently from mine, but the bottom line is to take the time to care for yourself on a physical level at the start of your weekend. All too often weekdays begin rushed and frantic, choking down a granola bar as you run out the door with loads of dry shampoo in your hair. Take the weekend mornings more slowly.
In order to guard this time, my husband and I almost never make plans before noon on Saturday. That way, we have time to get some extra sleep, eat breakfast (or go out to eat), take a walk with our dog, and shower. The leisurely pace sets the stage for a mindful and restful weekend, even when we’re tackling a project around our house or getting a lot done.
There you have it–three things that you can do first thing on Saturday morning to set the stage for a great weekend!
// How do you like to start your Saturday mornings?
Related: 8 Ways To Simplify Your Morning Routine + 5 Ways To Mix Up Your Morning Routine
Thank you for reading! You can find me online on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter. If you’d like to be alerted whenever I publish a new post, you can follow me on Bloglovin’ or subscribe via email. Check out my fun tees in my Etsy shop and listen to my weekly podcast about simplifying life, Simplify Everything!
Use the image below for Pinterest 🙂
Recent Comments