As the first day back after a long weekend, we are willing to bet that you are still discussing your weekend with coworkers, wishing it didn’t have to end and probably moving a little slower than normal. Summer long weekends, and especially the May 2-4 kickstarter to the season, have always been synonymous with letting loose, leaving the work at the office and probably indulging in more alcohol and caloric intake than usual for the Canadian young professional (YP). For the love of the long weekend, and the lasting memories it leaves, let’s be honest: a four-day workweek can be a challenge and bring back memories of cramming for a university exam. Here are some tips to dealing with the shortened work week – after all, there are three more long weekends this summer.
Stay Off Social Media
Especially after a digitally unconnected weekend away in the great outdoors, the prospect of logging into social media while at the office today is tempting. After all, you want to catch up on the lives and weekends of all your “friends,” and are waiting for other friends to upload their albums of the epic cottage weekend you had. You may have had so much fun this weekend that you’re already trying to plan for next, and what better way to do so than through social media channels? Nonetheless, try to stay off Twitter, Facebook and Instagram during work hours today. All the stories, pictures and status updates will still be there when you log in at home.
Prioritize and Set Goals
Although we have lived through many long weekends in our lives, we are always shocked at how quickly Thursday and Friday come. Let’s be honest, by 2pm in the warmer months on a Friday, the mind of everyone is on anything but work. Just because it is a shortened week doesn’t necessarily mean that your workload will correspond with that. We advocate setting short-term goals year-round, but especially in the summer and during shortened workweeks. Prioritize what needs to be done by the end of the week and make a master list of tasks. Instead of making mental notes of these things, write them down and check them off as tasks are completed. In addition to a weekly master list, create a daily to-do list that includes the 3-5 most important tasks of the day. Once these are completed, tackle the next three. It may seem tedious, but picture the weekend that awaits with open arms as an end reward.
Wake Up Earlier
If the goal setting and note taking induces panic and anxiety given the short time frame, try waking up an hour earlier the rest of the week. It is much easier to do so now than in the winter when it is still dark and -15 degrees. That way you can get a workout out of the way in the morning in case you have to stay late at the office, or get to the office before everyone else to get a head start on your day. You’ll feel better on the commute home for doing so.
Counter the Effects of the Weekend
After a long weekend of eating and drinking, it is not unusual to feel sluggish and lethargic (aka sleep-deprived). If you haven’t already hit the gym this morning, do so this evening; you’ll sweat out all those weekend toxins, sleep better and wake up energized and ready to tackle the day. Whether your weekend involved a road trip filled with fast food stops or BBQs and beer in the city, you likely had fewer inhibitions in the healthy eating department than usual. Take the week to eat healthier and lighter and drink lots of water – it’s simpler than you may make it in your head.
Keep Thursday Tame
It may make sense to forego the Thursday Happy Hour scene in favour of the gym, a low-key dinner date or even clocking in a few extra hours at the office so that Friday afternoon doesn’t have to be frantic. The typical evening out with coworkers, clients or friends likely means a slower than usual Friday morning—and on shortened workweeks, every minute counts!
Have a notable workweek and stay focused; a short workweek means that the following weekend is that much closer!