This summer has been full of big transition and hard work. In between though, we’ve been really enjoying our weekends and other downtime. Living with less allows more opportunity to enjoy chore-less weekends and holidays. When there is less to take care of, you can engage in activities that make you smile and help you to relax.
Even before you are living with less, you can prioritize chore-less weekends. You work hard and deserve time off. The tricky part is finding time to fit it all in. If you work 40+ hours during the week, the only time left to run errands, clean house and do other chores is often the weekend or holidays.
Chore-less weekends will help you to:
- connect with friends and family
- rediscover passions
- enjoy the fresh air
- clear your mind
- open your heart
8 ways to go chore-less
Declutter. Get started right now with 10 Creative Ways to Declutter Your Home. The less you own, the less that owns you. Dusting things, washing things, and running thing-related errands all take time. When you get sick and tired of sacrificing your free time for your stuff, let it go.
Take a Sabbath. Between hundreds of TV channels, calendar alerts, email, billboards and other cries for our attention, it’s no wonder that we often feel overwhelmed with day-to-day life, and then some sense of guilt for wanting to retreat. Wayne Muller, author of Sabbath suggests that Sabbath time can be a refuge from our modern life which is designed to seduce our attention. Regardless of your religious beliefs, consider a mini-sabbath. Create a 2-4 hour block of time with no chores, digital connections or outside obligations.
Remove yourself from the chores. Maybe the only way to stop doing things around the house is to leave. Go outside. Take a hike. Drive to a friend’s house. Meet your neighbors for coffee. Take the out of sight, out of mind approach if that’s what it takes to stop cleaning, fixing and perfecting.
Boycott perfection. If people really live in your home, things are going to get messy. Recognize the difference between “perfect” and “good enough” when it comes to your home. Don’t let a little dust stop you from enjoying your weekend.
Grocery shop during the week. Everyone is at the grocery store on Saturday. The crowds make shopping for food less efficient and stressful. Try a Tuesday or Wednesday night, or early one weekday morning if you have the time.
Clean as you go. Instead of dedicating a whole day to cleaning, spend a few minutes each day to picking up and wiping down.
Batch your errands. Plan one afternoon or time slot a week to do all of your errands instead of running out every few hours. It takes some planning, but it will save you time and money.
Ask for help. You might do everything better than everyone around you and maybe no one else will do it your way, but let them help. A 3 hour project could turn into 30 minutes with the right team.
Non-stop tasks in addition to full-time work will leave you uninspired, exhausted and maybe even sick if you don’t force yourself to simply stop. Just stop. You’ve done enough.