My Ultimate Guide to Maximizing Your Day Off

Having time off from work can be a great opportunity. For me, I think of all the things I can do. Relax, get stuff done, spend time with family, get ahead on things that will need to be done, clean the house. Sometimes it can feel overwhelming and if you don't decide how to spend your time quickly enough, you may discover that you have lost a lot of that valuable time. I have discovered that finding the perfect balance of getting things done, spending valuable time with my family, and doing something for myself leaves me feeling like my time off from work was well-spent. Below are things that make up my favorite way to spend my day off.

Check Some Items Off Your To-Do List

It can be difficult to stay caught up on my to-do list on days that I work so it is important that I get things done when I have time off from work. By getting even a few things marked off my list, I feel like I have been productive and that I am able to stay caught up. Some of the things that are often included on my to-do list may be running an errand or two (like renewing my driver's license), completing some of my assignments for school, and getting caught up on house chores (like cleaning, dishes, and laundry). I make sure to allow myself some breaks so that I don't get burned out. My breaks usually include doing yoga, meditating, doing a fun workout, or some other kind of mindfulness activity. I find that if I push myself too hard to get my to-do list done all at once, I actually take longer than if I had taken a productive break (I consider them to be productive because I am contributing to my well-being).

Read

Reading can be an interesting article, a novel, or an educational book. I usually choose to read an educational book at the end of each day. This book is one I have chosen to read (not required by school) and helps me feel like I am still being productive as I am learning something beneficial from its contents. Usually, I do this at around 7pm when I'm trying to get my son, A, to wind down for bed. Sometimes I read one of his books first if there is one he wants me to read, then, I read mine out loud to him. He may be three-years-old and not able to comprehend everything I am saying but I know he enjoys it because he always tells me to read it out loud. Sometimes he repeats some of the words I say. I like to think that I am exposing him to some vocabulary that he is less familiar with and important topics that he may be interested in knowing more about someday. While this is something I do for myself, it is also a bonding activity between me and A as he lays in bed next to me and listens until he falls asleep.

Spend Time With Family

In my opinion, it wouldn't be very good time spent off from work if I did not spend it with those who mean the most to me. While my days off may still be pretty busy, I try to squeeze as much time for family in there as I can possibly fit. Often, there is a family event to attend or family members who come visit which contributes to great memories to look back on. On days when we don't have any plans, me and my husband, C, find a local event or playground to take A to. These are some of my favorite times because it is just our little family, and we are able to get out of the house and just bond. During the portions of my day when I am working on my to-do list, sometimes A starts begging me to play with him or read him a book. When I get to a point where I can take one of my breaks (mentioned above), I make sure to take some extra time to do whatever it is that he has been asking me to do. This allows some bonding time just between the two of us.

What is your favorite way to spend your day off?

• Checking some items off your to-do list
• Reading
• Spending time with family
• Other

You can vote for more than one answer.