8 Smart Weekend Habits That Set High Achievers Up for Success
Consider this permission to say "no" more often.
After a long week, it’s understandable to want to do nothing but curl up on the couch with your dog and stream movies until Sunday night. But according to experts, how you spend your weekend can have a significant impact on your mood, energy levels, and productivity during the week ahead.
The good news is that successful people don’t necessarily spend their weekends working around the clock. Instead, they often focus on habits that help them recharge, like pursuing hobbies, spending meaningful time with family and friends, and setting boundaries around plans that feel exhausting rather than enjoyable.
We tapped success coach and speaker Maria Conigliaro and success and slow-living coach Stephanie O’Dea, author of Slow Living: Cultivating a Life of Purpose in a Hustle-Driven World, to fill us in on the weekend habits of successful people.
Make a plan
O’Dea says that while it may be tempting to become “one with the couch” or leave two days wide open, having some structure — even if part of it is planned relaxation — will help you feel great once Sunday night rolls around.
“This doesn’t mean you have to be 'productive' in the traditional sense. But think about the balance that will make you feel fulfilled, and plan accordingly,” she adds.
Don't be afraid to say “no”
Do you find that your weekends fill up with things you’d rather not do? If you find that you are consistently saying “yes” to things you’d prefer to skip, pay attention, says O’Dea.
It’s a lot more fun to do things you want to do instead of things you are agreeing to out of obligation. This way, you’ll have more time available to take a breath and align yourself with things that are fulfilling.
Stay focused on your vision
Your vision for your life shouldn’t be shelved during weekends. “Successful people know where they are headed, and continue to keep this in mind even on the weekend,” says O’Dea.
She says that you can use the weekend to clarify your vision: Where do you see your health in 10 years? How about your finances? What do your relationships look like? Use weekend downtime to think through these questions, or continue to work on already-established goals in bite-sized chunks.
Do a “brain dump”
If you get to the weekend and feel stalled or overwhelmed, try a “brain dump” to get everything out. It will help you feel less stressed for the week ahead.
Conigliaro says that a brain dump can be done through writing, typing or sketching — the idea is to get it all out so you can untangle any self-limiting thoughts that have piled up.
Enjoy your hobbies
Doing your favorite hobbies on the weekend can feel both calming and productive. Try to have two main hobbies: one for your body, and one for your brain, O’Dea recommends. Both kinds can improve your wellbeing.
Need some inspiration? Richard Branson enjoys playing chess, and Nicole Kidman likes to get out and do some gardening.
Make a 'feel good' list
Make a list of things that boost your mood and aim to do as many as you feasibly can on the weekend. You can keep this list handy and refer to it every weekend, since an improved mood lends itself to increased success, according to research.
Your list can include activities like sitting in the sun, dancing to a favorite song, buying yourself fresh flowers or putting on bright lipstick, Conigliaro says.
Connect with others
Use your weekend to spend time with those who give you a lift and make you feel your best. You’ll feel more empowered to tackle your goals when you’re around people who truly believe in you, and the weekend is the perfect time to reconnect. Grab a Sunday brunch together, chat online or go old-school and pick up the phone.
Refill your energy bucket
Conigliaro says that it’s important to ask yourself what fills your “energy bucket,” or your capacity to take on mental, physical and emotional challenges. Spend time on the weekend filling that bucket by getting in some extra sleep, soaking up nature or savoring solitude if being around others burns you out.
Shelby Deering is a freelance lifestyle writer who frequently covers home design and decor for national publications. She has worked as a full-time freelance writer for over a decade, and has worked in the industry for nearly 20 years, writing home tours, interviewing top designers, and beautifying her own home. She holds a master's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and when she's not writing, you can find her at thrift stores and flea markets, running, or exploring local trails in Madison, Wisconsin, with her husband and corgi, Dolly.
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