We all wait for the weekend with excitement and anticipation for the rest it brings. Sometimes though, we find the weekend passing quickly, and we discover we’re left feeling less nourished than we anticipated. In order to get the most out of our weekend, we must commit to cultivating a truly nurturing experience for ourselves. So, how do we do this? 

It starts with checking in with ourselves and asking our bodies and minds what they need most to feel supported, rested, and rejuvenated. Based on what we discover, we can take loving action to honor these needs. 

Read on as I share 3 tips for cultivating a truly nourishing weekend for yourself:

-Less screen time. Screens can serve our rest just as they can diminish it. This tip is about finding a healthy balance with your screen time so that you can ensure you’re not overindulging in social media, news, or netflix. I know just as well as anyone how relaxing and even healing a good netflix session can be, so rather than eliminating it altogether, just check in with how you're using screens during your weekend. Maybe leave your phone off for a few hours on Sunday so you can focus on being present and connected with who and what is right in front of you. Additionally, consider taking a total break from consuming negative and distressing news and media. Constantly consuming this information can be highly damaging to our nervous system, especially when we are reading about events that we don’t necessarily have any control over. While it is important and valuable to be aware of what is going on in the world, it is necessary to take a step back from time to time as well. 

-Commit to connecting to nature in some capacity. Nature is our ultimate healer and the place we can go to return home to our hearts. Get outside and ground yourself beneath a big beautiful tree, or walk beside your local river, lake, or shoreline. If you live in a dense urban environment, simply take a neighborhood walk alone or with a loved one. As you immerse yourself in whatever nature is available to you, focus on the beauty that surrounds you in each moment. Notice the color of the sky, the way the trees dance in the breeze, the smell of the roses, the feeling of the air on your skin. Allow your outdoor time to be a conscious moment of reconnection back to the present moment and to the peace that can be found from slowing down and getting out. 

-Make time for deep connection with yourself and with your loved ones. Quality time with yourself and with the ones who matter most is a sure fire way to  make your weekend special. When it comes to enjoying quality time with yourself, focus on enjoying an activity that brings you joy and peace. Perhaps this means taking time for meditation, reading a favorite book, or journaling about the week you’ve had. When you’re ready to extend quality time to your loved ones, focus on creating a peaceful environment in which you can be focused on one another. Maybe this looks like cooking a meal together, taking an evening walk, going for a bike ride, or any other activity that connects you with each other and sparks joy.

 

You deserve a weekend full of deep connection, joy, peace, and rejuvenation. However, it is up to you to claim this! Courageously cultivate this for yourself with these simple tips and enjoy the magic that is sure to follo