Lazy weekends are a rare joy when you’re a parent. Most of the time, you’re either working, taking care of children, or doing chores. So when these brief periods of respite come along (which is usually once in a blue moon), you want to make the most of them. But how?
That’s the topic of this post. It looks at how to construct the perfect lazy weekend for yourself so you can make the most of your precious time.
Here’s everything you need to know.
Sleep Like it’s a Sport
First, you’ll want to sleep like it’s a competitive sport. Most weekdays and even weekends are full of responsibilities and things you need to do. So, when you have a window of time to yourself, use it to get some shut-eye.
First, make sure you avoid setting any alarms. You don’t want any annoying bleeping sounds disturbing you from your blissful slumber.
Second, you want to focus on your bedtime game. Aromatherapy, hot baths, and blackout curtains can all help you sleep better.
And, finally, if you do find your eyes closing on you later in the day, let it happen. You don’t need to be constantly on the go the whole time when it’s your free weekend. If you want to take a nap in front of Netflix, you do that. After all, who can stop you?
End with a Lazy Sunday Wind Down
Next, why not end the weekend with a lazy afternoon? You could do anything you want: scroll on your phone, listen to music, and forget about work starting again on Monday morning.
If you want, you could also pass the time with an online pool game or a round of pinball. Simple pleasures like these make time alone worthwhile and give you the peace of mind you so sorely miss during the week. There’s nothing for you to do except try to get the highest score.
If you want to order dinner again for Sunday evening, why not? Nobody is stopping you. Getting take-away reduces the pressure and ensures that you have something delicious to eat and take your mind off the Sunday night blues. Dimming the lights and watching something on TV puts you in the mood for relaxation and helps you make the most of your leisure time.
Stay in Your Pyjamas All Day
Another luxury you could indulge in would be to stay in your PJs all day. Picking your comfiest clothing and simply allowing yourself to enjoy the feeling of it at lunchtime and into the evening is wonderful. It can make you feel so relaxed and is the polar opposite of wearing a suit and tie.
Staying in your pyjamas also reduces the need to go to the effort of getting dressed. You don’t have to find clean clothes in your drawers, do any washing, or spend your time putting on socks and zipping up buckles. You can stay in the house in the clothes you woke up in, and then go to bed wearing those same items. It’s a bit of a miracle when you think about it.
As for footwear, well-fitting slippers are best. But if your house is warm or you have underfloor heating, barefoot is also an option.
Avoid Productivity Traps like the Plague
In the modern world, being productive is often our default state. As such, we like to use our free time at the weekends for things other than pure fun.
However, if you want the perfect lazy weekend, avoid this. Don’t fall into the trap of always thinking you need to be doing something.
For example, let’s say your hobbies are playing musical instruments and learning new languages. By all means, indulge in these if you find them fun, but don’t commit to spending rigid chunks of your time on them because you feel you have to. That’s not a good idea.
Also, don’t feel like you have to use your free time to get all your chores done. Block them off on Thursday evening so you have the rest of the weekend to enjoy. You don’t want the laundry or the pots and pans sitting in the sink, hanging over you. Order take-away over the weekend so you don’t have to worry with mountains of washing up from cooking.
Ultimately, look for ways to escape the feeling that you should always be doing something. It’s okay to be lazy from time to time.
Do Indulgent Things you’d Never Normally do
Next, you’ll want to look at doing some indulgent things you’d never normally do. After all, the kids and the family are away, and you finally have time to yourself.
One idea is to take a long, uninterrupted bath–just you and the tub. You can lean back and relax, without having to do anything, just because you want to.
Another option is to take yourself out to a delightful restaurant and get someone else to cook for you. Again, these sorts of indulgences are often a great use of your time (which you’ll never regret).
What about playing some video games? Without kids around, you have the entire day to indulge in them as much as you want–from dawn until midnight if you want. Nobody is there to tell you that you need to do otherwise.
Lastly, you could treat yourself to some trashy magazines. These are always entertaining and help you catch up on the latest celebrity gossip.
Binge on Something
Another way to construct the perfect lazy weekend is to binge on something. Finally, it’s your chance to indulge in things you can’t do when the kids are there.
For example, you could pick a series you’ve always wanted to watch but never had time to do so and run through all the seasons. What about sitting down to all five seasons of Breaking Bad or Lost?
Bingeing has a bad rap in today’s culture, but if you limit it to your once-in-a-blue-moon weekend, it can be a fantastic way to let off steam and allow the tension to leave your body.
Watching hours of trashy TV or a gritty crime drama is also an option. Just make sure you set up your seating arrangements so you have somewhere comfortable to sit with snacks in reach. During movie marathons, you want to avoid getting up and going to the kitchen every five minutes for food.
Remember, snacks like popcorn and candy are non-negotiable during these binge sessions. The same goes for nachos and hotdogs if you’re someone with more of a savoury tooth.
Make your Food Zero Effort
Finally, if you’re planning the ultimate zero-effort weekend, you’ll want to think about how you can make your food 100% zero effort.
Start by ordering your snacks in advance and keeping them close to the sofa. Make sure you have what you need, including crisps, trail mixes, and pastries.
Next, stock up your fridge with other items that make you feel like you’re on an indulgent weekend. Options include charcuterie boards, cheeses, and milkshakes.
Then, check your food delivery apps and look through your past orders. Simply schedule a re-delivery of these at specific times so that you don’t even have to fire up your phone and click “order.” All you need to do is answer the door, pick up the food, and enjoy.
So there you have it: our advice for constructing the perfect lazy weekend at home when the kids go away. Indulgences like these are allowed once in a while, especially if you’ve been through a challenging time.
