You are always on the move – from working a corporate job to running your business to trying new things. All of these in the shortest time possible. It is as if you are running out of time to finish all these. Always hustling, never settling. That is why you are left drained and exhausted from all these endeavors.
Thank God there are long weekends to help you recharge and recover from the stress and pressure of everyday life. But a word of warning – your treasured 3-day vacation can just go by if you don’t plan for it. Be conscious of the time you are going to have for three days.
Making the mini-vacation fruitful does not only mean booking the next trip since you may not have the monetary resources for that. A productive weekend can be sustainable and affordable. All you need are little doses of creativity and resourcefulness.
In outlining your days, you can use the 1-1-1 plan. Allot the first day for household chores and personal errands. Then use the next day for something fun and social like having lunch with friends and spending a game night with the family. Maximize the third day for work or school-related activities.
A bit stumped on how to use the heaven-sent long weekend? Here are some of the activities you can get your hands on.
1. Tackle a project.
Been putting off a project for the longest time? It could be as small as starting on your travel scrapbook or as big as making your garden. Working on a passion project can provide you with a lot of benefits. It fuels and motivates you to push through life as there is something to look forward to. It also helps you develop and improve on skillset and qualities that you can apply in your job. That is why it is vital to consider trying on a new project during your free days.
2. Volunteer.
What is the best way to be productive this long weekend? Volunteer for a cause. People nowadays make it a point to give back to the community. It is the perfect time for you to do this. There are lots of non-government organizations where you can offer your services. There are the likes of PAWS, Gawad Kalinga, Philippine Red Cross, among others.But sometimes you don’t have to look far and wide for organizations. You may ask a colleague or your local government unit for possible prospects.
3. Discover your local area.
You may not have the monetary resources for a trip somewhere else. Why not go around your local area? You’d been living in your province your whole life but there are nooks and crannies you don’t know about. Go around every possible route. Bring a camera with you and take pictures. Who knows what (or who) you might discover.
4. Learn a new skill.
It is a part of everyone’s new year resolution to learn something new but it has been months but not a single thing is done to achieve the goal. Fret no more! Make this weekend the time for you to do something about it. You may sign up for workshops but if there isn’t any available, you can turn to the good old Internet. The world wide web is a treasure trove of essential information and there is a place to find what you are looking for. To help you find the place to look for online resources, here is a comprehensive list.
Other activities to consider for a worthwhile weekend (aside from laba-plantsa):
- Take a digital detox.
- Catch up on sleep.
- Host a family game night.
- Have a themed movie night.
- Organize a garage sale.
- Read a book you’d been putting off.
- Reorganize at least one part of your home.
- Catch up on TV shows.
- Enjoy nature in your backyard.
- Do freelance works.
These are some of the activities you can do to fully utilize your days-off. But wherever your hearts take you, make sure to dedicate this time to put the pressure off your shoulders. Enjoy!