What Successful People Do on Weekends to Recharge and Prepare (And How You Can Too)

January 22, 2024
8:35 pm

What Successful People Do on Weekends to Recharge and Prepare (And How You Can Too)

January 22, 2024
8:35 pm

Interested to know what successful people do on weekends? So are we. Let’s roll in!

You feel it in your bones as Friday winds down – that sweet relief that the work week is finally over. But before you dive headfirst into 48 hours of binging Netflix and doom scrolling social media, think about what successful people do on weekends.

We’re talking billionaires, CEOs, scientists, authors – the crème de la crème who seem to get more done in a day than most do in a week. What’s their secret weapon to making the most of that precious weekend time?

You may be surprised to learn it doesn’t involve lazy days lounging on the couch in PJs. From rising early to put in a few hours of deep work to powering down devices for family time, the habits of the ultra-successful can inspire our own weekend routines.

Read on to discover what science and research reveals about how prolific creators, business moguls and inventors recharge their bodies and minds so they return to work on Monday refreshed, refocused and ready to crush their goals.

The Importance of Recharging on Weekends

Research has shown that taking time to rest and recharge is vital for long-term success. Successful people know the importance of using their weekends to disconnect from work, spend time on self-care, and re energize for the coming week. Here’s why weekends are so crucial—and how you can make the most of yours, too.

Detach from Work

The key to any good weekend is to step away from work. Constantly checking emails or doing work projects will only increase your stress.
Set boundaries and refrain from job-related tasks. Tell colleagues you’ll be unavailable so you can recharge without distractions. A little separation goes a long way.

Practice Self-Care

With busy schedules, it’s easy to ignore self-care during the week. Use weekends to show yourself some TLC.
Do activities that nourish your mental, physical, and emotional health—like exercising, eating nutritious meals, enjoying nature, or simply relaxing with a good book or movie.
Reflect on your needs and make time to rejuvenate through rest, hobbies, social connections, passions—anything that sparks joy and wellbeing.

Spend Time Outside

Studies reveal that spending time outdoors reduces stress, boosts creativity, and enhances mood. Successful people make outdoor time a priority.
Plan weekend activities in nature, like hiking, stargazing, walking in the park, or just sitting outside with morning coffee. Being among greenery works wonders.

Prepare for the Week

Once feeling refreshed, set aside a couple hours on Sunday to prepare for the coming week.
Review your calendar, weekend to do list, and goals. Doing a little groundwork helps you feel organized and focused before Monday rolls around.

Following this weekend blueprint will leave you feeling recharged, inspired, and ready to perform at your best. A little R&R now pays dividends.

Successful People Disconnect and Unplug

When the weekend rolls around, it can be tempting to power through your to-do list and catch up on unfinished tasks. However, downtime and recharging are just as critical for success. Here’s what savvy professionals do to unwind and prepare for the coming week:

Enjoy quality time with loved ones

Rather than bringing work home, shift gears and be fully present with family and friends. Share a leisurely brunch, take a scenic drive, or curl up to watch a movie. These connections nourish the soul.

Pursue a passion project

The weekend is the perfect time to work on that novel you’ve been writing, take an online baking class, or finally start that home renovation. Immerse yourself in an activity you love. Let your creative juices flow.

Get moving

Nothing re-energizes like exercise and movement. Go on a long run or bike ride, hit up a dance class, or try paddleboarding at the lake. Physical activity reduces stress while boosting mood and focus.

Unplug completely

Resist the urge to incessantly check email and social media. Give your mind a break from digital stimulation. Instead, try meditating, spending time in nature, or doing an offline hobby like puzzles or gardening.

Catch up on sleep

There’s no substitute for adequate rest, yet it’s easy to cut corners on sleep when you’re busy. Use the weekend to recharge with 7-9 hours per night. You’ll feel refreshed and regain mental clarity.

The weekend is meant for rejuvenation. By proactively scheduling activities unrelated to work, you can relax, refocus, and return to your responsibilities with renewed passion and purpose. The key is being deliberate about how you spend your time off. What will you do this weekend to hit reset?

They Spend Quality Time With Loved Ones

Successful people know that relationships require dedicated time and attention to thrive. So they make it a priority to disconnect from work and spend quality time with their loved ones on weekends.

Set aside a few hours or half a day on Saturday or Sunday that is just for your family and friends. Turn off notifications so you’re not distracted and give them your undivided attention. Ask your kids or partner what they’d like to do – maybe play a board game, go to the park, cook a meal together or catch up over coffee.

Going on weekend trips and getaways together is also hugely beneficial for bonding and making memories. Explore a new hiking trail, check out the cute downtown area of a nearby town, or plan a staycation by checking into a fun local hotel. Trying new experiences together gets you out of a routine and often leads to great conversations.

If you live apart from immediate family, schedule video chat dates to catch up face-to-face. Or send care packages in the mail with personalized notes and small treats to show you’re thinking of them.

Strong relationships help ground successful people against the stresses of work. They provide emotional support, accountability, and precious memories to cherish during harder times. So be intentional about nurturing the special people in your life. Protecting weekends for quality time together demonstrates what your priorities are and that they matter most to you.

Successful People Exercise and Practice Self-Care

Recharging your mind, body and spirit on the weekends is key to staying at peak performance all week long. Take a page from the playbooks of the rich and successful and use your free time to focus on health and wellness.

Make working out a priority. Whether it’s taking a long nature walk, hitting the gym, going for a run or swim, or trying a new fitness class, physical activity reduces stress and gets those feel-good endorphins flowing. Even just 30-60 minutes a day can work wonders.
Unplug from devices and enjoy quality time with loved ones. Successful people set boundaries and devote weekends to strengthening personal connections. Turn off notifications, put the phone away, and give your full, undivided attention.
Do an at-home spa day. Pamper yourself with a soothing bath, calming music, moisturizing face mask, or luxurious body scrub. Taking the time to relax and practice self-care can boost mood and motivation.
Get plenty of sleep. While burning the midnight oil may seem productive during the week, recovery sleep on weekends is essential. Aim for 7-9 hours per night to allow your mind and body to recharge. You’ll tackle next week refreshed.
Spend time in nature. Whether hiking, strolling through a park, or just sitting outside with a good book, fresh air and vitamin D do wonders for overall well being. Connecting with the natural world is grounding.
Pick up a hobby. Creative outlets like painting, writing, photography or crafting tap different parts of your brain. Learning something new sparks joy while giving your career-focused side a break.

The most successful people work hard during the week, then devote weekends to health, happiness, personal growth and cherished relationships. Follow their lead and you’ll start Monday feeling focused and fulfilled.

They Set Aside Time for Hobbies and Passions

Successful people know the importance of taking time on the weekends to recharge by doing activities they love. Here are some tips on how to use your weekends for self-care through engaging with your personal passions:

Indulge your inner artist. Whether you love painting, playing music, doing DIY crafts, or expressing your creativity in some other way, devote a chunk of time each weekend to let that artistic side of yourself shine. Stay offline and let yourself become fully immersed in the creative flow.
Connect more deeply with nature. Spending time outdoors surrounded by nature is restorative. Go for mindful walks, work in the garden, have a picnic at the park—find ways to unplug from technology and reconnect with the natural world around you.
Pursue a hobby that challenges you. The weekends are perfect for delving into hobbies that teach new skills and challenge your mind. Take a cooking class, learn woodworking, challenge yourself physically with a new sport—staying engaged in meaningful activities provides a sense of personal reward.
Make time for self-care. Whether it’s getting a massage, taking a relaxing bath, or simply sleeping in, use part of the weekend to recharge your mental and physical batteries. Tuning into your needs through self-care makes you better equipped to handle the demands of the work week.
Spend time with pets or animals. Caring for pets or volunteering with animals has been shown to reduce stress and improve moods. Use your weekends to enjoy quality bonding time with your own pets or to give back by helping out at an animal shelter.
Have tech-free meals with family or friends. Make dining together a time to catch up, share stories, laugh, and simply be fully present with one another. Keep phones and other devices off the table to promote genuine human connection.

The weekends are precious—take full advantage by engaging in activities aligned with your true passions and interests. Following your bliss is incredibly renewing.

Weekends Are for Learning and Personal Development

The most successful people all have one thing in common – they never stop learning and developing, even on weekends. Here’s what they do and how you can model their habits:

Read something educational every day. It can be books, articles, blogs – whatever captures your interest. Bill Gates is an avid reader and Warren Buffet estimates that 80% of his working day is dedicated to reading. Knowledge compounds over time.
Listen to podcasts and audiobooks during times your eyes and hands are busy – commuting, exercising, doing chores. You can efficiently pack learning into small pockets of time.
Take an online course in a skill you want to develop. Options abound for affordable, quality courses from sites like Udemy and Coursera. Learning coding or marketing during your downtime can pay dividends.
Practice and tinker with skills from your job or hobby. Spend an hour working on that side project you’ve been talking about. Successful people put in hours refining their craft.
Attend networking events, talks and conferences if relevant ones are happening in your area. Making new connections and hearing speakers can spark innovative ideas.
Reflect on your goals and habits. Are you moving closer each day towards what you want to achieve? Adjust your actions accordingly. Checking your progress will keep you accountable.

The most successful people see weekends as prime time for feeding their minds and bettering themselves. Once you get into the rhythm of using weekends for learning and development, you set yourself up for greater achievement and fulfillment during the rest of your week too. Even incorporating one of the above activities can help you recharge.

Planning and Preparing for the Week Ahead

Successful people understand the importance of being proactive. They utilize their weekends to purposefully recharge, reflect, and get organized so they can tackle the week ahead with intention.

Take time to relax and re-energize. Go for a long walk, enjoy a hobby you love, or simply unplug from technology for a bit. Giving your mind and body space to unwind will boost creativity and mental clarity.
Reflect on recent wins and lessons learned from the past week’s challenges. Consider what went well that you’d like to replicate, and what you’d do differently next time.
Review your goals and realign your priorities if needed. Make sure your daily tasks ultimately ladder up to your bigger professional and personal aspirations.
Meal prep healthy snacks and lunches for the upcoming week. This saves time and money while supporting overall wellness goals.
Look at your calendar for the week and make a daily task list. Identify your MITs (most important tasks) for each day and block off time to tackle them.
Do some mental decluttering. Write down any lingering thoughts, ideas or concerns swirling around to help achieve clarity and closure.

Preparing on the weekend breeds confidence and control so you can proactively drive each week rather than reactively responding. Experiment with weekend planning strategies to find what works best for you. The time invested will compound over the weeks and months ahead as you build momentum.

Giving Back Through Volunteering and Community Service

Success goes beyond personal achievement — it also means making a difference. That’s why many of the busiest and most productive people still make time on the weekends to give back.

Look for local volunteer opportunities that align with causes you care about. For example, you could spend a Saturday morning at a food bank packing meal kits for underprivileged families or help build houses with Habitat for Humanity.
Offer your professional skills pro bono to nonprofits in your community. If you’re an accountant, provide consulting to help streamline finances. Or if you’re a designer, offer branding services.
Plan a community service event and invite friends, colleagues and neighbors to participate. This could be a park or beach cleanup, fundraising walk, or care package assembly for people in need.
Mentor youth in your area of expertise by volunteering at local schools, community centers, or programs like Big Brothers Big Sisters on weekends. Help motivate and inspire the next generation.
Use your connections to organize a fundraising, awareness, or advocacy campaign around a cause important to you on weekends when people have leisure time.

No matter how busy you are, carving out just a few weekend hours makes a tangible impact on people’s lives while keeping you grounded. Approach weekend volunteering with the same drive that’s led to your success. Stay organized by blocking off weekend time in your calendar so you’ll follow through on commitments.

Giving back pays dividends beyond feeling good. It’s an opportunity for continuing education as you mentor others and collaborate with community organizations. The relationships built while volunteering also expand your network.

What causes inspire you? Make contributing to something bigger than yourself part of your weekend ritual. Don’t just be successful — be significant.

Weekend to-Do List FAQs: How to Make the Most of Your Weekends

We all have the same 24 hours in a day, 7 days a week. But successful people seem to get so much more done! What’s their secret? Often it comes down to being intentional about how they spend their free time on weekends to recharge and prepare for the coming week.

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about how to optimize your weekends like the high achievers do:

How much time should I schedule for me-time?

Carve out a few hours just for yourself to pursue a hobby, catch up on reading, go for a long walk, or simply relax with no agenda. Balance is key – don’t overschedule your weekend with chores and obligations.

What morning routine will set me up for success?

Wake up early and avoid snoozing. Go for a short walk or do 10 minutes of yoga to get your blood flowing. Eat a healthy breakfast and drink some coffee while you review your goals and weekend to-do list. This will put you in a focused, proactive state of mind.

Should I complete chores and errands all in one day?

Tackling all your mundane tasks in a single power hour prevents them from bleeding into your relaxation time. Get the laundry folded, bills paid, groceries bought, and house cleaned so you can really enjoy the rest of the weekend guilt-free.

What work should I try to accomplish?

Review your calendar for the upcoming week and prepare for important meetings or deadlines. Read industry news and professional development books. Organize your tasks and projects. Doing this prep work will make your week run more smoothly.

The key is balancing productivity with self-care and fun. Follow this weekend game plan, and you’ll start your Monday feeling refreshed, inspired, and ready to succeed.

Summary: Weekend Blueprint for Refreshed Minds

So get out there and make the most of your weekends! Disconnect from work, spend time outdoors, and do something that brings you joy. Whether it’s quality time with loved ones, learning a new skill, or just relaxing with a good book, the key is intentionally recharging.

Don’t feel pressure to cram in activities either; sometimes less is more. As the old saying goes, “What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.” So focus on becoming refreshed, inspired, and ready to tackle another great week ahead.

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