I love being productive during weekends. In fact, some of my best work is a result of working weekends instead of waiting until Monday. The problem is there are several distractions on weekends – especially if you live in a bustling city.
Because I’ve been working seemingly weird hours for years, I often get asked how I’m productive on weekends. Here are my tips based on my experience.
Focus on work-life integration.
Part of the reason why people struggle to be productive during weekends is because of work-life balance. We have this idea that every part of our lives must be balanced and that looks like taking weekends off.
I realized work-life balance was a joke years ago. Instead, I focus on work-life integration. For example, I may run around the arts district with a friend taking pictures. I’m doing it primarily for fun, but I can use them for marketing purposes. When we’re done taking pictures we go unwind at a bar.
Or, I’ll go out to a networking event at a bar on a Wednesday to go support a friend. This integration allows me to relax and make money at the same time. It also means I’m not waiting for the weekend to go out and can therefore work.
Get plenty of sleep.
A lot of people catch up on sleep on weekends, therefore, making them unproductive. I try to make sure I’m getting enough sleep during the week to avoid this.
This is easy to do as a business owner because you make your own schedule. This means you can sleep in if you stayed out the night before on a weeknight.
By making sure you’re getting plenty of rest most of the time, you won’t feel like you’ve been hit by a truck come the weekend.
Turn off email notifications.
One of my favorite things about being productive during weekends is avoiding email. Since most people are out for a couple of days, I take advantage and tackle bigger projects. This is because I know it’s harder to do during the week with constant interruptions.
The lack of interruptions also makes it easier to focus on important tasks. For example, I’m productive on the weekends when I write. I have to write for clients and myself, and having peace and quiet allows me to do that.
Focus on your health at all times.
Most people recover on the weekends. This is because they don’t have the energy to be productive during weekends. Often times it’s because they just aren’t taking care of themselves so they crash.
If you’ve ever drastically changed your lifestyle to be healthy, then you know how it changes your energy levels. The more you take care of yourself, the better you feel. The better you feel, the more you can be productive during weekends.
Final Thoughts
Being productive during weekends can help you move your business forward. It can also help you with work-life integration so that you feel more balanced. By using these tips, you’ll be able to get more done this coming weekend.
Amanda Abella
Amanda is a best-selling author of "Make Money Your Honey", a book that helps freelancers and business owners understand their relationship with money and how to make it more productive. She's driven by helping others live the most productive and fruitful way possible.