15 Ways To Spend A Slow Weekend

(collaborative post)

Weekends are synonymous with busy schedules, errands, and the usual hustle and bustle of life catching up. If you think about it, you’ll spend your weekend rushing around as much as you do your Monday to Friday. Weekends are the catch up days, they’re the days that you get the chores done, get the laundry done, start baking or meal prepping for the week ahead, seeing friends, doing chores, going to appointments: you see what we’re talking about.

They are busy and yet you still have to try and find time for yourself among all of the busy to unwind from the week before you move into the next one. There is a beauty however, in slowing down a little. Taking a break from the usual rush may not be your usual thing to do but it’s definitely something you should be planning for. You deserve to recharge, relax, and enjoy a little serenity before you have to go back to your Monday grind. Let’s take a look at 15 ways that you can have a truly slow weekend.

Start with a coffee

Before you wrinkle that nose of yours, hear us out. The first step to cultivating a slow weekend is to settle in with a coffee and give yourself time to think about what you’d like to do. If you don’t want to feel buzzed and rushed around, then why not make a decaf coffee instead of a truly caffeinated one? A warm, soothing cup of decaffeinated coffee is going to signal the start of a peaceful weekend. You get all the flavour of your favourite drink without any of the rushing madness that comes with it. Make sure that you’re sitting by an open window or curled up in your favourite chair and make sure that you savor every sip.

Go through your book collection

If you’re truly trying to slow down for the weekend then losing yourself in a book, and someone else’s imagination, is a great way to do that. If you don’t have kids to answer too and you don’t have to worry about walking the dog, then sitting down with a book with that coffee is a great way to start the weekend.

Setting aside a few hours and creating the perfect reading environment is going to make you sink into a story like nothing else. You won’t believe how much time can truly while away whilst you get involved in the imagination of some amazing writer. The act of reading itself is pretty meditative, and it helps you to focus on the present moment while instead enjoying a sense of immersion.

Plan a walk

If you’re someone who loves to be outdoors it’s time to slow down this weekend by planning a walk instead of a bungee jump. Spending time in nature can be deeply rejuvenating, and it’s a wonderful way to plan some time for your weekend. Strolling through a nearby park is just as good as finding a trail in the forest. If you have a friend that you’d like to have a chat with whilst you walk it’s a great way to enjoy some time together while you slow your weekend right down.

Practice yoga

You don’t have to be a gym buff to enjoy some exercise. Yoga is a great tool for cultivating mindfulness. A slowed down weekend is the perfect opportunity to dive deep into these yoga practices and find a sense of balance for a change. You don’t have to be seasoned in yoga to understand how meditative it can be. Give your body a chance to release all of that built up tension from the week, clear your mind and let go of any stress.

Cook something delicious

Cooking can be an exceptionally therapeutic experience especially when your environment is calm as you do it. Rather than rushing through the process, take your time to select a recipe, shop for fresh and organic ingredients, and then cook the meal at your own pace. Don’t give yourself a time limit, don’t try to rush through the activity in order to get to another activity. It’s a good way to nurture yourself and your loved ones if you have them with you. There’s no pressure, there’s no tight schedule, there’s just you and your ingredients and what you’re going to turn them into.

Try organising your space

Decluttering may sound like the opposite way to spend a relaxing weekend, but a tidy environment can make all the difference to your mental health. Knowing that your home is sorted and straightened out before you go back to work on Monday and rejoin all the chaos is a wonderful feeling. The act itself of decluttering is meditative, can clear your mind, and it just makes you feel satisfied about your space.

Go for a nap

All those early mornings and late nights are going to catch up with you by the weekend. If you have the time and the ability to go for a nap and take a few hours just to relax in bed, do it. Find a cosy spot and curl up with a blanket and truly allow yourself to drift off. It’s a very simple act of self care and it can really leave you feeling refreshed, energised, and ready to tackle the week.

Make time for creativity

Creativity doesn’t have to be deadline driven. Given that you have a slow weekend ahead, you have the perfect opportunity to tap into your creative side and try something new. Painting, knitting, writing; The choice is yours.

Add to your journal

One of the most powerful ways that you can process any emotions or thoughts is with a journal entry. It’s a way to take a moment and reflect on the week you just had and how you’ve been feeling. Some people use journaling as an outlet for a good reason, and you can let your mind wander and write whatever comes to you.

Plan out a movie marathon

You have hours ahead of you for just relaxation so why not do this on the couch with your favourite box set or movie marathon? Whether you’re catching up on an old film series or re-watching a favourite, creating a cosy, movie watching environment with blankets and snacks is going to really allow you to unwind.

Plan out a movie marathon

You have hours ahead of you for just relaxation so why not do this on the couch with your favourite box set or movie marathon? Whether you’re catching up on an old film series or re-watching a favourite, creating a cosy, movie watching environment with blankets and snacks is going to really allow you to unwind.

Go window shopping

You don’t have to have tons of cash to go shopping, you know. In fact you could take yourself to the local High Street and go for a wander, taking in the sights on the smells around you. On the weekends, there are usually food trucks or markets springing up all over the place so you can go and have a look through the bric-a-brac. Let go of those demands of your week and take your time. There are no deadlines on a slow weekend.

Pamper yourself

It’s time to break out the face packs and the false nails and pamper yourself for the day. Slow weekends are a great opportunity to give yourself a chance to unwind. Setting aside some time for a DIY spa day where you can indulge in self care activities is exactly what the weekend should be for. It’s a process to care for your mind and your body and it can be incredibly rejuvenating to do so.

Visit a local museum

Taking yourself on a slow walk around a gallery or a museum is a great way to get some cultural enrichment. Let’s also not forget that if it’s pouring rain outside and you still want to get out of the house, an indoor activity is perfect. Museums can often provide you with a peaceful and reflective environment, and so can gallery’s. Sitting in front of a beautiful painting and finally appreciating all of the strokes that have gone into the art could give you something to reflect on from the weekend.

Totally disconnect

The pamper day, the walk, the book, the cooking – all of the things that we’ve mentioned can disconnect you from technology and rightly so. Much of our working lives are taken up with technology so spending your time at the weekend stepping away from it is a great idea. You might not think that the exposure to technology that you’ve had is a big deal, but you wouldn’t believe how much time we spend staring at big screens and small screens all week drunk. Taking a break from technology even if you just do it for one of the weekend days can really change your perspective on life. It also gives you a break from the unrelenting bad news out there.

Set some intentions

What do you want to achieve in your week ahead? What do you want to let go on from the week behind you? Use your time on a Sunday to reflect on the week that you’ve had and what went well, before writing down some intentions for the week you want to have.

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