For many, weekends are the only time they can fully relax after a hard and long day at work. However, many don’t think weekend planning is important. This way, you become a couch potato for two days, and when Monday strikes, you’re not fresh and energized, on the contrary, you feel remorse that you wasted the time.
The perfect weekend is different for each person. Some prefer busy days full of friends and trips, while others feel better with quiet time at home. The important thing is that you feel good and energized on Monday. Weekend planning is a guarantee that you spend time usefully, meet your friends or family members, and forget about the work completely, giving your brain the ability to switch focus and relax.
Let’s ensure your next weekend will be special!
Why Weekend Planning Matters
The need to find a proper balance between inactivity and activity levels is not an easy one. If you know you have two free days in a week, you may probably just spend most of the time on a couch watching TV or scrolling through your social media feed. Usually this starts at Friday night and feels good initially, but come Sunday evening, you probably feel bad about wasting your time.
It means that planning your weekends is a great way of making the best out of your spare time. Because if you want to know what you need to do before Friday comes, you will likely do it. Perhaps it is to try and call a friend from the past, organize board games night with your kids, or get that door fixed that has been making that annoying squeaky sound irritating your every time. It helps one to look forward to something as soon as one has planned a certain way, especially when the new week begins.
Breaking free from being a “couch potato” doesn’t mean you can’t relax – it just means being smart about how you spend your time. You can combine and when you plan your week ahead, combining will be easy. For example, instead of mindlessly watching TV for hours, you might choose to watch one movie with your family. This way, you do not regret how your weekend went by, and you do not wish that Monday was still on the other side.
Using xTiles for Perfect Weekend Planning
xTiles makes weekend planning simple and fun. Sign up or log in to xTiles if you already have an account. Then, make a new project called “Weekend Plans,” where you can write down all your ideas. Think of it as your digital notepad for creating amazing weekends.
If there are too many ideas for your weekend in your head, try the xTiles Vision Board template. It will help you consolidate visual concepts in one place to start organized planning.
In your new project, split the page into different parts. However, if you want to use this project as a backlog for all the next weekends, we recommend creating separate pages for every category of activity.
- Fun & entertainment: List activities like board games with friends, watching movies, planning a bike ride, etc.
- Daily tasks: Write down errands you need to run, like grocery shopping or cleaning the house.
- Family time: Add special moments you want to spend with family members, like Saturday afternoon picnics or Friday night game sessions.
- Personal growth: Include things that make you better, like reading a book or learning something new.
The calendar in xTiles allows you to have the entire week’s plan in a single view. It is also very convenient because you can open it directly from the Weekend Plans project without going to another page. Start adding your tasks to a calendar, and all the detail you need to spend the time the way you planned them. Also, fill it with normal things that occur every weekend, such as children’s school activities or your workout in the morning.
Do not forget to set alarms. There is always a section in xTiles that can notify you when it is time to start preparing for events so that you do not miss the fun things that you planned. In this way, you will not forget that friend you wanted to visit, or the family dinner you wanted to prepare.
A helpful tip: Check your project on Thursday evening to make sure that all is set for a great weekend. This gives you time to call friends and relatives to know what they are up to and maybe change plans in case the weather takes a turn for the worst.
Elements of an Amazing Weekend Days
Here is a list of things and activities you may consider implementing in your weekend routine.
Start your day right
Waking up early may seem difficult on the weekend. After all, you deserve a few extra hours of sleep after a whole week of getting up early to commute to work. However, it determines the kind of day you are going to have. A morning bike ride makes your blood boil, heart pumping, and energizes you for the rest of the day. If you want to take it slower, go for a nature walk – the fresh air will get your brain into gear. The idea is to move rather than sleep all day, ensuring you will have that quality sleep you’ve been dreaming about the whole week, only in the night.
Connect with others
Weekends are the best time to be with the people you love most but can’t spend enough time with because everyone is at work or school. Pull out those board games on Friday night and have fun with family or friends. Children especially enjoy game time – it is a good way to get them off a screen. Have popcorn and a movie night, perhaps even plan it for their bedtime and enjoy the company while they watch their shows. Such moments give you stories that can be remembered for several years.
Take a break
Do not work on weekends. Forget about your tasks, you have left them on Friday night leaving the office, and you will find them at the same place on Monday morning. Sometimes, sitting and watching movies with a warm blanket feels just about right, especially on cold days.
Spend some time in a quiet place and read that book you have wanted to complete. Go for a walk in the park or stay in your garden in the evening – fresh air makes you calm and prepared for the working week.
Getting Things Done
Of course, some errands are necessary as well. Create a small list of house chores that need immediate attention. Perhaps you require washing or ironing your clothes, doing some shopping, or washing dishes. Ideally, attempt to complete these tasks on weekdays, ideally earlier on your weekend days, so they do not follow you. Divide the work among the family members – they say that many hands make the work easier!
Tips for Successful Weekend Planning
Upcoming week doesn’t have to be that scary if you’ve spend an amazing weekend. Here are some simple tips to make your weekends even better:
- Don’t wait until Friday evening to think about your weekend, start planning on Thursday or even earlier. By Thursday, check your schedule and start making small plans. This gives you time to call friends or book places if you need to.
- Look at the weather forecast before making plans. This way, you can plan outdoor activities when it’s nice, and save indoor fun for rainy days. Your weekend won’t be ruined by unexpected weather changes.
- Life is all about balance. Plan different types of activities:
- Something active (like a bike ride or walk)
- Something social (spending time with family or friends)
- Something just for you (reading or doing your hobby)
- Something that needs to be done (simple house tasks)
- Don’t plan every single hour. Leave some room in your schedule for unexpected fun or just doing nothing. Sometimes the best moments happen when you’re not planning them!
- Ask family members what they want to do. When everyone helps plan ahead, everyone has more fun. Maybe your kids want to try a new board game, or your partner wants to visit a park – try to fit in everyone’s wishes.
- Sometimes things don’t go as planned, and that’s okay. Keep a backup plan in mind – if your outdoor plans get rained out, have some fun indoor activities ready.
Remember, the goal isn’t to make your weekend perfect – it’s to make it better than just sitting around and wondering where the time went. When you plan ahead, even a simple weekend can turn into exactly what you needed to feel ready for the week ahead.
Conclusion
Imagine the last weekend that you had. Did it turn out all that you dreamt of? Did you get to spend it as you planned? While it may sound a little silly, the idea of planning for the weekend is actually counterintuitive to the idea of having more fun and feeling less stressed about the week ahead.
xTiles makes this whole process super easy. It’s better to organize all your weekend ideas and to keep them in your personal weekend board. Begin with the basics – design your first weekend xTiles project this Thursday. Fill in a few of the things you would like to do, a few for the family time, and that book you have been meaning to read for weeks. Say goodbye to Sunday evening blues and that sinking feeling that your weekend just got away from you!
Are you up for your next weekend to be the best? As you have seen, it is really easy to create a perfect layout for your plans – just log in to xTiles and start planning. Your perfect weekend is only several mouse clicks away.
Just a reminder – your weekends are too short to waste them. Make them count with xTiles!
FAQ
How far in advance should I plan my weekend?
Start planning by Thursday evening to give yourself enough time to coordinate with others and make necessary arrangements. This gives you time to check the weather, call friends or family, and book any activities that need advance planning.
What if the weather changes my plans?
Always have a backup plan ready – if outdoor activities get rained out, switch to your indoor options like board games, movies, or family game night. Using xTiles, you can easily keep a list of both outdoor and indoor activities to quickly adjust your plans when things change.
How can I balance fun activities with necessary errands?
Try to complete essential tasks early in your weekend days, preferably in the morning, so they don’t hang over your head. Split household tasks among family members and schedule them alongside fun activities in your xTiles board, making sure to leave plenty of time for enjoyable activities after the must-do tasks are finished.
What if family members or friends have different preferences?
Include everyone in the planning process by asking what they’d like to do during the weekend. Use your xTiles board to list everyone’s wishes and try to mix different activities so each person gets to do something they enjoy. This way, everyone feels heard and gets to participate in planning the perfect weekend.
