Over the past couple of years, Fridays have lost their lustre. One day seems to blend into the next in an endless feeling of Groundhog Day. Somewhere in the fourth wave, I realized I needed to define my weekends more clearly.
That’s when I started asking myself the question: What would make an awesome weekend?
The first time this question came up, I felt a bolt of energy. I grabbed my journal and began to make a list. I was surprised at all of the ideas that fell out of me. There were new recipes to try, books to read, shows to watch, and of course outdoor activities that I knew would feed my soul.
As I reviewed the list, I realized it was way too long, so I circled my top 3 choices, then left my journal open on the counter. As small chunks of time opened up that weekend, I had ideas at my fingertips.
It may seem contradictory to schedule free time, but it’s all about being intentional. As my mentor tells me, “What’s scheduled gets done!” And it’s true, since I adopted this process, I’ve painted, gone for extra-long hikes, and even cleaned the pantry – things I’ve said I was going to do but never got around to.
Recently, I started to honour my need for rest and spontaneity by adding “white space” to my list. I define white space as a morsel of time that I set aside to do whatever I feel in the moment, trusting that my instinct will give me a strong silent signal to follow. Sometimes I just stare out the window.
If this sounds like something you might want to try, here’s a summary of the process:
- Friday Night Wish List: What would make this an awesome weekend?
- Your Top 3: What speaks to me the loudest?
- Block It: When can you make it happen?
- White Space: When is a time you can leave open for spontaneity?
- Surrender to the Moment: How can you let it flow with clear intentionality?
- Sunday Night Reflection (bonus step): What made this a great weekend?
Knowing what we really want feels good. It energizes us and lets us move closer to our true goals. Author, Deepak Chopra often quotes the classic Vedic text known as the Upanishads:
You are what your deepest desire is. As your desire is, so is your intention. As your intention is, so is your will. As your will is, so is your deed. As your deed is, so is your destiny.
Say goodbye to Groundhog Day and take a fresh look at how your weekend could belong to you!
