Simple Ways to Enjoy a Relaxing Weekend at Home
Do you ever find relaxation time can get lost in the business of a weekend? Give yourself some time to unwind with these simple tips
So often we look forward to the weekend, but once it arrives, it gets swallowed up by errands and chores, and before we know it, it’s over. That hardly seems fair! If you’re ready to reclaim your weekend, begin by shifting your thinking and consider your weekend a “mini retreat” – a well-deserved opportunity to rest and recharge.
Not every weekend lends itself to a relaxed approach, of course, but even when life throws you a super-packed couple of days, pulling even a few ideas from this list can help slow things down enough that you can catch your breath and savour the abundance around you.
Not every weekend lends itself to a relaxed approach, of course, but even when life throws you a super-packed couple of days, pulling even a few ideas from this list can help slow things down enough that you can catch your breath and savour the abundance around you.
Scoop up armfuls of blooms
What could be more cheerful than flowers all around the house? If your garden is blooming at the moment, all you may need to do is walk outside and start snipping away. If you don’t have many flowers – or a garden at all – stop by a market or flower shop and treat yourself to some beautiful blooms. Once you get home, trim the stems a bit (a fresh cut makes it easier for the flowers to drink) and place them in vases of water immediately.
Don’t stop there! Even if you bought just one bouquet, you can make more of it by pulling out a few blooms to fill small vases. Place a vase beside your bed, by the bathroom basin and in the kitchen to spread good cheer throughout your home.
What could be more cheerful than flowers all around the house? If your garden is blooming at the moment, all you may need to do is walk outside and start snipping away. If you don’t have many flowers – or a garden at all – stop by a market or flower shop and treat yourself to some beautiful blooms. Once you get home, trim the stems a bit (a fresh cut makes it easier for the flowers to drink) and place them in vases of water immediately.
Don’t stop there! Even if you bought just one bouquet, you can make more of it by pulling out a few blooms to fill small vases. Place a vase beside your bed, by the bathroom basin and in the kitchen to spread good cheer throughout your home.
Go for a stroll or bike ride
How much have you really explored your local area? Take a walk or bike ride and set out to discover something new. Your eventual destination could be your local farmer’s market or a favourite local café or shop, or you could simply wander and explore, taking inspiration from the houses and gardens you pass.
Check out 10 shortcuts to a happy, balanced lifestyle
How much have you really explored your local area? Take a walk or bike ride and set out to discover something new. Your eventual destination could be your local farmer’s market or a favourite local café or shop, or you could simply wander and explore, taking inspiration from the houses and gardens you pass.
Check out 10 shortcuts to a happy, balanced lifestyle
Set up your own spa-like accoutrements
When you come in from your walk or bike ride, refresh yourself by making a jug of fancy water with slices of lemon, orange or cucumber and sprigs of a fresh herb, such as mint. Pour yourself a tall glass and sip it while paging through your favourite coffee table book.
When you come in from your walk or bike ride, refresh yourself by making a jug of fancy water with slices of lemon, orange or cucumber and sprigs of a fresh herb, such as mint. Pour yourself a tall glass and sip it while paging through your favourite coffee table book.
Refresh your living space
If decorating is your cup of tea, put on some music and spend some time restyling your living room. There’s no need to buy a thing – just challenge yourself to be creative and work with what you have. Sometimes, moving things from room to room, putting up some new art (you can always raid your stack of family photos) or pulling a few textiles out of hiding are all that’s needed to give a space a fresh look.
Of course, if shopping is on your agenda, it’s your weekend to do what you like, but consider checking out a small, local shop or market instead of hitting the big shops, as you never know what treasures you’ll come across (and it’s surprisingly satisfying to stay close to home).
If decorating is your cup of tea, put on some music and spend some time restyling your living room. There’s no need to buy a thing – just challenge yourself to be creative and work with what you have. Sometimes, moving things from room to room, putting up some new art (you can always raid your stack of family photos) or pulling a few textiles out of hiding are all that’s needed to give a space a fresh look.
Of course, if shopping is on your agenda, it’s your weekend to do what you like, but consider checking out a small, local shop or market instead of hitting the big shops, as you never know what treasures you’ll come across (and it’s surprisingly satisfying to stay close to home).
Invite friends over for tea
When was the last time you got together with a few friends just to chat and catch up? Having tea together is a lovely, low-pressure way to host a gathering, since all you really need is a selection of tea and enough cups to go around.
Teatime treats are always nice, but they can be simple – good biscuits from a box along with a bowl of berries is totally fine. No need to bake scones from scratch (unless you want to).
When was the last time you got together with a few friends just to chat and catch up? Having tea together is a lovely, low-pressure way to host a gathering, since all you really need is a selection of tea and enough cups to go around.
Teatime treats are always nice, but they can be simple – good biscuits from a box along with a bowl of berries is totally fine. No need to bake scones from scratch (unless you want to).
Afternoon Ideas
Think of the transition from morning to afternoon as a natural time to pause and “reset” your day. If something came up in the morning – football practice, errands – make this your chance to reboot your weekend and intentionally choose to relax and enjoy the rest of the day.
Picnic in the garden
Whether you stopped by the farmer’s market on your morning stroll or are using what you have on hand, keep lunch simple and fresh. Think crostini with tapenade, crunchy veggies sprinkled with a bit of flaky salt, a prepared wholegrain salad and a bowl of berries for dessert.
If the weather is good, why not pack up your lunch and head out to the garden? Everything tastes better in the fresh air. And if it’s rainy or cold, simply relocate your picnic to the dining table, and warm up with the addition of hot soup and mugs of tea.
Think of the transition from morning to afternoon as a natural time to pause and “reset” your day. If something came up in the morning – football practice, errands – make this your chance to reboot your weekend and intentionally choose to relax and enjoy the rest of the day.
Picnic in the garden
Whether you stopped by the farmer’s market on your morning stroll or are using what you have on hand, keep lunch simple and fresh. Think crostini with tapenade, crunchy veggies sprinkled with a bit of flaky salt, a prepared wholegrain salad and a bowl of berries for dessert.
If the weather is good, why not pack up your lunch and head out to the garden? Everything tastes better in the fresh air. And if it’s rainy or cold, simply relocate your picnic to the dining table, and warm up with the addition of hot soup and mugs of tea.
Sneak away for an afternoon soak
Taking a leisurely bath in the afternoon feels luxurious, improves the spirits and helps release any lingering tension from a long week. If you have fragrant essential oils or fancy bath products you’ve been saving, now’s your chance to use them.
Taking a leisurely bath in the afternoon feels luxurious, improves the spirits and helps release any lingering tension from a long week. If you have fragrant essential oils or fancy bath products you’ve been saving, now’s your chance to use them.
Read, write and daydream
Whether it’s a sunny window or a garden hammock, choose the best seat in the house for getting lost in a good book. Take along a notebook and pens in case you get inspired to write down your thoughts – and if you’re not sure what to write about, making a “things I’m grateful for” list is always a winner.
Whether it’s a sunny window or a garden hammock, choose the best seat in the house for getting lost in a good book. Take along a notebook and pens in case you get inspired to write down your thoughts – and if you’re not sure what to write about, making a “things I’m grateful for” list is always a winner.
Rekindle an old flame
Did you always love photography, art or poetry? Whatever your passion, take a little time out to explore what sparked your interest in the first place. Pull out your old sketchbook and draw for 10 minutes; take a walk with your camera; write a poem on the first scrap of paper you find – it doesn’t have to take up much time to feed your old flame, and it’s worth every second.
Did you always love photography, art or poetry? Whatever your passion, take a little time out to explore what sparked your interest in the first place. Pull out your old sketchbook and draw for 10 minutes; take a walk with your camera; write a poem on the first scrap of paper you find – it doesn’t have to take up much time to feed your old flame, and it’s worth every second.
Evening Ideas
Unlike on a weeknight – when you’re probably already tired from your workday – after a day of rest, relaxation and creativity, you should be feeling renewed and ready to have some fun. Make an official start to your evening hours by putting away the to-do list and setting aside your devices.
Put on your favourite music
Music, more than just about anything else, has the power to quickly shift our mood – so put on an album that lifts your spirits. If you have records, play DJ and curate a stack of albums to play throughout the evening. If you’d rather let someone else do the curating for you, try one of the many online music streaming services… or invite a friend with great taste in music to come over!
Unlike on a weeknight – when you’re probably already tired from your workday – after a day of rest, relaxation and creativity, you should be feeling renewed and ready to have some fun. Make an official start to your evening hours by putting away the to-do list and setting aside your devices.
Put on your favourite music
Music, more than just about anything else, has the power to quickly shift our mood – so put on an album that lifts your spirits. If you have records, play DJ and curate a stack of albums to play throughout the evening. If you’d rather let someone else do the curating for you, try one of the many online music streaming services… or invite a friend with great taste in music to come over!
Plan a holiday-inspired dinner
Whether it’s impeccably fresh fish in the Caribbean, tender crab cakes, a lobster roll within view of the beach or a warm and comforting meal in a tiny Italian trattoria, on holiday, dinner is often an event – something to really look forward to and savour. Whether you decide to cook or order in, choose something for dinner that captures the excitement of being away. Set the mood with music, candles and good friends or family with whom to share the experience.
Whether it’s impeccably fresh fish in the Caribbean, tender crab cakes, a lobster roll within view of the beach or a warm and comforting meal in a tiny Italian trattoria, on holiday, dinner is often an event – something to really look forward to and savour. Whether you decide to cook or order in, choose something for dinner that captures the excitement of being away. Set the mood with music, candles and good friends or family with whom to share the experience.
Serve aperitifs or digestifs outdoors
So often it’s the little things that elevate everyday life into something special. One way to do that around the nightly meal is to change the venue before or after dinner (or both). Serve aperitifs (before-dinner drinks) and small nibbles in the garden before the meal, or head out onto the patio after dinner for a digestif surrounded by candles and fairy lights.
TELL US…
How do you carve out relaxation time on the weekend? Share your tips in the Comments below.
So often it’s the little things that elevate everyday life into something special. One way to do that around the nightly meal is to change the venue before or after dinner (or both). Serve aperitifs (before-dinner drinks) and small nibbles in the garden before the meal, or head out onto the patio after dinner for a digestif surrounded by candles and fairy lights.
TELL US…
How do you carve out relaxation time on the weekend? Share your tips in the Comments below.
Start your weekend off right by savouring your first cup of coffee (take it outdoors if the weather is agreeable) and using this moment to simply breathe and relax, without feeling the need to check your phone or fire up the laptop. Instead, pick up a pencil and paper and make a list of things you’d love to do and (equally important) things you don’t want to do over the weekend. Really dreading the weekly clean-up session? Consider calling in a cleaning service, even if these chores are something you usually do yourself. If you must clean, plan to set a timer and get it out of the way as quickly as possible.
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