How to Not Waste the Weekend, Get Stuff Done, and Still Have Time to Relax!  

The workweek is hectic; you certainly don’t need me or anyone else to remind you of that. Between family and friend commitments, making time for the gym, and actual work, it can feel like you’re sprinting from one thing to the next. There’s little to no time for ourselves or even doing things on our own to-do lists.  So the weekends, those glorious two WHOLE days, are built up to be a slice of heaven at the end of a chaotic week: thoughts of binge-watching shows, multiple cups of coffee before 11 a.m., and lounging in our favorite sweatshirts. But, before we know it, we blink and Monday is upon us again and we’re back in the busyness! We took a mental break (which is hugely important and IS needed), but we didn’t do much of anything else in terms of getting things done that needed to get done. Errands don’t run themselves!

My secret weapon that increases productivity while leaving room for fun on the weekends is called Saturday.  For me, Saturdays still involve an alarm, tasks and places to be – not completely unlike a workday (except that I’m not actually in the office, and for the majority of the day, I’m in workout pants). The Difference? It’s all on my time. Saturday is my day for productivity AND fun.  It’s a day that’s masked as a weekend, but works like your most productive day of the week. It just takes some creativity and planning to make it all work for you without becoming too overwhelming, and without it feeling like an actual workday.

Here are some ways to make Saturday work for you – in every sense of the word:

Beating the Afternoon Rush

There’s something to be said for greeting the day early on a Saturday. A lot can be done between 8 a.m. and noon. The early bird gets…

• An Empty Gym. Have you been to the gym at 8 a.m. on a Saturday? Yeah, most people haven’t, and that’s the point.  Whether you decide to take an early-morning yoga class or just want to do your own thing on the machines, you’ve got options and a lot less grunting men in your way.
• A Less Chaotic Grocery Store. If you’re anything like me, where lots of people in a confined space stress you out, there’s nothing worse than a crowded grocery store aisle on the weekend. I avoid it like the plague. But, if I go before 10 a.m. or so on Saturday, I can get what I need and make it through the checkout line without breaking out the Xanax.
• More Choices at the Farmer’s Market. Here in Michigan, we love our farmer’s markets – especially in the early fall. There are so many beautiful sunflowers, tomatoes and baked goods to choose from. But if you get there too late the cream of the crop (literally) has usually been snatched up.
• Cheaper Movies. I really enjoy movies, so for me, it doesn’t matter what time of day I go to catch a good flick. One of my local theaters offers cheaper prices if you go before noon. Oh, and you get a less-crowded theater, too! So catch those must-see holiday movies earlier, and you’ll have more than enough elbow room. Bonus: you won’t have to worry about which cup holder is yours!

Knocking Out Tasks and Responsibilities

Know those trifling domestic duties that build up throughout the week (I’m looking at you, dishes). Or those quick errands that you never have time for? (Hi, dry cleaners.) They’re awful, and no one has time to devote to them during the workweek. Lucky for us, there’s time to get it all done on Saturday. Here’s a quick plan for noon to 5 p.m.:

• Banks are open. Most banks and credit unions are open Saturdays. They may have limited hours, but it’s nice to know you can do any bank business you need to before 2 p.m. Saturday.
• …So is the post office. Don’t forget, the post office is generally open on Saturdays, too, which is so helpful (especially during the holidays). And if you get there a bit early, the lines aren’t as crazy long either.
• …And the dry cleaners, too. My dry cleaner offers a weekly discount on specific items that extends through Saturday. Score! Check with your local cleaners, and make sure that you’re able to take advantage of that deal on Saturday as well.
• Mowing the lawn/doing dishes/laundry/any chore. I enjoy literally none of these things, but they have to get done, right? Here’s a tip for making them a bit more enjoyable: Catch up on your favorite podcasts during these tasks or even binge-watch shows while folding laundry.

It will feel so good to be done with your tasks, duties and responsibilities before 5 p.m. on Saturday. (Of course not every Saturday will turn out this way. Just remember to be flexible, and of course, have some sort of backup plan.)

Being productive throughout the day on Saturday leaves you with plenty of time to enjoy the rest of your night catching up with friends, grabbing dinner, going out for drinks or doing whatever it is that you dreamt about doing. And better yet? You still have a whole other day to do nothing! It’s called Sunday.