5 Reasons Why You’re Probably Living for the Weekend

Is it Friday yet? Monday through Friday takes ages to go by but your weekend disappears before it even begins. Sitting at your desk, fantasizing about the end of the work week and the start of your weekend seems to be the new norm. If you consistently find yourself unfulfilled and loathing the work week but enthusiastic for time away from the office, living for the weekend has become your reality. Living for the weekend isn’t a rare occurrence but is it healthy? Most likely not — living for the weekend likely indicates a greater issue at play. 

What does it mean to live for the weekend? 

As the O’Jay’s soulfully put it in their 70s hit, you’re “Livin for the Weekend.” Living for the weekend consists of resenting the work week — especially Mondays — and being the happiest version of yourself on the weekends or other times, when you’re out of the office. This typically represents one’s disdain for life from Monday until Friday evening when you can say goodbye to the tedious nature of your weekly routine and obligatory tasks. 

5 reasons you might be living for the weekend:

1. You don’t enjoy your weekly routine.

Wake up, work, exercise, sleep, repeat. Maybe your Monday through Friday life has gotten too predictable and lacks excitement. Doing the same tasks every day without variation can cause you to lose interest in activities you were once excited to partake in. Sometimes the week is too strictly focused on work and necessities. It may be worthwhile to introduce some spontaneity into your routine. Perhaps take a walk in a nearby park after work or meet up with some friends for dinner. Switching up your routine can help you to create more balance between work and your personal life and can help you to enjoy the other five days of the week.

2. You’re too busy.

Does the week fly by too quickly for you to enjoy it? If you find yourself buried in work and lacking time to appreciate the process, it can be hard to take time to do something that helps you to live in the moment. Whether you’re struggling to balance your busy work schedule with a hectic home life, it’s imperative to take steps to either simplify your life in both arenas or adopt some new coping strategies. You can try to combat this by setting some time aside for yourself every day. Even if it’s just five minutes, it could be effective to take a few moments to reflect on your day or do something relaxing that will help you stay connected. 

3. You don’t like your job.

No matter how much fun you have on the weekend, the work week will be miserable if you hate your job. As reported by Forbes, 53 percent of Americans are unsatisfied with their jobs. Being unsatisfied with your career can lead you to live for the weekend and essentially suffer through most days of the year. While it can be hard to switch careers, enter the field you desire or accept a significant pay cut, the burden of working in an environment you don’t enjoy will take a toll on your mental health and overall well-being overtime. If there are factors preventing you from transitioning into a new career path, try to fix the things about your current job you can. Even subtle differences can make a big impact on your mood and how you perceive the upcoming week. 

4. You prefer your hobbies.

While at work, you might daydream about your preferred hobbies, interests and all of the things you would do if you didn’t have financial responsibilities. Because of the nature of some of these activities, they only take place on weekends and leave you yearning for more during the week. While you may not be able to go on a lengthy hike or binge watch 8 hours of your favorite tv drama during the week, you can integrate other activities like reading, running, or watching a movie into your everyday life. Doing a bit of what you enjoy during the week can help to keep your mind from wandering into the weekend and help you enjoy Mondays a bit more. 

5. You’re exhausted.

For everyone else, weekends mean fun activities with the family, more time to spend doing hobbies or a weekend getaway. But for you, it means sleep. Sleep deprived, you work your way through the week looking forward to sleeping in and lounging on Saturday and Sunday. Once in a while, it’s normal to be exhausted from work and excited to spend the weekend in bed. When it becomes a habit and the norm, you should look into ways to combat this. Sleep deprivation can be detrimental to your work product, mood, and general health. Try to make a practical and consistent schedule that includes sleep during the week. Getting the sleep you need during the week can make it much more enjoyable and you will be able to devote your weekend to more exciting endeavors than getting some extra rest. 

When is it OK to live for the weekend? 

Living for the weekend can hinder your performance at work if it becomes second nature but on occasion, it can be exciting and energizing. If you have an exciting excursion or outing planned for the weekend, it’s only natural to look forward to it and bug your coworkers with all the details in the week leading up. Similarly, family gatherings, weddings, or a free weekend after many weekends working can also brighten your week and leave you counting down the days. The trick is creating a balance so that your week doesn’t get filled with mundane must-dos and your weekend doesn’t become your golden ticket to your preferred life. 

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