Ten weeks ago, I made a commitment to radically change how I spend my weekends. (Not sure what I’m talking about? Click here to see why I took on this huge challenge.) Over the last ten weeks, I’ve learned a ton about myself and the importance of the 48 hours that come at the end of a week. Today, I’m sharing what I’ve learned so far.
Living on the weekend isn’t just about doing fun things. It’s about being present and fully experiencing what these things have to offer. When I made the decision to revamp how I live my weekends, a huge part of me simply wanted to “do more.” However, I’ve learned that this is only half of the equation. The other half is about being present during these experiences. Put your phone away, use your senses, feel your feet on the ground, take in the details. Practicing mindfulness while doing fun stuff magnifies the goodness of the moment. This takes it from “doing more” to “experiencing more.” Yes, yes, and yes!
TV is a giant time suck for me. This feels a bit shameful and embarrassing to admit, but I used to watch a lot of TV on the weekends. I think I would pretend it wasn’t that much TV, because I’d break it up. A few HGTV episodes in the morning, a small Netflix binge later in the day, and then at least another block or two on Sunday. Ugh, I hate to even type that. While a few hours here and there doesn’t seem that bad, when you add it up, it’s a ton. That is time that could be spent doing so much more! Over the last ten weekends, I’ve drastically cut back on my TV watching, and I’m so grateful I did. It’s made a huge difference.
When I’m not sure what to do or we don’t have anything specific planned, getting outside is almost always a good idea. One of the things I appreciate about Chicagoans is how much they take advantage of the summer. When four to six months of your year are spent bundled up and freezing, you make the most of the good weather you get. So whether it’s a bike ride, a picnic, or a walk around our neighborhood, I’ve gotten outdoors a lot more in the last ten weeks. Almost anything becomes an activity when you mix it with good weather.
Good things happen when you get outside your comfort zone. I’ve talked about this before, but I continue to experience this week after week. Growth and discomfort and close friends. If I want to grow, I’ve got to be willing to get uncomfortable and do things that scare me a bit. Luckily, the more I do this, the more I see the value.
Living on the weekend requires intentionality. Intentionality is a life buzzword for a reason. Not only does it matter, it’s essential. If you want to change something, you can’t wait for it to happen. That’s too passive. You’ve got to make it happen. This involves mindfulness, reflection, planning, and discipline. Whether it’s coordinating plans with Matt, waking up early, or working my way through my summer bucket list, thinking ahead makes a world of difference on the weekend.
While my weekends have certainly felt different over the last ten weeks, so have my Mondays. I start the week off feeling full and nourished. So I don’t plan on turning back on this challenge anytime soon! For those of you tackling your own live on the weekend challenge, what are you learning? PS: Next week I’m sharing one of my favorite live on the weekend adventure videos yet. I can’t wait to share it with y’all!
