Simple Guide to 4-Day Weekends

Well, this is an unusual topic for me. I have always struggled to manage time on weekends. Especially as a founder I used to dread weekends, it would remind me of unaccomplished chores and work. But in the past few weeks, I think I have found a simple hack. I feel my weekends are longer and more productive than ever before and importantly it keeps me energized. I thought to share the methods I used to find the hack.

?? Things I wanted to do each weekend

( Yes, I wrote them down to start with ).

• ?? Office work needs to be done - I do not like pending activities on my plate
• ?? Need time to upskill - I love learning something new this is important to me
• ?? Need time to complete chores - Life will not move ahead without this
• ? Need time to unwind - Not always, but sometimes yes

?? Why I struggled to find a solution

Well, I like to stretch/focus on a single problem and solve it before moving to the next. Each of the above had many nested problems which made me feel overwhelmed/exhausted. As a founder what needs to be done is infinite, things to upskill are limitless and chores are infinite leaving little time to unwind and refocus.

?? How I found my solution?

#define: 
        What is the problem ?        

I used the techniques from work to actually identify the problem

?? Attempt 1: Dual Duel

Doing 2 things at max each weekend, I would pick one activity from work and another from home to complete over 2 days; it worked initially but left me little time for myself.

Result : 

{ I cant feel acomplished with 2 incomplete items, cant be happy for 2 completed ones. }        

?? Attempt 2: Singular focus

Doing only one activity either work or chores each weekend.

Result: 

{ It feels good one item is completed sometimes. But leaves me with growing anxiety as 3 other items are not attended to. }        

?? Attempt 3: Power breaks

I was clear I needed a different approach for my mind to be better relaxed. I needed to move the needle on all the priorities at the same time.

The focus was around "hacking my brain" to make it realize that, I am giving 100% to all of I want to do.

In short here is routine

Saturday & Sunday

Step 1: Set 2-hour targets for all items

Step 2: Drive & focus to exhaustion within 2 hours

Actual routine

2 hours of physical exhaustion, followed by any one of the priorities for 2 hours

?? Power Nap: 40 mins clocked ...wake 5mins.. followed by clocked 20 mini nap

Voila ?? : I felt I had regained an entire day by 2 to 2.30 pm. Now had the rest of the time to continue what I would choose to do.

The core idea was to be exhausted physically early in order to have a stress free / thought-free sleep to regain the day. The brain was reset.

Result: 

{ Well realized that I can attempt 3-4 things with great focus. I could complete 2 things most of time time and give a fair shot at other two. }        

?? Conclusion

We know it's hard to be productive when you're trying to juggle work, life, and all you want to do in a limited time. This does not mean you cannot re-discover your rhythm to maximize your opportunities and time.

P.S: I felt this article to be relevant at current times based on the conversations with my fellow founders hence thought to pen it down for all to consume.

What are your hacks? Drop in your comment below.