Many of us spend Monday to Friday working, and for a lot of people that still looks very different depending on the job. Some of us are back out of the house early doors and home late, squeezing life in around commutes and long days. Others are still working from home, spending hours glued to a screen with work and home life bleeding into each other. The lines can feel blurred, routines slip, and it’s easy to feel like you’re always switched on. Whatever your situation looks like, one thing tends to stay the same. We count down to the weekend. Those two days that are meant to be ours. Time to slow down, catch up with family, and actually enjoy being together.

That said, weekends don’t always feel the way they used to. Life is busy, money is tight for many, and it’s easy to fall into the habit of letting days drift by without really doing much with them. Sometimes the weekend disappears in a blink and Monday is back before you’ve had a chance to breathe. That’s why it’s worth being a bit more intentional with that time. Not in a packed-schedule way, but in a way that helps you actually enjoy it. With that in mind, here are some simple ways to start making the most of your weekends with your family and bring back that feeling of proper downtime, connection, and enjoyment.

Try and have a plan

While there is a lot to be said for being spontaneous and off the cuff, not having some plan can mean that time escapes you. More than ever, planning your weekends can help you make the most of your time, especially as many places now require advance booking. We plan our summer vacations after all. On a weekend, you can spend a lot of time working out what you want to with your time. But before you know it, Sunday night has appeared, and that’s it for another week. Having a loose plan means that you should get the most out of your weekend. It doesn’t have to be strict or timed; you could just decide that you are doing certain things on certain days. You will find you get much more packed into those two days, and equally, enjoy yourself more. 

Look into days out and excursions

Going on day’s out every week can be quite costly, this is where planning can help you out. While it’s great to stay local, sometimes it’s nice to get out and about and explore more. This is where you could look into days out and excursions. It might be a trip to a different park or exploring the next local town, while being mindful of crowds and busy times. Try and mix it up a little. Museums and galleries, cinemas and even bowling alleys can book up fast, so booking these things online and supporting local businesses could help you to ensure that not only are you making the most of your weekend but you are trying to support the economy as well. 

Schedule in some relaxation time

As much as you want to have fun filled weekends, you will have worked all week. So try and schedule in a little down time for you to relax. A weekend should be a time you rest and recuperate for the week ahead. You could mix it up and incorporate the family by having a movie afternoon, or letting the children play in the garden while you sit back and spectate over a game of chess. Relaxation time may seem like an odd suggestion when life already feels busy and full, but it plays an important role in helping you properly switch off. But it can be a great way to ensure that you separate your weekends from your working time, where you may have felt stressed or a little anxious. Whether working from home or having to venture out to the office or your place of work, scheduling in that relaxation time is good for you. As well it gives your children a chance to learn to occupy themselves and not get bored so easily. 

Capture the memories

What many of us forget to do is capture the memories. Our weekends go by so fast. More often than not we don’t think to capture the everyday moments. But these are the ones you will cherish for years to come. So get your camera out, or snap away on your smartphone. Capture some memories of your weekend. Maybe you could share them to an album, print some pictures off and use it as an opportunity for your children to create an ongoing scrapbook. These things will be something they will love to look back on in years to come. You may find that at tough spots in the week those smiles get you through and we all want those memories to look back on when times are tough. Perhaps you could use this time to gather past photos and moments into one place, creating a record your children and future generations will love looking back on. 

Why down time is so important

Down time is so important and something we often don’t do enough of. It is so important for us all to take some time to rest as well as enjoy the time with our loved ones. You may have a stressful job that might be taxing on the mind, so it is important that you realise this and ensure you do what you can to feel better mentally. The more you invest in yourself, the more you can invest in the others around you and give them the best version of you. 

Try and not dwell on Monday morning

Finally, as hard as it may seem, try and not dwell on Monday morning. Use your weekend as a chance to be in the moment and not thinking about the future and what lies ahead. This will also help you to differentiate between weekdays and weekends. You will feel much more positive when Monday does come round and feel ready to tackle another week of the daily grind. 

Let’s hope this has inspired you to make more of your weekends with the family.