It’s no surprise Friday is arguably everyone’s favorite day of the week and by Sunday, many get the blues.
It seems like most are just living for the weekend.
Can they ever catch a break?
Clearly, this trend and sentiment reveal a lot about how workers view their lives and the massive epidemic of burnout millions are currently facing. No sector is fully immune from overworking, even solo entrepreneurs.
What if we could turn this around and actually enjoy every weekday as if it were the weekend?
This has been an approach I’ve tried to be mindful of since HS. Although weekends are fun to roam around without a wake-up time, honestly, they can get quite boring if there’s no end goal and you may actually feel worse by the end of it. I personally have a hard time sitting still and would rather space out my work to tackle some of it on the weekend. There’s no shame in logging in during the quietest moments of the week.
How much football or movies could you possibly watch anyways? I would much rather get a head start on my goals or continue what I started during the week to feel more satisfied and then enjoy the break M-F!
Although this mindset shift may not suit everyone, it’s worth practicing, especially since majority of employees in America attempt to pack all their work on Thursdays to relieve themselves of the mental burden of work overload on Mondays.
You’re probably not alone, Thursdays tend to be as busy as Tuesdays, smack in the middle of the week when most events, meetings, and phone calls are booked since Mondays and Fridays aren’t as opportune or ‘energetic’. Wednesdays tend to be a blend.
When I think about Thursdays as crunch time before the weekend, I’m certainly guilty of overworking myself to get as much done to relieve myself on Fridays but when I come to think about it, it’s counterproductive since how productive am I really if I’m slightly cramming everything? Isn’t the whole point to enjoy the process? Why can’t it be done on Friday? Most are in a better mood anyways!
The Thursday Madness
Although this song came out before I was born, I frequently refer back to “Manic Monday” by the Bangles. It’s one of those songs that never escapes my mind. As the title suggests, manic Monday expresses our angst and anticipation of a long week ahead and by Friday, we feel alive until Sunday.
One of the verses in the “Manic Monday” song goes
“It’s just another manic Monday and “wish it was Sunday”
In the U.S., burnout, stress, and workaholism aren’t new. Busyness shouldn’t be a badge of honor but is still viewed as something to showcase whether it be for status or appeal.
Especially in coastal cities such as NYC, a city that never sleeps, it can be difficult not to compare ourselves when everything is so expensive and people are on a mission. We’re all chasing something but that something isn’t always the right thing for us, only what others may expect us to have or be.
Although I may not be able to cut down the 90 hr work week or the amount of stress workers face in this day in age where a bear market is causing retirees to unretire, I hope I can encourage you to at least change your mindset and perspective about what you do and remember that it really matters.
Everyone has potential and the weekend shouldn’t only be the time to live it up. Since many of us spend more time at work than at home, might as well enjoy it and see what you’re capable of! Otherwise, you’re missing out on untapped potential.
Maybe our seat at the desk is replaceable but our personality, people skills, and the way we light up a room are unmatchable.
If you feel rushed or crunched for time, riding on a rollercoaster at the start and end of each week, focus on spreading out your time better, enjoying as much as you can from it, and not making it a competition to finish by 7 pm on Thursday.
Work when works best for you, not only during designated time periods to avoid burnout, enhance your gratitude, focus on quality, not quantity, and add true value to where it matters most.
Thursdays can be as terrific as Mondays so plan accordingly. Working on Fridays is fun too. Have a fun Friday your way!