We all look forward to our time off work, but some people are stuck in a constant loop of dreading Monday through Friday and only enjoying the weekends. While it’s understandable, feeling like you don’t enjoy those five days during the work week isn’t the most fulfilling or satisfying way to live, according to mental health experts.
“There are five weekdays and only two weekend days,” says Dr. James Pawelski, professor of practice and director of education in the Positive Psychology Center at the University of Pennsylvania. “So, if most of the time you’re looking back or you’re looking forward, you’re missing out on your life.”
Even if you don’t have your dream job, adding in more activities that you enjoy during the work week can make those days more exciting and give you things to look forward to after work Monday to Friday, which can make you happier. While it’s tempting to come home and spend your evening on the couch, here’s what Pawelski and other experts recommend to find that weekday work-life balance instead of just waiting for the weekend.
- Instead of scheduling all your fun activities for the weekend, sprinkle some in after work. Even if you feel like you’re tired and just want a break in the evening, pushing yourself to do something can also be energizing.
- Get your partner or friends involved, as these shared activities can give you a chance to connect mid-week.
- Make it a social activity, like taking a class, playing a team sport, or book club, and put it on the calendar and do it regularly.
- “The hallmark of happiness is the experience of frequent positive emotions. Positive emotions could be joy, but it could also be curiosity. It could be calm, pride, affection — it could be lots of things depending on the person,” says Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky, a researcher on happiness. “So think to yourself, what are ways that you could create those little bursts of positive emotion?”
Source: CNN