How to Maintain your Healthy Habits on the Weekend

I’ve read it takes 60 days to form and create a natural habit. 60 days can be a long and hard time to do something new, big or small. An even harder barrier to form those habits is when you have to implement them on the weekends.

The weekends, for some, are for rest and getting away from a strict schedule. It’s easy and oftentimes restorative to stray from your strict weekday routine. Finding ways to maintain healthy routines during your weekends will have a major impact in helping you build up the healthy habits you are implementing during the week!

Keep to a sleep schedule.

If you have a normal routine that involves certain bedtimes and wake-up times, try to stay within the same hours during the weekends.  This helps you still get some extra sleep while also maintaining the habit you use Monday through Friday! 

Even simply waking up at the same time, but allowing yourself to stay in bed in your PJs and still relax is a good way to keep your weekday habits alive while staying well-rested. 

Try to maintain a similar weekday eating habit.

If you find yourself overindulging on the weekends or having a hard time getting back into your eating habits on Monday, try finding more equilibrium throughout your whole week. This might mean being less restrictive during the week with what some might consider “treat foods”. If you have similar eating habits throughout your whole week it will make you less likely to overindulge on the weekends.

Try and get outdoors.

Getting outside is a great way to be active, soak in some Vitamin D, and mix up your routine. Going outside doesn’t necessarily have to involve exhausting activities like going on an intense hike, but doing small things outside can be a great de-stressor!

Small changes in our routine that are different and new help make the daily to-do’s less mundane. Planning out a fun weekend visit to the beach or a new walking route helps give us something to look forward to. 

Schedule relaxation time.

This might sound counter-intuitive, but making sure that you leave a solid chunk of relaxation time for yourself every weekend is important. If you don’t leave time for yourself to relax and recharge, one day your body will choose it for you. 

Having small things to do for yourself every weekend that contribute to this relaxation time helps your body stay healthy and strong, and helps you maintain healthy habits for life What you do to relax will be different for everyone. Some people relax while doing yoga, others while watching Netflix. 

Getting to know your body and what helps it recharge is important. Here are a few things that help me relax during the weekend:

• Taking a bath 
• Going on a calm walk
• Getting groceries that will make you feel good during the week 
• A Sunday nap!
• A day in my PJs
• Less time on my phone 
• Meditation 

This relaxation time helps you reinvest in yourself before starting a whole new work week. Without taking that time aside for yourself, you’re setting yourself up to burn out.

Plan for your week.

Every Sunday night before bed I like to plan out what tasks, events, and other agenda items I have for the coming week. This helps me visualize my week and mentally prepare for it. I also have found that it helps me go to sleep on Sundays without the Sunday Scaries haunting me.

This can be as small as making a to-do list, filling in a weekly calendar, or even just making your own agenda on a scratch piece of paper. It does not have to be fancy and is there to help you mind dump whatever might be looming over your head before starting your week.

Overall, integrating small habits over the weekend to help you maintain your goals can be small or large. Think of them as small investments in yourself. Keeping up with your habits on the weekend can make Mondays a lot less scary and help you stay on track towards your goals.