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Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28, NLT).
Studies show that people experience fewer aches and pains, have better moods, and greater vitality on weekends. We should make every day a weekend day.
Our brains reset during the weekend. The madness of deadlines, commutes on packed highways, too many demands, and tension between co-workers continually stimulates the “fight or flight” brain function during the week. In the “fight or flight” mode, our brains become reactive and lose the ability for reflective thought.
This results in decreased productivity and, during busy weeks (with no time for rest), as the work week progresses and stress accumulates, we shouldn’t be surprised that everyone knows this motto — Thank God It’s Friday.
On the perfect weekend, our brains reset. At least they should, but often we can find our weekends even more maddening than our work week. What can we do? How can we reset ourselves each weekend?
Below are three things that we can do to reset and enjoy a perfect weekend.
- Get up early on Saturday morning.
We need to sleep on the weekend, so why get up early on Saturday morning? This is my opinion, but in 55 years of praying (almost daily), I’ve found Saturday to be my best day for prayer.
On Saturday morning, I cast my anxieties upon the Lord. It’s like getting rid of the garbage from the previous week, and then these problems don’t ruin the weekend or the following week.
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you (1 Peter 5:7).
- Get the play/chore mix correct.
We push our “must-dos” to the weekend. The lawn needs mowing, bills need to be paid, a visit to parents is needed, and getting ready to serve at church on Sunday. So much to accomplish that we consider taking off Monday and maybe Tuesday and Wednesday too.
We feel bad watching an Ohio State football game. If cheering the Buckeyes beating Michigan causes guilt, then we don’t have the play/chore mix correct!!
Realize that “play” is as vital as “chore.” Recovery from work stress requires discipline on Saturday — mix in a chore (I feel better with that done) with something joyful (which won’t happen this year if Michigan beats Ohio State again).
- Get together with friends
Harvard conducted a study beginning in 1938 that followed 724 men over their lifetimes. The study, concluding nearly 80 years later in 2017, found that the top reason for longevity was …
Happy and strong relationships.
Great relationships require timing and planning, and Saturday evening is a wonderful time for getting together with friends.
Let’s review the perfect Saturday: Prayer/Play & Chores/Friends.
Have the perfect weekend! And by the way, I need help mowing my lawn tomorrow.