Hello dear readers! For a long while, I have been in a bit of a funk and not had an actual weekend off. I was stuck in a never-ending cycle of barely working, being stressed about the lack of productivity, and pushing myself again. But here is the thing- the more I stressed out about not being productive, the more it became harder to see results. My typical day comprised of forcing myself out of bed later than I planned, dragging through the day, and finally clocking out. I was using my Pomodoro technique and other ways to stay productive. But even as the hours went by, my productivity took a hit, and I could not understand why.

So, I looked for outward inspiration and noticed something. Most highly productive people I knew took some time off work. Usually, I would work from Monday to Friday. On Saturday, I would tie up loose ends, which also culminated in more work. Therefore, I was pulling a six-day week and barely resting on Sunday because I was busy running errands. I was treating my body like a machine and yet expected it to run smoothly the coming week. Think of a sleep backlog. You can also have a backlog of rest hours, and this can show in your work.

Some weeks would be good, and others would be bad. This continuous peaking and crashing did only one thing- stress me out. So, I decided to take a weekend off. Did it pay off? Yes, it did!

My Weekend Off

On Friday night at exactly 11 pm, I clocked out of work, feeling beat and ready to start the weekend. I had a hike planned on Saturday and was up by about 8 in the morning. After a fun-filled day, I got home, cleaned the house, did all the chores, and finished by 6 in the evening. I had not touched my work emails or anything work-related at this point. I made dinner, watched some of my favourite shows and danced around the house. I finally passed out two hours past midnight and set the alarm for 1 pm the next day. Sunday was easy. By noon, I was feeling rested enough to get out of bed. I spent the day in bed, eating junk food, watching documentaries and some of my favourite shows. I even had time to log on to social media. Guess what! By evening, I was looking forward to Monday and could already picture what a productive week lay ahead. Instead of dreading yet another day, it was exciting to know that I had two days to myself now. As a freelancer, this time off is integral to my well-being. Did I mention that I also did a facial? I truly cared for myself the past weekend and want to keep this up in the coming months.

Should you take a weekend off?

My weekend off paid off psychologically, physically, and even emotionally. But what does a weekend off feel like to other people? It is time I borrowed some pointers from science:

More Productivity

Remember when I said that I was stuck in a funk? Science backs this by stating that keeping a 60-hour workweek for two months can slow you. By the end of two months, your productivity will have lowered to 40 hours a week even if you spend the same amount of time. I generally work about 40 hours a week. Given a reduction of 33%, I would end up working about 27 hours a week. Honestly, sometimes I did even worse!

Improved Cognitive Function

Brain fog, writers’ block, and other terms used to describe reduced cognitive function are common. Most people face mental blocks at some point in their careers. It could be due to stress or other factors. Science shows that our minds need resting time which helps them process information for memory and problem-solving purposes. If you have been having a hard time staying on top of your work, you may have found a workable solution- rest!

Job Satisfaction

When you are always at work and barely have the time for yourself, you get tired. It gets to a point where you can start resenting your job and blaming it for your lack of work-life balance. But here is something I have learned- you cannot do everything you want all the time. For example, sometimes, I am saddled with school and work. I need to prioritize what comes first, and something must suffer as a result. Otherwise, I do it all and end up with no time for myself. Trying to do it all made it harder for me to take the weekend off. After all, how was I going to complete X or Y in time?

Scientists took a bunch of workaholics and had them spend time outside work. As a result, the employees stated they had more gratitude and interest in their jobs. Companies that give their employees more time off may see a positive difference in their employee turnover rate. Also, as an employee, you can try and negotiate getting weekends off. It is vital to your health in the long run.

Better Performance

Did you know that taking 10 hours off work increases your annual performance by 8%? Think about it. Suppose you work a 60-hour workweek, and you take 60 hours off work for vacation. How much more productive would you be as the year progressed? While vacation time is great, you can also centre on taking a weekend off ever so often. These short breaks allow you to recharge so that when you finally take a vacation, you will not be too burned out to enjoy it.

I once worked for a boss who insisted that I show up on Saturdays. Given that I was already pulling a Monday to Friday shift, I came up with reasons not to be in the office on Saturdays. Going in for three hours and spending two hours on a commute did not feel like a good use of my time. Besides, I needed the rest.

Longer Lifespan

Being sedentary for long hours can kill you! Let us recreate the modern office. Most people sit at their desks for straight hours and barely leave their positions even to make coffee. They will have snacks within an arm’s reach and a steaming cup of coffee by them. Keep in mind that ordering in has become much easier, and people can now have lunch and dinner delivered to them. This amount of sitting has been shown to reduce lifespans and could inch you closer to your grave. Therefore, instead of tapping away at your keyboard this weekend, take time off and enjoy walking around.

Improved Rest

Many people live for their vacation time. They feel that those two to four weeks are worth not having weekends off. But unfortunately, vacations are not as effective as you may think. Studies show that vacation effects start fading within two to four weeks. So, in a few months, you will be back, stuck in a rut, and not feeling productive. But do you know how you can keep the vacation effects going? Taking weekends off! Think of it as a top-up.

Better Mental Health

Spending long hours at work can put you at risk of being depressed. People who do not have enough time to be with their loved ones and reflect on their lives can end up feeling depressed. You may have noticed that you get a mood lift each time you are off work. It does not necessarily mean that your work is depressing you. It instead points to the need for you to spend some time off work and cater to your mental needs.

I can say for sure that taking the weekend off is vital to your productivity. Besides, it also reduces your stress, gives you more energy to focus on work and betters your mental well-being. So, try taking a weekend off one of these days and see how that works out for you!