If you listen to the radio, or perhaps a friend or work colleague, you can often hear the phrase “almost there”, “soon be weekend”, “one more day to go” etc. etc.
Why, what happens over those two mystical days, that make people wish their lives away in anticipation of the weekend?
The history bit is patchy and full of probable’s. The Babylonians probably invented the 7-day week over four thousand years ago! Leaping forward, William Marsden – a local government campaigner in Manchester – is attributed for campaigning for a half working day Saturday and succeeded in 1843. It was needed if you consider the words of the philosopher Thomas Hobbes, British workers existences were according to Hobbes – nasty, brutish and short!
In 2022, stress seems omnipresent. This year, we’ve seen announcements about the NHS – almost 40% of General Practitioners may leave within the next 5 years, citing stress as the primary reason. Around 30,000 nurses left the NHS last year siting the need for better work-life balance.
Is it really ‘the weekend’ you’re yearning for?
If the weekend really was that mystical why is excess stress still so prevalent? If the working environment, the stuff that you face every day, is something that is causing such strain that you need time to recover, 2 days won’t make a difference; and before you say a 3-day weekend will, I don’t believe that either! You still have to face the same working environment.
To get the most out of your weekend, it helps to get the most out of your week! So, try asking yourself the following questions:
- What do you have control over?
- What influence do you have?
- Can you set or reset better personal boundaries?
- Are you adhering to your personal values or are you bending them all the time (which will always bring on anxiety)?
- What do you need to accept?
Changing your frame of reference can make a profound difference to how you feel.
The weekend may be a special part of the week but remember each day has value – please don’t wish your life away.
Philip Dyer, Founder – Healthy Leaders Great Conversations
