I felt for many years, that the weekend was there for me to do chores, squeeze in as much exercise as possible, catch up on work and make sure I was ready for the next week ahead. It has taken several years to break these habits and learn that a well enjoyed and well rested weekend does so much more. As a busy entrepreneur, a lot of people feel that it will take them several years to find a weekend to truly enjoy, with no anxiety of what is not getting accomplished. And it is only natural to want to utilize as much free time as possible to make your life easier in the long run, right? Well, I needed to be reminded several times that we only have one life to live, so even if you are swarmed, pick at least one thing that makes you happy and make it a POINT to do that during your weekend.
A map of a life well lived, the magical powers of Pinterest for inspiration…
One of my most favorite platforms on the internet is Pinterest. As someone who is admittedly over analytical, it seems to me that image based searching and planning involved with pinning on Pinterest relaxes my mind and inspires so many new ideas. It also seems to truly transport me when I find images that really take my breath away. All I have to do is log on and search for images that get me into the mood of relaxation and I am halfway there.
Let’s not forget MUSIC. My very first love. I now create weekend playlists and enjoy them to the fullest when I walk around my neighborhood. I have so many different genres in this list, but my most favorite is downloading the soundtracks or scores of my favorite films to put me in a better mood.
Since my stress tends to accumulate throughout the week, I always know when the weekend comes my body will crave the foods that make it feel the most comfort. I find the foods that I can eat to satisfy this need without sabotaging a healthy lifestyle, and this usually means a some organic dark chocolate (which has been proven to significantly reduce cortisol levels.) I also brainstorm ways I can make my body feel awakened, alert and revitalized again. This usually means a lot of cold, cucumber water, or San Pellegrino. Since it has always been a challenge for me to remember to drink enough water, I try my best to make this as good tasting as possible. Using lemons or limes also help, especially if you also can dash some lemon essential oil on yourself to really wake up.
Last but not least, taking in NATURE as much as possible. You may think this is hard for a New Yorker to do, but the truth is, a Walk through Battery Park, and picking up some fresh herbs from the local store, and surrounding myself with plants that I can enjoy taking care of in my apartment, all seem to relax me, even if the scent of fresh basil is short lived. Growing up in Maryland working on a horse farm, nothing will come close to how much nature I came into contact with each day, but making it a point to surround myself with just enough of it to remind me of the happiest memories of my childhood, is something I am willing to always take in one of the busiest cities of the world.
I have learned that it is not always about using the utmost discipline over the weekend to reset yourself for the next week. Enjoying my life by using pleasant, sights, scents, tastes and sounds has honestly proven as the best way for me to detox and revitalize myself for the week to come.
