Weekend is your Doorway to Future

Think about how you choose to spend your weekends. Or in fact, do you choose at all??

Many of us meticulously plan our weekdays, scheduling meetings, setting deadlines, and organizing our work hours to maximize "productivity".When it comes to weekends, we let it unfold without any real structure or purpose. This approach disconnects?the immense potential these two days hold for personal and professional growth.?

Weekends are equal opportunity days, providing the same (or even more) potential to reach our goals as weekdays do. Free from the usual constraints of work schedules, commutes, and daily responsibilities, these 48 hours offer a unique opportunity for undistracted focus on whatever we choose to pursue. Whether it's developing a new skill, working on a passion project, or investing time in relationships, weekends provide a valuable canvas for intentional living.?

It's common to observe that weekends are used for passive entertainment like binge-watching TV shows, scrolling endlessly through social media, engaging in excessive partying or continuing office work and mundane household tasks,. These activities may provide temporary relaxation or enjoyment, they often leave a feeling of unfulfillment. In long term, we start to feel drifting away from our goals, feeling discouraged and discontent. Eventually, (after several half-hearted attempts)?giving up on goals set by us, and kind of being ok to be among?the crowd.

To keep going with a compromised life .... More partying, more cigarettes, more binge watching, more shopping …. All that to compensate for the goal we abandoned.?

How we utilize our weekends is crucial for personal and professional growth, especially when aiming for career advancement. The key lies in understanding the skills required for the next level in your career path and strategically using your free time to develop those competencies. Many of us, fall into the trap of continually honing skills we already possess, tempted by the positive encouragement received for our current expertise. This definitely leads to a sense of progress, but its not reality, it does not expand?one's capabilities.?

I find it essential to dedicate weekend time to activities that align with aspirations rather than current responsibilities. For instance, if you're an individual contributor seeking a management position, your focus should shift towards understanding the challenges of team leadership and developing the necessary skills to excel in that capacity. This process involves researching the demands of your target role, engaging with those already in similar positions to validate your understanding, get guidance and identifying key areas for improvement. By investing time in these additional capabilities, you're effectively bridging the gap between your current position and your desired future role. I am not suggesting to use both days and all weekends for a?skill required in future, however atleast out of eight, 4 weekend days must be structured to get maximum for your skill development.?

Its common sense that using weekends for your current job skills will lead to stagnation. It might feel productive in the short term and you may receive appreciation too,?but you might become overly specialized in your current role, making it increasingly difficult to transition to new responsibilities.?

Strategic use of weekend time for skill development outside your current job description is a powerful tool for career growth. It allows you to prepare for future challenges, expand your professional toolkit, and position yourself as a strong candidate for advancement. By consciously stepping out of your comfort zone and investing in skills aligned with your career aspirations, you create a path for continuous growth and open doors to new opportunities. Weekends are your doors to your future self.?