AFP – Experiencing a hectic week that leaves you too exhausted to fully enjoy your days off is not uncommon.
For those without the luxury of a five-day workweek and unable to consistently take the weekend off, strategising for a “peaceful weekend” might offer a solution.
The concept, introduced by Jill Cotton, a career trends expert at Glassdoor, entails dedicating more effort at the start of the week, when energy levels are higher, to facilitate a lighter workload on days before you off day.
This proactive approach allows individuals to structure their workweek to embrace a tranquil and rejuvenating off day, optimising their time away from work.
“For those with a traditional working schedule, this often means clearing days before you off day of long meetings, hard deadlines, highly collaborative activities or tasks that can’t be completed in a day,” explained Metro UK, in a story citing the expert. Cotton also advises those who can work from home to choose Fridays to start unwinding in the run-up to the weekend.
ENJOYING THE WEEKEND
“Unlike quiet quitting, quiet weekends aren’t about scraping by and doing the bare minimum to avoid losing your job. Quiet weekends are purposefully structured to maximise your productivity during the week, while putting yourself in a great position to enjoy the weekend,” Cotton told the newspaper.
This method, if correctly implemented, promises to bring better balance between professional and personal life. It could help employees feel less exhausted at the end of the week, making them more able to take full advantage of their weekend, without the fear of seeing their two days off slip away at lightning speed.
In the long term, the concept of the quiet weekend could benefit employees’ mental health.
Because sometimes two days off are not enough to decompress and recover from the fatigue of a busy week.
“Quiet weekends can help employees sign off fully at the end of their working week – protecting their precious days off and allowing them to recharge and bring their best selves back to work after the weekend,” explained Cotton.
It could also prevent some employees from experiencing burnout. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), one adult in four will suffer a burnout in their lifetime.
