Forever Friday
Last week I took a nice bay-cation (staying in and around Thunder Bay for my summer holiday). I was excited to have some time off, looked forward to it for weeks, but even shortly into the break, I was also dreading going back. Now don’t get me wrong, I love my job, LOVE IT, but I’ve recently found myself falling into the whole ‘TGIF’ mindset. It’s definitely not the best attitude to have, but it’s easy to get wrapped up in the “Friday’s” when time off goes by so fast, vacations, weekends- before you know it, you’re stuck in the same grind you were in before you left. The absolute worst- when you start feeling ready for the weekend and it’s ONLY Monday morning. (Especially true following a long weekend).
As the 80’s Canadian rock group lover boy sang “Everybody’s workin’ for the weekend, everybody wants a new romance, everybody’s goin’ off the deep end…” (Sorry got caught up in the song). Is everybody really working for the weekend? (52 weeks in a year) Waiting for Friday? For the next holiday, vacation or some other future event to make us happy?? And yes, while the weekend is super awesome, shouldn’t we be enjoying the time spent during the workweek as well? After all, those five days do take up 71% of the week. #fact
The ubiquitous “enjoy every moment” saying (blah, blah, blah) can be as annoying as a traffic jam when you’re already late or like ten thousand spoons when all you need is a knife (ok, ok, I will stop quoting awesome tunes); But when I pause and really think about it, it’s actually one of the most powerful pieces of advice that hardly any of us ever live by. How often have you said to yourself: “Once I get (that house, that car, more time, more money) I’ll be happy“- Don’t be shy, my hand is up too.
I’ll be the first to admit that living in the moment is hard for me, and it’s something I’m sure I’ll be working on until the day I die. Recently I’ve discovered that you actually need to put time and energy into making yourself happy- it’s really not something that just happens on it’s own. There is unfortunately no secret to happiness, no luck involved; Happy people make their happiness a priority. This means doing the things that make you feel energized and happy, spending time with people who inspire and support you, and taking time out for yourself. Because get a grip, you’re an adult, and this is real life, not an Alanis Morisette song.
If your weekends are generally way more fabulous than your week, or getting to that point like me, perhaps it’s time that you do make a change. If you dread the weekdays, maybe you have forgotten that where you work or the type of work you do, is your choice.
Don’t like your job? Get a new one. I know it’s tough, I’ve been there. Believe me. It can be done. Now, don’t get me wrong. If you had a boring day at work or there is that one person in your office that drives you absolutely crazy (there’s always one), that doesn’t mean you should up and quit your job. However, if there are a lot of things that make you dread your eight hour day, five days a week, then maybe you should consider some other options. Make time for fun things during the week. Set aside a block of time each day for doing something that makes you happy. Who says you have to wait until the weekend to go have a cocktail with a friend, go swimming at camp, try that new restaurant; Go to wine Wednesday, check out the Nook, stay up until tomorrow catching up with a friend, head out to Oliver Lake for a dip. And please, stop undervaluing the life in between the moments. I’m not perfect by any means; I am just as guilty. I have been focusing so hard on quickly getting through the week to live it up on the weekends. I put so much emphasis on moments where something really good or really cool was happening that the moments in between those points just feel empty and non-existent. I’m in such a rush to get to the next thing that I think I’m missing so many moments happening right now. I haven’t been doing it consciously, but when I really think about it, I’ve been wishing away here and now.
After my most recent holiday, I have a goal to try to slow down and enjoy enough moments during the week (not just on weekends, or vacations) so that I never have to regret rushing mindlessly through life. I’m learning to let go of my plans and expectations, and instead be mindful of the happiness and meaning that can only be found in the small, unplanned moments, daily. Some small things to start: I have taken on running , continue my hot yoga during the week, make time for phone calls with my friends, read every night, and during those spare seconds, really just try to smile.
Treat every day like a Friday. Make it FOREVER FRIDAY. Be excited for tomorrow, for Monday, Wednesday, heck be excited right now, and most importantly remember to Bay Awesome.
Amanda xo