In my job some of the most frequently heard lines from fellow teachers are, “Thank goodness it’s the weekend”, or “I’m just so exhausted, I feel like I have no energy”, which I’m sure is the case in any number of work places. People live for the weekend, and tend to battle through the working week simply striving for those precious two days when they can put their feet up and have a well deserved 48 hours of, in general, doing not much. I’m often tired by the end of a Friday, as is the majority of the full time working community, but in my experience I have found that this group is divided in to two categories. There are those who sit around doing very little, and will happily justify this inactivity by reasoning that “I’m so tired, I couldn’t possibly do anything”. Then there are those who view it quite differently, thinking, “I’ve been at work all week, I can’t wait to get out and make the most of the weekend”.

Whether ‘making the most’ comprises of a sporting activity, a book club, visiting friends, a dance class, or simply taking your dog for a long walk, this means you have got out of the house and done something that provides you with new subjects to think about, gives you some fresh air, and most importantly, ISN’T WORK. Those from the latter group will feel like they’ve had a great weekend, and despite a few Monday morning grumbles, will generally arrive back for the next working week refreshed and positive and full of tales, whereas the former will feel just as exhausted because, due to lack of activity, their weekend has been unfulfilling, and uninspiring, leading to negative feelings, and sheer misery about having to go back to work and do it all again.

Time and time again I come across people who are “too tired” to go to their evening class, or to attend that social evening they were invited to, and I am no saint, we’ve all done it. But every single time I regretted not going, because staying in for that ‘well deserved rest after my tough week at work’ ends up doing quite the opposite, making me feel grumpy, lazy, unsociable and no less tired than I did before.

I think you can make your working week a great deal more tolerable if you have stories to tell from your weekend, and if you feel like you made a worthwhile use of your time. What’s the use of having free time if you don’t use it to make yourself happy? Whether you love your job or hate it, or are residing somewhere in between, is it better to spend your free time grumbling that you wish you had more of it? Or making the most of every second, spending it doing something you love, and being grateful for what you do have?

I was exhausted after a busy week this week, so spent my Saturday doing the thing I love the most – enjoying the first ski day of the season! Certainly not a restful activity, but once the adrenalin is flowing and the endorphins are flying, you’ve forgotten all about any  tiredness…!